DIGITAL IMAGE ACQUISITION DEVICE WITH BUILT IN DUST AND SENSOR MAPPING CAPABILITY
First Claim
1. A digital image acquisition device having an image acquisition sensor, a shutter, one or more optical elements for focusing an image on the sensor, and an aperture disposed between at least one of said one or more optical elements and said shutter, the device including a light source located in a body of the device, and being arranged to periodically activate the light source when one of a lens cap, shutter or said aperture is closed, or a combination thereof, and to derive a map of defects in the sensor or on the surface of the sensor, or both, from a calibration image acquired by the sensor when illuminated by the light source.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A digital image acquisition device has an image acquisition sensor, a shutter, an aperture and optical elements for focusing an image on the sensor. The device includes a light source located in the body of the device. The light source is periodically activated with one of the aperture or shutter closed, and the device derives a map of defects on the surface of the sensor from a calibration image acquired by the sensor when illuminated by the light source.
116 Citations
50 Claims
- 1. A digital image acquisition device having an image acquisition sensor, a shutter, one or more optical elements for focusing an image on the sensor, and an aperture disposed between at least one of said one or more optical elements and said shutter, the device including a light source located in a body of the device, and being arranged to periodically activate the light source when one of a lens cap, shutter or said aperture is closed, or a combination thereof, and to derive a map of defects in the sensor or on the surface of the sensor, or both, from a calibration image acquired by the sensor when illuminated by the light source.
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20. A digital image acquisition device, comprising:
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(a) a camera body configured for coupling with a lens assembly;
(b) an electronic image sensor within the camera body;
(c) a shutter for controlling exposure of the sensor by ambient light;
(d) a light source disposed between the sensor and any lenses of the lens assembly for illuminating the sensor;
(e) a processor; and
(f) one or more digital storage devices having instructions embedded therein for programming the processor to control the light source to illuminate the sensor and to create a sensor defect map based on a calibration image acquired by the sensor when illuminated by the light source. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method of correcting acquired digital images for detected sensor defects, comprising:
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(a) providing a camera body that is configured for coupling with a lens assembly and that contains an electronic image sensor, and a light source;
(b) optically enclosing the sensor and light source thereby preventing exposure of the sensor by ambient light;
(c) illuminating the sensor with the light source;
(d) detecting a calibration image acquired by the sensor when illuminated by the light source;
(e) creating a sensor defect map based on the calibration image. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. One or more digital storage devices having digital code embodied therein for programming one or more processors to perform a method of correcting acquired digital images for detected sensor defects, the method comprising:
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(a) initiating an optical enclosure of an image sensor and a light source thereby preventing exposure of the sensor by ambient light;
(b) illuminating the sensor with the light source;
(c) detecting a calibration image acquired by the sensor when illuminated by the light source; and
(d) creating a sensor defect map based on the calibration image. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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Specification