DIGITAL CAMERA WITH INTEGRATED ACCELEROMETERS

• US 20120236165A1
• Filed: 04/26/2012
• Published: 09/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Phase One A/S
• Original Assignee: Phase One A/S
• Inventors: Molgaard, Claus
• Application Number:
  US13/456,639
• Publication Number:
  US 20120236165A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/208.1
• 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 recording a movement-compensated image of an object by a digital camera system, said method comprising the following to be carried out by the digital camera system:

recording image data of the object by projecting an image of the object onto an image sensor having an array of light sensitive elements and generating electrical charges in the light sensitive elements;

generating information relating to time dependent movements of the digital camera system during the recording, and

correcting the recording of image data in accordance with the generated information by, during recording;

moving already generated charges between different light sensitive elements in the array; and

/or

mechanically moving the image sensor in an image plane of the digital camera system;

to compensate for the time dependent movements of the digital camera system during recording and thus reduce or prevent image blur.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the correction of the recording of image data comprises moving charges in a first direction of the image plane and moving the image sensor in a second, perpendicular direction of the image plane.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein generating the information relating to time dependent movements comprises:

providing a first accelerometer in the digital camera system, the first accelerometer being sensitive to acceleration in a first direction, said first accelerometer being adapted to provide a first output signal in response to acceleration in the first direction;

providing a second accelerometer in the digital camera system, the second accelerometer being sensitive to acceleration in a second direction different from the first direction, said second accelerometer being adapted to provide a second output signal in response to acceleration in the second direction; and

using the first and second output signals to obtain the information relating to time dependent movements of the digital camera system during recording.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein using the output signals to obtain the information involves band-pass filtering the output signals to obtain information relating to dynamic accelerations.

5. The method according to claim 3, further comprising providing a third accelerometer in the digital camera system, the third accelerometer being sensitive to acceleration in a third direction different from the first and second directions, said third accelerometer being adapted to provide a third output signal in response to acceleration in the third direction;

and

using also the third output signal to obtain the information relating to time dependent movements of the digital camera system during recording.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the time dependent movements are movements of the digital camera system relative to the object being imaged.

7. A non-transitory digital storage holding software comprising code adapted to perform the step of correcting the recording of image data of the method of claim 1 when executed by a central processing unit in the digital camera system.

8. A method of correcting image data during recording of an image of an object by a digital camera system, said method comprising the following to be carried out by the digital camera system:

recording image data of the object by projecting an image of the object onto an image sensor having an array of light sensitive elements and generating electrical charges in the light sensitive elements;

generating information relating to time dependent movements of the digital camera system during the recording, and

correcting the recording of image data in accordance with the generated information by, during recording;

moving already generated charges between different light sensitive elements in the array; and

/or

mechanically moving the image sensor in an image plane of the digital camera system;

to compensate for the time dependent movements of the digital camera system during recording, and thus reduce or prevent image blur.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the correction of the recording of image data comprises moving charges in a first direction of the image plane and moving the image sensor in a second, perpendicular direction of the image plane.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein generating the information relating to time dependent movements comprises:

providing a first accelerometer in the digital camera system, the first accelerometer being sensitive to acceleration in a first direction, said first accelerometer being adapted to provide a first output signal in response to acceleration in the first direction;

providing a second accelerometer in the digital camera system, the second accelerometer being sensitive to acceleration in a second direction different from the first direction, said second accelerometer being adapted to provide a second output signal in response to acceleration in the second direction; and

using the first and second output signals to obtain the information relating to time dependent movements of the digital camera system during recording.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein using the output signals to obtain the information involves band-pass filtering the output signals to obtain information relating to dynamic accelerations.

12. The method according to claim 10, further comprising providing a third accelerometer in the digital camera system, the third accelerometer being sensitive to acceleration in a third direction different from the first and second directions, said third accelerometer being adapted to provide a third output signal in response to acceleration in the third direction;

and

using also the third output signal to obtain the information relating to time dependent movements of the digital camera system during recording.

13. A non-transitory digital storage holding software comprising code adapted to perform the step of correcting the recording of image data of the method of claim 8 when executed by a central processing unit in the digital camera system.

14. A digital camera system comprising:

an image sensor having an array of light sensitive elements for recording image data of an object to be imaged by generating electrical charges in the light sensitive elements;

a first accelerometer sensitive to acceleration in a first direction and being adapted to provide a first output signal in response to acceleration in the first direction;

a second accelerometer sensitive to acceleration in a second direction different from the first direction and being adapted to provide a second output signal in response to acceleration in the second direction;

a signal processing unit comprising an acceleration data processing module configured to determine information relating to time dependent movements of the digital camera system during recording of image data from the first and second output signals; and

means for correcting the recording of image data in accordance with the determined information relating to movements by, during recording;

causing already generated charges to move between different light sensitive elements in the array; and

/or

causing the image sensor to move in an image plane of the digital camera system;

to compensate for the time dependent movements of the digital camera system during recording of image data, and thus reduce or prevent image blur.

15. The digital camera system according to claim 14, further comprising a filter configured to band-pass filter the first and second output signals to obtain information relating to dynamic accelerations, and wherein the acceleration data processing module uses the information relating to dynamic accelerations.

16. The digital camera system according to claim 14, wherein the acceleration data processing module and the means for correcting the recording of image data are integrated in a digital processing unit or analog electronics of the digital camera system.

17. The digital camera system according to claim 14, further comprising a non-transitory digital storage holding software comprising code adapted to provide the acceleration data processing module and the means for correcting the recording of image data when run by the signal processing unit.

18. The digital camera system according to claim 14, further comprising one or more micro-positioning devices arranged for moving the image sensor in one or more directions in the image plane.

19. The digital camera system according to claim 14, wherein the accelerometers are integrated on a monolithic chip in the digital camera system.

20. The digital camera system according to claim 14, further comprising a third accelerometer sensitive to acceleration in a third direction different from the first and second directions and being adapted to provide a third output signal in response to acceleration in the third direction;

and wherein the filter is further configured to band-pass filter the third output signal to obtain further information relating to dynamic accelerations.