Systems and Methods for High Dynamic Range Imaging Using Array Cameras

• US 20180013945A1
• Filed: 09/22/2017
• Published: 01/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: FotoNation Limited (Adeia, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Fotonation Cayman Limited
• Inventors: Ciurea, Florian, Venkataraman, Kartik
• Application Number:
  US15/713,482
• Publication Number:
  US 20180013945A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/13 with multiple sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/45 for generating image signals from two or more image sensors being of different type or operating in different modes, e.g. with a CMOS sensor for moving images in combination with a charge-coupled device [CCD] for still images
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/60 Control of cameras or camera modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/73 by influencing the exposure time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/741 by increasing the dynamic range of the image compared to the dynamic range of the electronic image sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/743 Bracketing, i.e. taking a series of images with varying exposure conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/951 by using two or more images to influence resolution, frame rate or aspect ratio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/581 acquired simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/585 with pixels having different sensitivities within the sensor, e.g. fast or slow pixels or pixels having different sizes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/70 SSIS architectures; Circuits associated therewith
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/265 Mixing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/33 Transforming infrared radiation cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from infrared radiation H04N23/20; circuitry of SSIS for transforming infrared radiation into image signals H04N25/20

Abstract

Systems and methods for high dynamic range imaging using array cameras in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, a method of generating a high dynamic range image using an array camera includes defining at least two subsets of active cameras, determining image capture settings for each subset of active cameras, where the image capture settings include at least two exposure settings, configuring the active cameras using the determined image capture settings for each subset, capturing image data using the active cameras, synthesizing an image for each of the at least two subset of active cameras using the captured image data, and generating a high dynamic range image using the synthesized images.

Claims

1. A method of generating a high dynamic range image using an array camera, the method comprising:

defining at least two subsets of active cameras;

determining image capture settings for each subset of active cameras, where the image capture settings include at least two exposure settings;

configuring the active cameras using the determined image capture settings for each subset;

capturing image data using the active cameras;

synthesizing an image for each of the at least two subset of active cameras using the captured image data; and

generating a high dynamic range image using the synthesized images.