DUAL MODE CAMERA SOLUTION APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD
First Claim
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1. A dual-mode camera system in which control of the dynamic range is provided at a system level, comprising:
- an image processing and control system, including;
a buffer for image signals received from an image sensor having an array of pixels;
an image processor receiving buffered image signals from the buffer; and
a dynamic range mode controller within the image processing and control system selecting an operating mode of the camera system, the operating modes including a first operating mode and a second operating mode, the first operating mode having a high dynamic range (HDR) and the second operating mode having a normal dynamic range that is not HDR (non-HDR).
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Abstract
A camera solution includes an image sensor and an image processing and control system. At least two different operating modes are supported, with one of the modes having a higher dynamic range. Control of the dynamic range is provided at the system level. The system supports statically or dynamically selecting an operating mode that determines the dynamic range of a camera. In one implementation, the system supports the use of either a conventional image sensor that does not natively support a high dynamic range or a dual-mode image sensor.
342 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A dual-mode camera system in which control of the dynamic range is provided at a system level, comprising:
an image processing and control system, including; a buffer for image signals received from an image sensor having an array of pixels; an image processor receiving buffered image signals from the buffer; and a dynamic range mode controller within the image processing and control system selecting an operating mode of the camera system, the operating modes including a first operating mode and a second operating mode, the first operating mode having a high dynamic range (HDR) and the second operating mode having a normal dynamic range that is not HDR (non-HDR). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A dual-mode camera in which control of the dynamic range is provided at a system level, comprising:
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an image sensor array having an array of pixels; and an image processing and control system, including; an image processor to process image signals received from the image sensor array and generate digital images; and a dynamic range mode controller in the image processing and control system to select an operating mode of the camera, the operating modes including a first operating mode and a second operating mode, the first operating mode having a high dynamic range (HDR) and the second operating mode having a normal dynamic range that is not HDR (non-HDR). - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A dual-mode camera in which the dynamic range is adapted to changing environmental conditions, comprising:
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an image sensor having an array of pixels formed on a first chip; an image processing and control system, including a buffer for image signals received from the image sensor; a processor formed on a second chip, the processor processing buffered image signals from the buffer to generate digital images; and a dynamic range mode controller within the image processing and control system to select an operating mode based on environmental conditions, the dynamic range mode controller in response to detecting an extended dynamic range is required selecting a first operating mode in which the image sensor is operated to generate a high dynamic range and in response to detecting that a normal dynamic range that is not HDR (non-HDR) is required selecting a second operating mode in which the image sensor is operated to generate images with a non-HDR dynamic range. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification