{
  "patent_number": "US 11706521",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "How Smartphones Automatically Adjust Camera Settings in Low Light",
  "original_title": "User interfaces for capturing and managing visual media",
  "summary": "A system that automatically shows or hides camera exposure controls based on whether the device detects low-light conditions.",
  "what_it_does": "This patent describes a smart camera interface that reacts to the environment. When the device detects that ambient light is below a certain threshold, it automatically displays a control, such as a slider, allowing the user to adjust the capture duration (exposure time). If the light improves, the interface removes this control to keep the screen clean. It also includes features to update the visual preview of the camera's field-of-view in real-time as the user adjusts the capture duration, helping them see how the final photo will look before they press the shutter.",
  "what_it_does_not_cover": [
    "Does not cover manual camera settings that are always present regardless of ambient light levels.",
    "Does not cover image processing algorithms that adjust exposure without user-facing controls.",
    "Does not cover hardware-based flash triggering mechanisms that operate independently of the UI.",
    "Does not cover non-visual methods of adjusting camera settings, such as voice commands."
  ],
  "filed": "2021-10-25",
  "granted": "2023-07-18",
  "expires": null,
  "status": "active",
  "holder": "Apple Inc",
  "holder_url": "https://patentbrief.org/company/apple-inc",
  "inventors": [
    {
      "name": "Paul M. Hubel",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/paul-m-hubel"
    },
    {
      "name": "Andre SOUZA DOS SANTOS",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/andre-souza-dos-santos"
    },
    {
      "name": "Craig M. Federighi",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/craig-m-federighi"
    },
    {
      "name": "Grant PAUL",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/grant-paul"
    },
    {
      "name": "Alan C. Dye",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/alan-c-dye"
    },
    {
      "name": "Nicholas D. Lupinetti",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/nicholas-d-lupinetti"
    },
    {
      "name": "Jonathan Ian McCormack",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/jonathan-ian-mccormack"
    },
    {
      "name": "Behkish J. Manzari",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/behkish-j-manzari"
    },
    {
      "name": "Alok Deshpande",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/alok-deshpande"
    },
    {
      "name": "William A. Sorrentino, III",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/william-a-sorrentino-iii"
    }
  ],
  "times_cited": 4,
  "tags": [
    "consumer_electronics",
    "software"
  ],
  "abstract": "Media user interfaces are described, including user interfaces for accessing media controls or settings (e.g., accessing controls and/or settings to capture photos and/or videos to capture videos).",
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11706521/dynamic-island",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11706521/dynamic-island/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US11706521",
  "relatedPatents": []
}