IP Library Granted Patent US 12,526,539
Granted Patent B2
US 12,526,539 · App. 18/180,593 · Granted Jan 13, 2026

Image processing with adjustable Bokeh effect

Inventors: Wen-Chun Feng (New Taipei, TW); Yu-Ren Lai (Xinyi District, TW); Su-Chin Chiu (Wanhua District, TW)
Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
H04N23/959G03B7/095G06T5/50G06T5/70G06T7/11H04N23/67G06T2207/20221
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,526,539
App. No.
18/180,593
Granted
Jan 13, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

This disclosure provides systems, methods, and devices for image signal processing that support adjusting a Bokeh effect in image data. In a first aspect, a method of image processing includes receiving a first user input specifying a first depth of focus. A camera is configured with a first aperture size of a plurality of aperture sizes of the camera that is nearest a second aperture size that corresponds to the first depth of focus. The first aperture size is smaller than the second aperture size. Image data representing a scene is received that is captured with the first aperture size of the camera. First modified image data is determined by applying a first blur kernel to the image data. The first modified image data represents the scene at the depth of focus corresponding to the second aperture size. Other aspects and features are also claimed and described.

Claims (31)

1 . A method, comprising:

receiving a first user input specifying a first depth of focus;

determining, prior to image capture by a camera, a second aperture size that corresponds to the first depth of focus;

determining, prior to image capture by the camera, a first aperture size of a plurality of aperture sizes of the camera that is nearest the second aperture size, wherein the first aperture size is smaller than the second aperture size;

receiving image data comprising a representation of a scene captured with the camera configured with the first aperture size; and

determining first modified image data by applying a first blur kernel to the image data, wherein the first modified image data represents the scene at the depth of focus corresponding to the second aperture size.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first depth of focus is one of a plurality of depths of focus along a sliding scale.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the camera includes a variable aperture lens configured to capture an image at each of the plurality of aperture sizes.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of aperture sizes does not include the second aperture size.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first blur kernel is determined based on the second aperture size.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first blur kernel decreases a blurriness of at least a segment of the representation of the scene.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the blur kernel increases a blurriness of at least a segment of the representation of the scene.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, subsequent to determining the first modified image data, a second user input specifying a second depth of focus different than the first depth of focus, wherein the second depth of focus corresponds to a third aperture size that is different than the first aperture size and the second aperture size; and

determining second modified image data by applying a second blur kernel to at least one of the image data or the first modified image data, wherein the second modified image data represents the scene at the second depth of focus.

9 . An apparatus, comprising:

a memory storing processor-readable code; and

at least one processor coupled to the memory, the at least one processor configured to execute the processor-readable code to cause the at least one processor to perform operations including:

determining, prior to image capture by a camera, a second aperture size that corresponds to the first depth of focus;

determining, prior to image capture by the camera, a first aperture size of a plurality of aperture sizes of the camera that is nearest the second aperture size, wherein the first aperture size is smaller than the second aperture size;

receiving image data comprising a representation of a scene captured with the camera configured with the first aperture size; and

determining first modified image data by applying a first blur kernel to the image data, wherein the first modified image data represents the scene at the depth of focus corresponding to the second aperture size.

10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the first depth of focus is one of a plurality of depths of focus along a sliding scale.

11 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the camera includes a variable aperture lens configured to capture an image at each of the plurality of aperture sizes.

12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of aperture sizes does not include the second aperture size.

13 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the first blur kernel is determined based on the second aperture size.

14 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the first blur kernel decreases a blurriness of at least a segment of the representation of the scene.

15 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the first blur kernel increases a blurriness of at least a segment of the representation of the scene.

16 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the operations further include:

receiving, subsequent to determining the first modified image data, a second user input specifying a second depth of focus different than the first depth of focus, wherein the second depth of focus corresponds to a third aperture size that is different than the first aperture size and the second aperture size; and

determining second modified image data by applying a second blur kernel to at least one of the image data or the first modified image data, wherein the second modified image data represents the image data at the second depth of focus.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 28, 2023
From: FENG, WEN-CHUN; LAI, YU-REN; CHIU, SU-CHIN
To: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 063134/0532 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240303779A1 · Sep 12, 2024
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