Digital camera system having motion deblurring means

• US 7,110,024 B1
• Filed: 07/10/1998
• Issued: 09/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Lapstun, Paul, Silverbrook, Kia
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, LUONG TRUNG
• Application Number:
  US09/113,090
• Time in Patent Office: 2,993 Days
• Field of Search: 348/208, 348/208.2, 348/208.3, 348/208.4, 348/231.9, 348/207.99, 348/208.99, 348/207.2, 396/52, 396/53, 396/55, 359/554, 359/557, 358/502, 358/1.8, 358/1.9
• US Class Current: 348/208.99
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 29/00 Combinations of cameras, projectors or photographic printing apparatus with non-photographic non-optical apparatus, e.g. clocks or weapons; Cameras having the shape of other objects combinations with flash apparatus G03B15/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/68 for stable pick-up of the scene, e.g. compensating for camera body vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/682 Vibration or motion blur correction

Abstract

A camera system is disclosed having the ability to overcome the effects of motion blur. The camera system includes an image sensor; a velocity detection means such as a MEMS accelerometer for determining any motion of the image relative to an external environment; a processor means interconnected to the image sensor and the velocity detection means and adapted to process the sensed image so as to deblurr the image and to output the deblurred image to a printer means.

Claims

1. A camera system for outputting deblurred still images, said system comprising:

a portable handheld camera device comprising an image sensor adapted to capture a still, blurred image comprising at least one blurred pixel;

a velocity detector adapted to determine the velocity of the camera system relative to an external environment and to produce a velocity output indicative thereof;

a linear image sensor for sensing data provided on at least one encoded card inserted into the camera system, the at least one encoded card containing instructions for the manipulation of the blurred images; and

a processor adapted to receive said blurred image from said image sensor and said velocity output from said velocity detector and to process said blurred image under programme control determined from data sensed by the linear image sensor from the at least one encoded card, the programme control utilising the velocity output to deblur said at least one blurred pixel of said blurred image and to output said deblurred still image and wherein said processor is connected to an integral inkjet printer internal to said portable handheld camera device for output of said deblurred still image on print media.

2. A camera system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said velocity detector comprises an accelerometer.

3. A camera system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said accelerometer comprises:

a micro-electro mechanical device.