Image-stabilization systems and methods

• US 20050248661A1
• 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: Stanvely, Donald J., Yost, Jason E., Whitman, Christopher A., Hofer, Gregory V., Campbell, David K.
• Granted Patent: US 8,063,940 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/208.990
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/00 Details of cameras or camera bodies; Accessories therefor lens hoods or caps G03B11/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/6812 based on additional sensors, e.g. acceleration sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/687 by shifting the lens or sensor position

Abstract

Image stabilization systems and methods are disclosed. One embodiment of the image stabilization method, among others, includes detecting motion of a camera, and responsive to the detected motion, changing an optical filter orientation to displace an image provided on a sensor.

Claims

1. An image stabilization method, comprising:

detecting motion of a camera; and

responsive to the detected motion, changing an optical filter orientation to displace an image provided on a sensor.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein changing includes changing the optical filter orientation enough to reduce motion blur in the image.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting includes detecting rotational motion of the camera.

4. The method of claim 3, further including determining a first image displacement on the sensor resulting from the rotational motion.

5. The method of claim 4, further including determining the image displacement on the sensor to offset the first image displacement.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein changing includes effecting pitch and yaw motion of the optical filter.

7. An image stabilization system, comprising:

a motion sensor configured to detect motion of a camera;

an optical filter having an adjustable orientation; and

logic configured to receive motion information from the motion sensor and, responsive to the received motion information, effect a change in optical filter orientation.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the motion sensor is configured to sense pitch and yaw motion of the camera.

9. The system of claim 7, further including an optical filter assembly coupled to the optical filter that enables rotational motion of the optical filter.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the logic is configured to effect a change in optical filter orientation to reduce motion blur in an image.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the logic is configured to effect a change in optical filter orientation to offset a first image displacement on an image sensor resulting from the camera motion.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the logic is configured to determine a first image displacement on an image sensor based on focal length and the detected camera motion.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the logic is configured to determine a second image displacement on the image sensor to offset the first image displacement.

14. The system of claim 7, wherein the logic is configured in hardware.

15. The system of claim 7, wherein the logic is configured in software.

16. The system of claim 7, wherein the optical filter includes a blur filter.

17. The system of claim 7, wherein the optical filter includes an infrared filter.

18. An image stabilization system, comprising:

means for detecting rotational motion of a camera; and

means for adjusting an optical filter orientation responsive to the detected rotational motion such that an image is displaced on a sensor.

19. A computer-readable medium having a computer program comprising image stabilization methods, said program comprising:

logic configured to receive an indication of camera motion; and

logic configured to effect an optical filter orientation based on the indication of camera motion.

20. The program of claim 19, further including logic configured to convert camera motion to image displacement on a sensor.

21. The program of claim 19, further including logic configured to implement. Snell'"'"'s law to determine image displacement on a sensor.

22. The program of claim 19, further including logic configured to convert signal levels from a motion detector to rotational motion of a camera.

23. The program of claim 19, further including logic configured to convert image displacement on a sensor to signal levels to effect pitch and yaw motion of an optical filter.