Cameras

• US 20040130649A1
• Filed: 01/03/2003
• Published: 07/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Chulhee Lee
• Original Assignee: Chulhee Lee
• Inventors: Lee, Chulhee
• Application Number:
  US10/335,848
• Publication Number:
  US 20040130649A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/345
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/61 based on recognised objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/635 Region indicators; Field of view indicators
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/675 comprising setting of focusing regions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/676 Bracketing for image capture at varying focusing conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/70 Circuitry for compensating brightness variation in the scene
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/272 Means for inserting a foreground image in a background image, i.e. inlay, outlay

Abstract

Cameras that can provide improved images by combining several shots of a scene taken with different exposure and focus levels is provided. In addition, cameras are provided, which have pixel-wise exposure control means so that high quality images are obtained for a scene with a high level of contrast. Furthermore, cameras are also provided, which have a number of imaging sensing means that can operator at different focus and exposure levels. Cameras that can take several images or videos of a scene with different exposure and focus levels and save all the images or videos for future processing are also provided.

Claims

1. A camera, which is able to take multiple shots of a scene with different focus levels, comprising:

image sensing means that comprises at least a CCD;

image storing means that comprises a nonvolatile memory;

distance sensing means that senses distances of various objects from the camera;

a shutter button;

shot control means that takes a plurality of shots over a period of time with different focus levels which are optimized for said various objects when said shutter button is pressed; and

combining means that combines said plurality of shots to produce a new image where said various objects are in focus and records said new image in said image storing means.

2. A camera, which is able to take multiple shots of a scene with different focus levels, comprising:

image sensing means that comprises at least a CCD;

image storing means that comprises a nonvolatile memory;

distance sensing means that senses distances of various objects from the camera;

selecting means that selects at least an object of interest among said various objects,

comprising a touch-pad;

a shutter button;

shot control means that takes a plurality of shots over a period of time with different focus levels which are optimized for said various objects when said shutter button is pressed; and

combining means that combines said plurality of shots to produce a new image where only said object of interest is in focus while other objects are intentionally out of focus and records said new image in said image storing means.

3. A camera, which has a number of image sensing means that are able to operator at different focus levels, comprising:

a plurality of image sensing means which are able to operator at different focus levels;

image storing means that comprises a nonvolatile memory;

distance sensing means that senses distances of various objects from the camera;

shot control means that takes a plurality of shots simultaneously using said plurality of image sensing means with different focus levels which are optimized for said various objects; and

combining means that combines said plurality of shots to produce a new image where said various objects are in focus and records said new image in said image storing means.

4. The camera in accordance with claim 3, wherein said plurality of image sensing means comprise CCDs.

5. A camera, which has a number of image sensing means that are able to operator at different focus levels, comprising:

a plurality of image sensing means which are able to operator at different focus levels;

image storing means that comprises a nonvolatile memory;

distance sensing means that senses distances of various objects from the camera;

selecting means that selects at least an object of interest among said various objects, comprising a window frame;

shot control means that takes a plurality of shots simultaneously using said plurality of image sensing means with different focus levels which are optimized on said various objects; and

combining means that combines said plurality of shots to produce a new image where only said object of interest is in focus while other objects are intentionally out of focus and records said new image in said image storing means.

6. The camera in accordance with claim 5, wherein said plurality of image sensing means comprise CCDs.

7. A camera, which is able to take multiple shots of a scene with different exposure levels, comprising:

image sensing means that comprises at least a CCD;

image storing means that comprises a nonvolatile memory;

brightness sensing means that senses brightness of various objects;

a shutter button;

shot control means that takes a plurality of shots over a period of time with different exposure levels which are optimized for said various objects when said shutter button is pressed; and

combining means that combines said plurality of shots to produce a new image where exposure levels of said various objects are optimized and records said new image in said image storing means.

8. A camera, which has a number of image sensing means which are able to operator at different exposure levels, comprising:

a plurality of image sensing means which are able to operator at different exposure levels;

image storing means that comprises a nonvolatile memory;

brightness sensing means that senses brightness of various objects;

shot control means that takes a plurality of shots simultaneously using said plurality of image sensing means with different exposure levels which are optimized for said various objects; and

combining means that combines said plurality of shots to produce a new image where exposure levels of said various objects are optimized and records said new image in said image storing means.

9. The camera in accordance with claim 8, wherein said plurality of image sensing means comprise CCDs.

10. A camera, which has pixel-wise exposure control means, comprising:

image sensing means that comprises at least a CCD;

image storing means that comprises a nonvolatile memory;

pixel-wise exposure control means which is able to locally control the amount of light that reaches each pixel of said image sensing means;

11. The camera in accordance with claim 10, wherein said pixel-wise exposure control means comprises an LCD whose transparency is controllable.

12. A camera, which has pixel-wise exposure control means, comprising:

image sensing means that comprises at least a CCD;

image storing means that comprises a nonvolatile memory; and

pixel-wise exposure control means which is able to locally control the amount of light that reaches each pixel of said image sensing means.

13. The camera in accordance with claim 12, wherein said pixel-wise exposure control means comprises a DMD.

14. A camera, which has pixel-wise exposure control means, comprising:

image sensing means that comprises a film; and

pixel-wise exposure control means which is able to control locally the amount of light that reaches said image sensing means.

15. The camera in accordance with claim 14, wherein said pixel-wise exposure control means comprises an LCD whose transparency is controllable.

16. A camera, which has pixel-wise exposure control means, comprising:

image sensing means that comprises a film; and

pixel-wise exposure control means which is able to control locally the amount of light that reaches said image sensing means.

17. The camera in accordance with claim 16, wherein said pixel-wise exposure control means comprises a DMD.

18. A camera, which is able to take a plurality of shots of a scene with different exposure and focus levels, comprising:

image sensing means that comprises at least a CCD;

image storing means that comprises a nonvolatile memory;

brightness sensing means that senses brightness of various objects;

pixel-wise exposure control means which is able to control locally the amount of light that reaches each pixel of said image sensing means, comprising a DMD;

distance sensing means that senses distances of said various objects from the camera;

shot control means that takes a plurality of shots with different exposure and focus levels which are optimized on said various objects; and

combining means that combines said plurality of shots to produce a new image where exposure and focus levels are optimized for said various objects and records said new image in said image storing means.

19. A camera, which is able to take a plurality of shots of a scene with different exposure and focus levels, comprising:

image sensing means that comprises a CCD;

image storing means that comprises a nonvolatile memory;

brightness sensing means that senses brightness of various objects;

pixel-wise exposure control means which is able to control locally the amount of light that reaches each pixel of said image sensing means, comprising a DMD;

distance sensing means that senses distances of said various objects from the camera;

shot control means that takes a plurality of shots with different exposure and focus levels which are optimized on said various objects; and

recording means that records said plurality of shots for future processing in said storing means.

20. An infrared camera, which has pixel-wise exposure control means, comprising:

image sensing means that comprises at least a CCD;

image storing means that comprises a nonvolatile memory; and

pixel-wise exposure control means which is able to control locally the amount of light that reaches said image sensing means, comprising a DMD.