System and method for capturing digital images using multiple short exposures
First Claim
1. A method of capturing a high dynamic range image, comprising:
- capturing, on a first subset of pixels on an image sensor, a first image of a scene with a first exposure length;
determining a second exposure length based on a rate of photo-electron accumulation on one or more pixels used to capture the first image of the scene, wherein the second exposure length is shorter than the first exposure length;
capturing, on a second subset of pixels on the image sensor, a second image of the scene with the second exposure length and third image of the scene with the second exposure length, wherein the second image and the third image are captured sequentially during the capturing of the first image; and
combining the first image, the second image, and the third image to form a high dynamic range image of the scene.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, devices, and computer program products for image sensors with overlapped exposure brackets supporting multiple short exposures are described. In one aspect, a method of capturing an image is disclosed. The method includes capturing, on a first subset of pixels on an image sensor, a first image with a first exposure length. The method further includes simultaneously capturing, on a second subset of pixels on an image sensor, a plurality of images with a second exposure length, wherein the second exposure length is shorter than the first exposure length. The method further includes combining the plurality of images with a second exposure length into a second image. Finally, the method includes combining the first image and the second image.
18 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method of capturing a high dynamic range image, comprising:
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capturing, on a first subset of pixels on an image sensor, a first image of a scene with a first exposure length; determining a second exposure length based on a rate of photo-electron accumulation on one or more pixels used to capture the first image of the scene, wherein the second exposure length is shorter than the first exposure length; capturing, on a second subset of pixels on the image sensor, a second image of the scene with the second exposure length and third image of the scene with the second exposure length, wherein the second image and the third image are captured sequentially during the capturing of the first image; and combining the first image, the second image, and the third image to form a high dynamic range image of the scene. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An electronic device for capturing a high dynamic range image, comprising:
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a CMOS visible image sensor comprising a plurality of pixels including a first subset of pixels and a second subset of pixels; and a processor coupled to the image sensor and configured to; capture, on the first subset of pixels of the image sensor, a first image of a scene with a first exposure length; determine a second exposure length based on a rate of photo-electron accumulation on one or more pixels used to capture the first image of the scene, wherein the second exposure length is shorter than the first exposure length; capture, on a second subset of pixels on the image sensor, a second image of the scene with the second exposure length and third image of the scene with the second exposure length, wherein the second image and the third image are captured sequentially during the capturing of the first image; and combine the first image, the second image, and the third image to form a high dynamic range image of the scene. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus for capturing a high dynamic range image, comprising:
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means for capturing, on a first subset of pixels on an image sensor, a first image of a scene with a first exposure length; means for determining a second exposure length based on a rate of photo-electron accumulation on one or more pixels used to capture the first image of the scene, wherein the second exposure length is shorter than the first exposure length; means for capturing, on a second subset of pixels on the image sensor, a second image of the scene with the second exposure length and third image of the scene with the second exposure length, wherein the second image and the third image are captured sequentially during the capturing of the first image; and means for combining the first image, the second image, and the third image to form a high dynamic range image of the scene. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed, cause a processor of a device to:
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capture, on the first subset of pixels of the image sensor, a first image of a scene with a first exposure length; determine a second exposure length based on a rate of photo-electron accumulation on one or more pixels used to capture the first image of the scene, wherein the second exposure length is shorter than the first exposure length; capture, on a second subset of pixels on the image sensor, a second image of the scene with the second exposure length and third image of the scene with the second exposure length, wherein the second image and the third image are captured sequentially during the capturing of the first image; and combine the first image, the second image, and the third image to form a high dynamic range image of the scene. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification