Image-exposure systems and methods

• US 20050248660A1
• Filed: 05/10/2004
• Published: 11/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Stavely, Donald J., Yost, Jason E., Whitman, Christopher A., Hofer, Gregory V., Campbell, David K.
• Granted Patent: US 8,045,009 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/208.160
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 39/00 High-speed photography
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/68 for stable pick-up of the scene, e.g. compensating for camera body vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/6812 based on additional sensors, e.g. acceleration sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/72 Combination of two or more compensation controls
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/73 by influencing the exposure time

Abstract

Image-exposure systems and methods are disclosed. One embodiment of the system includes a motion detecting device, and logic configured to determine when to terminate an image-exposure based on detected motion of a camera.

Claims

1. An image-exposure method, comprising:

detecting motion; and

determining when to terminate an image exposure based on the detected motion of a camera.

2. The method of claim 1, further including extending the image exposure to a predetermined maximum time of exposure according to at least one of a current lens aperture setting, current shutter speed setting, current sensor gain setting, and time lapse between shutter opening and closing positions when no motion is detected.

3. The method of claim 1, further including terminating the image exposure when a threshold amount of motion has been at least one of reached and exceeded.

4. The method of claim 3, further including increasing the gain of the underexposed image exposure to a nominal brightness level in response to terminating the image exposure.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein a threshold amount of motion is a function of focal length.

6. The method of claim 1, further including terminating the image exposure based on acceleration of the camera.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining when to terminate an image exposure based on motion of a camera includes determining when to terminate based on pre-exposure motion of the camera.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting includes receiving pitch and yaw information from at least one of a gyroscope, a sensor, and an accelerometer.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting includes comparing motion between successive frames read from a sensor.

10. An image-exposure system, comprising:

a motion detecting device; and

logic configured to determine when to terminate an image exposure based on detected motion of a camera.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the logic is configured to terminate the image exposure when a threshold amount of motion has been exceeded.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the logic is configured to increase the gain of the underexposed image exposure to a nominal brightness level in response to terminating the image exposure.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the threshold amount of motion is a function of focal length.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the motion detecting device includes at least one of a gyroscope, a sensor, and an accelerometer.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the motion detecting device includes a sensor that can be read by the logic to determine motion based on successive frames read from the sensor.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the logic includes software stored in memory.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the logic is embedded in a processor.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor includes at least one of a camera controller and a microprocessor.

19. An image-exposure system, comprising:

means for detecting motion; and

means for terminating an image exposure based on whether a threshold level of detected motion of a camera has occurred.

20. The system of claim 19, further including means for determining whether the threshold level of motion has occurred.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the means for detecting motion includes means for detecting rotational motion.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the means for detecting rotational motion includes at least one of a gyroscope, a sensor, and an accelerometer.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the means for detecting motion includes a sensor that supports a non-destructive read capability.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein the means for terminating includes logic configured as software.

25. The system of claim 19, wherein the means for terminating includes logic configured as hardware.

26. The system of claim 19, wherein the means for terminating includes logic embedded in at least one of a microprocessor and a camera controller.

27. The system of claim 19, wherein the means for terminating includes logic stored in memory.

28. A computer program for controlling image exposure, the program being stored on a computer-readable medium, said program comprising:

logic configured to detect motion; and

logic configured to terminate an image exposure based on detected motion of a camera.

29. The program of claim 28, wherein the logic configured to detect motion includes logic configured to detect pitch and yaw motion of the camera.

30. The program of claim 28, wherein the logic configured to terminate an image exposure includes logic configured to provide for maximum allowed exposure times in the absence of motion.

31. The program of claim 28, wherein the logic configured to terminate an image exposure includes logic configured to gain-up the image exposure to provide a nominal brightness level responsive to terminating.

32. The program of claim 31, wherein the logic configured to gain-up the image exposure includes a programmable analog gain element that multiplies pixel values by a defined multiplier to compensate for a shortened exposure.

33. The program of claim 31, wherein the logic configured to gain-up the image exposure includes logic that instructs a processor to apply a defined multiplier to pixel values to compensate for a shortened exposure.