Method and system for automatically adjusting exposure parameters of an imaging device

• US 20060170816A1
• Filed: 01/28/2005
• Published: 08/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Lim, Suk Hwan, Silverstein, D. Amnon
• Application Number:
  US11/045,730
• Publication Number:
  US 20060170816A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/362
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/72 Combination of two or more compensation controls

Abstract

A method and system for automatically adjusting exposure parameters of an imaging device. Motion of the imaging device is detected using a motion sensor of the imaging device. Exposure parameter information for the imaging device is accessed. At least one exposure parameter is automatically adjusted based on a measure of the motion and the exposure parameter information.

Claims

1. A method for automatically adjusting exposure parameters of an imaging device, said method comprising:

detecting motion of said imaging device using a motion sensor of said imaging device;

accessing exposure parameter information for said imaging device; and

automatically adjusting at least one exposure parameter based on a measure of said motion and said exposure parameter information.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said measure of said motion comprises a magnitude of said motion.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said detecting motion of said imaging device using said motion sensor comprises:

sensing said imaging device is preparing to capture an image; and

recording said motion in response to said sensing.

4. The method as recited in claim 3 wherein said sensing is performed using an eye sensor of said imaging device, wherein said imaging device is preparing to capture an image if said eye sensor detects that said imaging device is in close proximity to an eye of a person.

5. The method as recited in claim 3 wherein said sensing is performed using a shutter button of said imaging device, wherein said imaging device is preparing to capture an image if said shutter button is partially pressed.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said detecting motion of said imaging device using said motion sensor comprises recording said motion during an exposure of said imaging device.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said exposure parameter information comprises a lookup table for storing a plurality of said exposure parameters.

8. The method as recited in claim 7 wherein said plurality of said exposure parameters is selected from a group consisting of:

imaging device movement, zoom factor, light intensity, exposure time, system gain, and lens aperture.

9. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said automatically adjusting at least one exposure parameter based on a measure of said motion and said exposure parameter information comprises:

accessing said exposure parameter information corresponding to said measure of motion; and

automatically adjusting at least one said exposure parameter based on said exposure parameter information corresponding to said measure of motion.

10. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said imaging device is a digital camera.

11. An imaging device comprising:

a pixel array for capturing an image;

a motion sensor for detecting motion of said imaging device;

an exposure parameter control for accessing exposure parameter information for said imaging device and for automatically adjusting at least one exposure parameter based on a measure of said motion and said exposure parameter information.

12. The imaging device as recited in claim 11 wherein said measure of said motion comprises a magnitude of said motion.

13. The imaging device as recited in claim 11 further comprising an image capture sensor for sensing said imaging device is preparing to capture an image, wherein said motion sensor is operable to detect said motion in response to said sensing said imaging device is preparing to capture said image.

14. The imaging device as recited in claim 13 wherein said image capture sensor comprises an eye sensor, wherein said imaging device is preparing to capture an image if said eye sensor detects that said imaging device is in close proximity to an eye of a person.

15. The imaging device as recited in claim 13 wherein said image capture sensor comprises a shutter button, wherein said imaging device is preparing to capture an image if said shutter button is partially pressed.

16. The imaging device as recited in claim 11 further comprising motion data storage, wherein said motion is recorded and stored in said motion data storage.

17. The imaging device as recited in claim 11 wherein said exposure parameter information comprises a lookup table including a plurality of said exposure parameters.

18. The imaging device as recited in claim 17 wherein said plurality of said exposure parameters is selected from a group consisting of:

imaging device movement, zoom factor, light intensity, exposure time, system gain, and lens aperture.

19. The imaging device as recited in claim 11 wherein said exposure parameter control is operable to automatically adjusting at least one exposure parameter by accessing said exposure parameter information corresponding to said measure of motion and automatically adjusting at least one said exposure parameter based on said exposure parameter information corresponding to said measure of motion.

20. The imaging device as recited in claim 11 wherein said imaging device is a digital camera.

21. A computer-usable medium having computer-readable program code embodied therein for causing a computer system to perform a method for automatically adjusting exposure parameters of an imaging device, said method comprising:

detecting motion of said imaging device using a motion sensor of said imaging device;

accessing exposure parameter information for said imaging device; and

automatically adjusting at least one exposure parameter based on a measure of said motion and said exposure parameter information.

22. The computer-usable medium as recited in claim 21 wherein said measure of said motion comprises a magnitude of said motion.

23. The computer-usable medium as recited in claim 21 wherein said detecting motion of said imaging device using said motion sensor comprises:

sensing said imaging device is preparing to capture an image; and

recording said motion in response to said sensing.

24. The computer-usable medium as recited in claim 21 wherein said detecting motion of said imaging device using said motion sensor comprises recording said motion during an exposure of said imaging device.

25. The computer-usable medium as recited in claim 21 wherein said exposure parameter information comprises a lookup table for storing a plurality of said exposure parameters.

26. The computer-usable medium as recited in claim 21 wherein said automatically adjusting at least one exposure parameter based on a measure of said motion and said exposure parameter information comprises:

accessing said exposure parameter information corresponding to said measure of motion; and

automatically adjusting at least one said exposure parameter based on said exposure parameter information corresponding to said measure of motion.

27. The computer-usable medium as recited in claim 21 wherein said imaging device is a digital camera.

28. An imaging system comprising:

means for capturing an image;

means for detecting motion of said imaging system; and

means for accessing exposure parameter information for said imaging system and for automatically adjusting at least one exposure parameter based on a measure of said motion and said exposure parameter information.