Digital camera with integrated accelerometers

• US 20040212699A1
• Filed: 05/18/2004
• Published: 10/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Phase One A/S
• Original Assignee: Phase One A/S
• Inventors: Molgaard, Claus
• Granted Patent: US 7,554,578 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/231.99
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/00 Details of cameras or camera bodies; Accessories therefor lens hoods or caps G03B11/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3878 Skew detection or correction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4092 Edge or detail enhancement
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/633 for displaying additional information relating to control or operation of the camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/6812 based on additional sensors, e.g. acceleration sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/683 performed by a processor, e.g. controlling the readout of an image memory

Abstract

A digital camera system has integrated accelerometers for determining static and dynamic accelerations of the digital camera system. Data relating to static and dynamic accelerations are stored with recorded image data for further processing, such as for correcting image data for roll, pitch and vibrations and for displaying recorded images with a predetermined orientation using information about, e.g., roll. Data may also be used on-the-fly for smear suppression caused by vibrations.

Claims

1-23. -23. (canceled)

24. A method of processing image data, said method comprising:

providing image data, said image data being stored in memory;

determining information relating to static accelerations said determining including

providing a first sensor sensitive to acceleration in a first direction, said first sensor being adapted to provide a first output signal in response to acceleration in the first direction,

providing a second sensor sensitive to acceleration in a second direction, said second sensor being adapted to provide a second output signal in response to acceleration in the second direction, the second direction being different from the first direction, and

low-pass filtering the first and second output signals so as to obtain information relating to static accelerations, said information being recorded and stored with the image data, and

correcting the image data in accordance with the information relating to static accelerations so as to correct the image data and reduce the influence of roll and pitch.

32. A computer program comprising code adapted to perform the method of claim 24 when said computer program is run in a computer.

33. A computer program according to claim 32 embodied on a computer-readable medium.

25. A method of displaying a recorded image with a predetermined orientation, said method comprising:

providing information relating to the degree of roll of the recorded image, said information being provided by first and second sensors sensitive to accelerations in a first and a second direction, respectively, the second direction being different from the first direction, and

using the provided information to determine the orientation by which the recorded image is to be displayed and/or stored.

26. A method according to claim 25, wherein the orientation by which the recorded image is to be displayed and/or stored comprises portrait and landscape orientations.

27. A method according to claim 26, wherein said determining the orientation by which the recorded image is to be displayed and/or stored includes letting a user determine at which predetermined acceleration levels the recorded image toggles between portrait and landscape orientation.

28. A method according to claim 27, wherein the predetermined acceleration levels correspond to a predetermined degree of roll of the recorded image.

34. A computer program comprising code adapted to perform the method of claim 25 when said computer program is run in a computer.

35. A computer program according to claim 34 embodied on a computer-readable medium.

29. A method of correcting image data during recording of an image of an object, said method comprising:

recording image data of the object by projecting the object onto an array of light sensitive elements, said recorded image data being generated as electrical charges in the array of light sensitive elements,

providing information relating to time dependent movements of the array of light sensitive elements relative to the object, and

correcting the recorded image data in accordance with the provided information relating to movements of the array of light sensitive elements relative to the object by moving charges (pixels) in the array of light sensitive elements so as to correct for relative movements between the array of light sensitive elements and the image of the object.

30. A method of correcting image data during recording of an image of an object, said method comprising:

recording image data of the object by projecting an image of the object onto an array of light sensitive elements,

providing information relating to time dependent movements of the array of light sensitive elements relative to the image of the object, and

correcting the recorded image data in accordance with the provided information relating to movements of the array of light sensitive elements relative to the image of the object by counter moving the array of light sensitive elements so as to compensate for the time dependent movements.

31. A method of reducing Moiré

image defects without full reduction in sharpness, said method comprising the steps of

providing an array of light sensitive elements,

recording an image of an object using the array of light sensitive elements, said image being affected by movements of the array of light sensitive elements relative to the object so that the recorded image appears to be blurred and without Moiré

defects,

providing information relating to time dependent movements of the array of light sensitive elements relative to the object during time of exposure, and

using the provided information as an input to an image processing algorithm so as to reduce Moiré

image defects in the recorded image and thereby obtain a modified image with increased sharpness.

36. A digital camera system comprising:

a detector which determines static and dynamic accelerations, said detector comprising

a first sensor sensitive to acceleration in a first direction, said first sensor providing a first output signal in response to acceleration in the first direction,

a second sensor sensitive to acceleration in a second direction, said second sensor providing a second output signal in response to acceleration in the second direction, the second direction being different from the first direction;

a first processor being adapted to process the first and second output signals, said first processor comprising

a first filter being adapted to low-pass filter the first and second output signals so as to obtain updated information relating to static accelerations;

a second processor being adapted to correlate said updated information relating to static accelerations with predetermined information relating to static accelerations, and to generate one or more correlation signals indicative of a relative difference between the updated and predetermined information; and

an indicator providing an output based on said one or more correlation signals.

37. A digital camera system according to claim 36, wherein the output from the indicator is adapted to guide a user to orient a digital camera so that the updated information relating to static accelerations is at least substantially equivalent to the predetermined information relating to static accelerations.