Image Acquisition Method and Apparatus

• US 20070296833A1
• Filed: 05/24/2007
• Published: 12/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FotoNation Limited (Adeia, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: FotoNation Vision Limited (Adeia, Inc.)
• Inventors: Corcoran, Peter, Steinberg, Eran, Bigioi, Petronel, Drimbarean, Alexandru, Zamfir, Adrian, Florea, Corneliu
• Granted Patent: US 8,169,486 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/231.99
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/68 for stable pick-up of the scene, e.g. compensating for camera body vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/681 Motion detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/6812 based on additional sensors, e.g. acceleration sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/6845 by combination of a plurality of images sequentially taken

Abstract

An image acquisition sensor of a digital image acquisition apparatus is coupled to imaging optics for acquiring a sequence of images. Images acquired by the sensor are stored. A motion detector causes the sensor to cease capture of an image when the degree of movement in acquiring the image exceeds a threshold. A controller selectively transfers acquired images for storage. A motion extractor determines motion parameters of a selected, stored image. An image re-constructor corrects the selected image with associated motion parameters. A selected plurality of images nominally of the same scene are merged and corrected by the image re-constructor to produce a high quality image of the scene.

Claims

1. A digital image acquisition apparatus, comprising:

an image acquisition sensor coupled to imaging optics for acquiring a sequence of images;

an image store for storing images acquired by said sensor;

a motion detector for causing said sensor to cease capture of an image when the degree of movement in acquiring said image exceeds a threshold;

a controller for selectively transferring said image acquired by said sensor to said image store;

a motion extractor for determining motion parameters of a selected image stored in said image store;

an image re-constructor for correcting a selected image with associated motion parameters; and

an image merger for merging a selected plurality of images nominally of the same scene and corrected by said image re-constructor to produce a high quality image of said scene.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the motion extractor is configured to estimate a point spread function (PSF) for said selected image.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said motion extractor is configured to:

calculate a Cepstrum for said selected image;

identify one or more spikes in said Cepstrum; and

select one of said spikes in said Cepstrum as an end point for said PSF.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said extractor is configured to calculate a negative Cepstrum, and to set points in said negative Cepstrum having a value less than a threshold to zero.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said image stored comprises a temporary image store, and wherein said apparatus further comprises a non-volatile memory, said image merger being configured to store said high quality image in said non-volatile memory.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said motion detector comprises a gyro-sensor or an accelerometer, or both.

7. A digital image acquisition apparatus, comprising:

an image acquisition sensor coupled to imaging optics for acquiring a sequence of images;

an image store for storing images acquired by said sensor;

a motion detector for causing said sensor to cease capture of an image when the degree of movement in acquiring said image exceeds a first threshold;

one or more controllers that causes the sensor to restart capture when the degree of movement is less than a given second threshold and that selectively transfers said image acquired by said sensor to said image store;

a motion extractor for determining motion parameters of a selected image stored in said image store;

an image re-constructor for correcting a selected image with associated motion parameters; and

an image merger for merging a selected plurality of images nominally of the same scene and corrected by said image re-constructor to produce a high quality image of said scene.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a first exposure timer for storing an aggregate exposure time of a sequence of images, and wherein said apparatus is configured to acquire said sequence of images until the aggregate exposure time of at least a stored number of said sequence of images exceeds a predetermined exposure time for said high quality image.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a second timer for storing an exposure time for a single image, and wherein said apparatus is configured to dispose of an image having an exposure time less than a threshold time.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, further comprising an image quality analyzer for a single image, and wherein said apparatus is configured to dispose of an image having a quality less than a given threshold quality.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said image merger is configured to align said selected plurality of images prior to merging said images.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said first and second thresholds comprise threshold amounts of motion energy.