Camera having an adaptive gain control
First Claim
1. An apparatus for generating a digital output signal representing a captured image, said apparatus comprising:
- a sensor for capturing said image and generating a sensor output signal;
a gain control amplifier coupled to receive said sensor output signal, said gain control amplifier having controls for applying various levels of gain to said sensor output signal;
an analog-to-digital converter couple to said gain control amplifier, said analog-to-digital converter generating said digital output signal representing said captured image; and
a processor coupled to said analog-to-digital converter and said gain control amplifier, said processor providing a control signal to said gain control amplifier for adjusting the level of the gain applied by said gain control amplifier.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for generating a digital output signal representing a captured image includes a sensor for capturing the image and generating a sensor output signal. A gain control amplifier is coupled to the sensor and receives the sensor output signal. The gain control amplifier has controls for applying various levels of gain to the sensor output signal. An analog-to-digital converter is coupled to the gain control amplifier and generates the digital output signal representing the captured image. A processor is coupled to the analog-to-digital converter and the gain control amplifier. The processor provides a control signal to the gain control amplifier for adjusting the level of gain applied by the amplifier.
51 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An apparatus for generating a digital output signal representing a captured image, said apparatus comprising:
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a sensor for capturing said image and generating a sensor output signal; a gain control amplifier coupled to receive said sensor output signal, said gain control amplifier having controls for applying various levels of gain to said sensor output signal; an analog-to-digital converter couple to said gain control amplifier, said analog-to-digital converter generating said digital output signal representing said captured image; and a processor coupled to said analog-to-digital converter and said gain control amplifier, said processor providing a control signal to said gain control amplifier for adjusting the level of the gain applied by said gain control amplifier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus for capturing an image and generating a digital signal representing said captured image, comprising
a camera, including: -
a sensor for capturing said image and generating a sensor output signal; a gain control amplifier coupled to receive said sensor output signal, said gain control amplifier having controls for applying various levels of gain to said sensor output signal; an analog-to-digital converter coupled to said gain control amplifier, said analog-to-digital converter generating said digital signal representing said captured image; and a processor coupled to said camera, said processor receiving said digital signal generated by said analog-to-digital converter, and wherein said processor provides a control signal to said gain control amplifier for adjusting the level of the gain applied by said gain control amplifier. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A camera for producing a digital output signal representing a captured image, said camera comprising:
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a sensor for capturing said image and generating a sensor output signal; a gain control amplifier coupled to receive said sensor output signal, said gain control amplifier having controls for applying various levels of gain to said sensor output signal; an analog-to-digital converter coupled to said gain control amplifier, said analog-to-digital converter generating said digital output signal representing said captured image; and a register coupled to said gain control amplifier, wherein a gain map is stored in said register for determining appropriate levels of gain to apply to said sensor output signal. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A method for enhancing the dynamic range of a digital output signal generated by a camera, said method comprising the steps of:
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capturing an image; generating a signal representative of said captured image; amplifying said signal in response to gain settings contained in a gain map, each gain setting associated with a particular region of said captured image; and updating said gain settings contained in said gain map in response to clipping of said amplified signal. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. An apparatus for capturing an image and generating a digital output signal representing said captured image, said apparatus comprising:
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means for capturing said image and generating an analog signal representing said captured image; means for updating a plurality of gain settings applied to said analog signal representing said captured image; and means for generating a control signal indicating a particular gain setting to be applied to a portion of said analog signal representing said captured image.
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Specification