DIGITAL CAMERA WITH INTEGRATED ACCELEROMETERS

• US 20090251565A1
• Filed: 05/27/2009
• Published: 10/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Phase One A/S
• Original Assignee: Phase One A/S
• Inventors: Molgaard, Claus
• Granted Patent: US 8,102,429 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/231.200
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/00 Details of cameras or camera bodies; Accessories therefor lens hoods or caps G03B11/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3878 Skew detection or correction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4092 Edge or detail enhancement
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/633 for displaying additional information relating to control or operation of the camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/6812 based on additional sensors, e.g. acceleration sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/683 performed by a processor, e.g. controlling the readout of an image memory

Abstract

A digital camera system has integrated accelerometers for determining static and dynamic accelerations of the digital cameral system. Data relating to static and dynamic accelerations are stored with recorded image data for further processing, such as for correcting image data for roll, pitch and vibrations and for displaying recorded images with a predetermined orientation using information about, e.g., roll. Data may also be used on-the-fly for smear suppression caused by vibrations.

Claims

1. A method of processing image data, said method comprising:

providing image data, said image data being stored in memory;

determining information relating to static accelerations, said determining including providing a first sensor sensitive to acceleration in a first direction, said first sensor being adapted to provide a first output signal in response to acceleration in the first direction, and

providing a second sensor sensitive to acceleration in a second direction, said second sensor being adapted to provide a second output signal in response to acceleration in the second direction, the second direction being different from the first direction;

low-pass filtering the first and second output signals so as to obtain information relating to static accelerations, said information being recorded and stored with the image data; and

correcting the image data in accordance with the information relating to static accelerations so as to correct the image data and reduce the influence of roll and pitch.

2. A digital storage holding software comprising code adapted to perform the method of claim 1, when said software is run by a central processing unit in a digital camera system.

3. A method of displaying an image recorded by a digital camera system with a predetermined orientation, said method comprising:

providing information identifying a roll angle of the recorded image, said information being provided by first and second accelerometers sensitive to accelerations in respective first and second directions to identify angles of roll corresponding to vertical and horizontal orientations and other angles of roll, the second direction being different from the first direction; and

using the provided information to determine an orientation by which the recorded image is to be displayed and/or stored, the orientation comprises portrait and landscape orientations, where said determining the orientation by which the recorded image is to be displayed and/or stored comprises using hysteresis on the roll angle identification to prevent unintended switching between the portrait orientation and the landscape orientation.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein said determining the orientation by which the recorded image is to be displayed and/or stored includes letting a user determine at which predetermined roll angle the recorded image toggles between the portrait and landscape orientations.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined acceleration levels correspond to a predetermined degree of roll of the recorded image.

6. A digital storage holding software comprising code adapted to perform the method of claim 3, when said software is run by a central processing unit in the digital camera system.

7. A method according to claim 3, wherein the identifiable angles of roll include all angles of roll within a range of at least 180 degrees of roll.

8. A method according to claim 3, wherein the identifiable angles of roll include all angles of roll within a range of 360 degrees of roll.

9. A method according to claim 3, wherein said information provided by first and second accelerometers comprises respective outputs that are continuous functions of accelerations in the first and second directions.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein providing said respective outputs comprises using first and second micro-mechanical accelerometers integrated on a monolithic chip as the first and second accelerometers.

11. A method according to claim 3, further comprising correcting the recorded image in accordance with the identified roll angle to reduce the influence of roll away from a vertical orientation or a horizontal orientation.

12. A method according to claim 3, further comprising:

providing information identifying a pitch angle of the recorded image, said information being provided by a third accelerometer and the first and/or second accelerometers, the third accelerometer being sensitive to accelerations in a third direction normal to the first and second directions; and

using the provided information to prevent unintended switching between the portrait orientation and the landscape orientation.

13. A method of correcting image data during recording of an image of an object, said method comprising:

recording image data of the object by projecting the object onto an array of light sensitive elements, said recorded image data being generated as electrical charges in the array of light sensitive elements;

providing information relating to time dependent movements of the array of light sensitive elements relative to the object; and

correcting the recorded image data in accordance with the provided information relating to movements of the array of light sensitive elements relative to the object by moving charges in the array of light sensitive elements so as to correct for relative movements between the array of light sensitive elements and the image of the object.

14. A method of correcting image data during recording of an image of an object, said method comprising:

recording image data of the object by projecting an image of the object onto an array of light sensitive elements;

providing information relating to time dependent movements of the array of light sensitive elements relative to the image of the object; and

correcting the recorded image data in accordance with the provided information relating to movements of the array of light sensitive elements relative to the image of the object by counter moving the array of light sensitive elements so as to compensate for the time dependent movements.

15. A digital camera system comprising:

a detector which determines static and dynamic accelerations, said detector including

a first sensor sensitive to acceleration in a first direction, said first sensor providing a first output signal in response to acceleration in the first direction, and

a second sensor sensitive to acceleration in a second direction, said second sensor providing a second output signal in response to acceleration in the second direction, the second direction being different from the first direction;

a first processor being adapted to process the first and second output signals, said processor including a first filter being adapted to low-pass filter the first and second output signals so as to obtain updated information relating to static accelerations;

a second processor being adapted to correlate said updated information relating to static accelerations with predetermined information relating to static accelerations, and to generate one or more correlation signals indicative of a relative difference between the updated and predetermined information; and

an indicator providing an output based on said one or more correlation signals.

16. A digital camera system according to claim 15, wherein the output from the indicator is adapted to guide a user to orient the digital camera so that the updated information relating to static accelerations is at least substantially equivalent to the predetermined information relating to static accelerations.

17. A method of displaying an image recorded by a digital camera system with a predetermined orientation, said method comprising:

providing first and second micro-mechanical accelerometers integrated on a monolithic chip in the digital camera system, the accelerometers being sensitive to accelerations in first and second directions to provide respective outputs that are continuous functions of accelerations in the first and second directions, wherein the first direction is different than the second direction;

determining, from the outputs of the accelerometers, a roll angle of the camera when the image was recorded; and

using the determined roll angle to determine an orientation by which the recorded image is to be displayed and/or stored by use of hysteresis on the roll angle determination to prevent unintended switching between the portrait orientation and the landscape orientation.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein said determining the orientation by which the recorded image is to be displayed and/or stored includes toggling between the portrait and landscape orientations at a user selected roll angle.

19. A digital storage holding software comprising code adapted to perform the method of claim 17, said software is run by a central processing unit in the digital camera system.

20. A method according to claim 17, wherein all angles of roll within a range of at least 180 degrees of roll are identifiable by said determining a roll angle.

21. A method according to claim 17, wherein all angles of roll within a range of at least 360 degrees of roll are identifiable by said determining a roll angle.

22. A method according to claim 17, further comprising correcting the recorded image in accordance with the determined roll angle to reduce the influence of roll away from a vertical orientation or a horizontal orientation.

23. A method according to claim 17, further comprising:

providing a third micro-mechanical accelerometer integrated on a monolithic chip in the digital camera system, the third accelerometer being sensitive to accelerations in a third direction normal to the first and second directions to provide an output that is a continuous function of accelerations in the third direction;

determining, from the outputs of the accelerometers, a pitch angle of the camera when the image was recorded; and

using the determined pitch angle to prevent unintended switching between the portrait orientation and the landscape orientation.

24. A method of recording images using a camera system, comprising:

detecting a roll angle during recording, responsive to accelerations of the camera system in first and second directions to identify angles of roll corresponding to vertical and horizontal orientations and other angles of roll, the second direction being perpendicular with respect to the first direction; and

using the detected roll angle to determine an orientation by which the recorded image is to be displayed and/or stored by use of hysteresis on the roll angle detection to prevent unintended switching between the portrait orientation and the landscape orientation.

25. A method according to claim 24, wherein said detecting a roll angle comprises using first and second accelerometers providing respective outputs that are continuous functions of accelerations in the first and second directions.

26. A method according to claim 24, wherein providing said respective outputs comprises using the first and second micro-mechanical accelerometers integrated on a monolithic chip.

27. A method according to claim 24, wherein said determining the orientation by which the recorded image is to be displayed and/or stored includes toggling between the portrait and landscape orientations at a user selected roll angle.

28. A digital storage holding software comprising code adapted to perform the method of claim 24, said software is run by a central processing unit in the camera system.

29. A method according to claim 24, wherein the identifiable angles of roll include all angles of roll within a range of at least 180 degrees of roll.

30. A method according to claim 24, wherein the identifiable angles of roll include all angles of roll within a range of 360 degrees of roll.

31. A method according to claim 24, further comprising correcting the recorded image in accordance with the detected roll angle to reduce the influence of roll away from vertical orientation or a horizontal orientation.

32. A method according to claim 24, further comprising:

detecting a pitch angle of the camera system during recording, responsive to accelerations of the camera system in a third direction normal to the first and second directions; and

using the detected pitch angle to prevent unintended switching between the portrait orientation and the landscape orientation.