Image capturing system and method for object image of low light intensity

• US 20090147092A1
• Filed: 12/07/2007
• Published: 06/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: THine Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Winbond Electronics Corporation
• Inventors: Isihara, Keiichiro, Nakada, Yasunori
• Application Number:
  US12/000,065
• Publication Number:
  US 20090147092A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/217.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/6811 based on the image signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/682 Vibration or motion blur correction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/70 Circuitry for compensating brightness variation in the scene
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/951 by using two or more images to influence resolution, frame rate or aspect ratio

Abstract

An image capturing system for capturing an object image of low light intensity comprises an image capturing means, a motion value detection means, a motion value detection means, an image data memory, and a preview image display. The image capturing means outputs a first frame and multiple second frames of object image data. The motion value detection means detects motion values between the first frame and each second frame. The superposition/addition means superposes/adds each second frame to the first frame or a prior superposed/added frame shifting in a reverse direction of the motion value. The image data memory temporally stores image data of the superposed/added frames and sends the image data of a frame superposed/added by a predetermined number of second frames to a predetermined device. The preview image display displays the object image prior to a still image capturing according to the image data of the superposed/added frames.

Claims

1. An image capturing system for capturing an object image of low light intensity comprising:

an image capturing means outputting a first frame and multiple second frames of object image data;

a motion value detection means receiving the first frame and the multiple second frames and detecting motion values between the first frame and each of the second frames;

a superposition/addition means superposing/adding each of the second frames to the first frame or a prior superposed/added frame which shifts in a reverse direction of the motion value;

an image data memory temporally storing image data of the superposed/added frames and sending the image data of a frame which is superposed/added by a predetermined number of second frames to a predetermined device; and

a preview image display displaying the object image prior to a still image capturing according to the image data of the superposed/added frames.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light intensity of the object image is smaller than 500 Lux.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined number of second frames which are superposed/added to the first frame or the prior superposed/added frame is determined according to the light intensity.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined device is a storage medium, and the image data of the frame which is superposed/added by the predetermined number of second frames is saved as final still image data.

5. The system as claimed in claim 4, wherein exposure time in the still image capturing is shorter than normal exposure time.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the image data memory sends image data of multiple final frames which are superposed/added by the predetermined number of second frames to the preview image display.

7. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein a frame rate of preview image displaying is smaller than a frame rate of preview image capturing.

8. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the image data memory is capable to store the image data of at least 2 frames.

9. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the motion value detection means and the superposition/addition means are configured as a hardware circuit and are integrated on a semiconductor chip.

10. An image capturing method for capturing an object image of low light intensity comprising:

generating a first frame and multiple second frames of object image data;

detecting motion values between the first frame and each of the second frames;

superposing/adding each of the second frames to the first frame or a prior superposed/added frame which shifts in a reverse direction of the motion value;

temporally storing image data of the superposed/added frames;

previewing the object image prior to a still image capturing according to the image data of the superposed/added frames; and

generating final still image data according to the image data of a frame which is superposed/added by a predetermined number of second frames in the still image capturing.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the light intensity of the object image is smaller than 500 Lux.

12. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the predetermined number of second frames which are superposed/added to the first frame or the prior superposed/added frame is determined according to the light intensity.

13. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the predetermined device is a storage medium.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein exposure time in the still image capturing is shorter than normal exposure time.

15. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein in the step of displaying the object image prior to the still image capturing, the object image is displayed according to multiple final frames which are superposed/added by the predetermined number of second frames.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein a frame rate of preview image displaying is smaller than a frame rate of preview image capturing.