Image Capture Device to Minimize the Effect of Device Movement

• US 20100277603A1
• Filed: 04/29/2009
• Published: 11/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Tsai, Richard
• Application Number:
  US12/432,623
• Publication Number:
  US 20100277603A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/208.4
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/68 for stable pick-up of the scene, e.g. compensating for camera body vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/73 by influencing the exposure time

Abstract

A device to capture an image includes an image sensor on which an optical image is formed by a lens. The image sensor provides electrical signals that represent the optical image. A motion sensor is included to sense movement of the image sensor. An image processor is coupled to the image sensor and the motion sensor. The image processor adjusts an integration time of the image sensor responsive to the motion sensor and creates a digital image according to the electrical signals received from the image sensor. The image processor may further respond to a signal-to-noise ratio in the electrical signals when adjusting the integration time. The image processor may select a frame scan of the image sensor responsive to the motion sensor. The image processor may add movement metadata to the digital image.

Claims

1. A device to capture a digital image, the device comprising:

an image sensor on which an optical image is formed by a lens, the image sensor collecting electrical signals during an integration time and providing the electrical signals as a representation of the optical image;

a motion sensor that senses movement of the image sensor; and

an image processor coupled to the image sensor and the motion sensor, the image processor to adjust an integration time of the image sensor responsive to the motion sensor and to create the digital image according to the electrical signals received from the image sensor.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor is an accelerometer that is mechanically fixed such that there is no relative movement between the accelerometer and the image sensor.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor is an inertial sensor that is mechanically fixed such that there is no relative movement between the inertial sensor and the image sensor.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the motion sensor is a gyroscopic type sensor.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the image processor adjusts the integration time of the image sensor responsive further to a signal to noise ratio in the electrical signals received from the image sensor.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the image processor creates the digital image in response to a shutter release signal, the image processor causing the image sensor to collect electrical signals after a delay time that is adjusted responsive to the movement of the device.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the image processor adds movement metadata to the digital image according to input from the motion sensor when the digital image was created.

8. A method for capturing a digital image, the method comprising:

forming an optical image on an image sensor;

collecting electrical signals in the image sensor during an integration time, the electrical signals representing the optical image;

sensing movement of the image sensor;

adjusting the integration time of the image sensor responsive to the movement of the image sensor; and

creating the digital image according to the electrical signals from the image sensor.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein movement of the image sensor is sensed with an accelerometer that is mechanically fixed such that there is no relative movement between the accelerometer and the image sensor.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein movement of the image sensor is sensed with an inertial sensor that is mechanically fixed such that there is no relative movement between the inertial sensor and the image sensor.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the inertial sensor is a gyroscopic type sensor.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein adjusting the integration time is further responsive to a signal to noise ratio in the electrical signals from the image sensor.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein creating the digital image further includes:

receiving a shutter release signal; and

adjusting a delay time between receiving the shutter release signal and collecting electrical signals in the image sensor, the delay time being adjusted responsive to the movement of the device.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising adding movement metadata to the digital image according to the movement of the device when the digital image was created.

15. A device to capture a digital image, the device comprising:

means for forming an optical image;

means for collecting electrical signals in the image sensor during an integration time, the electrical signals representing the optical image;

means for sensing movement of the image sensor;

means for adjusting the integration time of the image sensor responsive to the movement of the image sensor; and

means for creating the digital image according to the electrical signals from the means for forming the optical image.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the means for sensing movement of the device is an accelerometer that is mechanically fixed to the device such that there is no relative movement between the accelerometer and the means for forming the optical image.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein the means for sensing movement of the device is an inertial sensor that is mechanically supported by the device such that there is no relative movement between the inertial sensor and the means for forming the optical image.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the inertial sensor is a gyroscopic type sensor.

19. The device of claim 15, wherein the means for adjusting the integration time is further responsive to a signal to noise ratio in the electrical signals from the means for forming the optical image.

20. The device of claim 15, wherein the device further includes:

means for receiving a shutter release signal; and

means for adjusting a delay time between receiving the shutter release signal and collecting electrical signals in the image sensor, the delay time being adjusted responsive to the movement of the device.

21. The device of claim 15, further comprising means for adding movement metadata to the digital image according to the movement of the device when the digital image was created.