Digital image acquisition and processing system
First Claim
1. A digital image acquisition and processing system that automatically corrects dust artifact regions within acquired images by compiling a statistical dust map from multiple images acquired under different image acquisition conditions, comprising:
- (A) a digital camera, comprising;
(i) an optical system for acquiring an image including a lens assembly and an aperture stop; and
(ii) an electronic sensor array disposed approximately at an image focal plane of the optical system for collecting image data according to spectral information associated with multiple pixels that collectively correspond to the image; and
(B) an external processing device for coupling with the digital camera to receive the image data or converted image data internally processed within the digital camera, the external device comprising digital processing electronics including a processor for processing the image data according to programming instructions; and
(C) wherein the system further comprises one or more memories having programming instructions stored therein for performing a method of automatic image correction of dust defect regions, the image correction method comprising;
(i) acquiring multiple original digital images with said digital acquisition device;
(ii) determining probabilities that certain pixels correspond to dust artifact regions within said images based at least in part on a comparison of suspected dust artifact regions within two or more of said images;
(iii) associating probable dust artifact regions with one or more values of one or more extracted parameters relating to the lens assembly of the digital acquisition device when the images were acquired;
(iv) forming a statistical dust map including mapped dust regions based on the dust artifact determining and associating;
(v) correcting pixels corresponding to correlated dust artifact regions within further digitally-acquired images based on the associated statistical dust map.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A digital image acquisition and processing system that automatically corrects dust artifact regions within acquired images by compiling a statistical dust map from multiple images acquired under different image acquisition conditions is provided. The system includes a digital camera and an external processing device. The camera includes an optical system for acquiring an image including a lens assembly and an aperture stop, and an electronic sensor array disposed approximately at an image focal plane of the optical system for collecting image data according to spectral information associated with multiple pixels that collectively correspond to the image. The external processing device couples with the digital camera to receive the image data or converted image data internally processed within the digital camera. The external device includes digital processing electronics including a processor for processing the image data according to programming instructions. The system includes one or more memories having programming instructions stored therein for performing a method of automatic image correction of dust defect regions.
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Citations
70 Claims
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1. A digital image acquisition and processing system that automatically corrects dust artifact regions within acquired images by compiling a statistical dust map from multiple images acquired under different image acquisition conditions, comprising:
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(A) a digital camera, comprising; (i) an optical system for acquiring an image including a lens assembly and an aperture stop; and (ii) an electronic sensor array disposed approximately at an image focal plane of the optical system for collecting image data according to spectral information associated with multiple pixels that collectively correspond to the image; and (B) an external processing device for coupling with the digital camera to receive the image data or converted image data internally processed within the digital camera, the external device comprising digital processing electronics including a processor for processing the image data according to programming instructions; and (C) wherein the system further comprises one or more memories having programming instructions stored therein for performing a method of automatic image correction of dust defect regions, the image correction method comprising; (i) acquiring multiple original digital images with said digital acquisition device; (ii) determining probabilities that certain pixels correspond to dust artifact regions within said images based at least in part on a comparison of suspected dust artifact regions within two or more of said images; (iii) associating probable dust artifact regions with one or more values of one or more extracted parameters relating to the lens assembly of the digital acquisition device when the images were acquired; (iv) forming a statistical dust map including mapped dust regions based on the dust artifact determining and associating; (v) correcting pixels corresponding to correlated dust artifact regions within further digitally-acquired images based on the associated statistical dust map. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A digital image acquisition and processing system that automatically corrects dust artifact regions within acquired images by compiling a statistical dust map from multiple images acquired under different image acquisition conditions, comprising:
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(A) a digital camera, comprising; (i) an optical system for acquiring an image including a lens assembly and an aperture stop; and (ii) an electronic sensor array disposed approximately at an image focal plane of the optical system for collecting image data according to spectral information associated with multiple pixels that collectively correspond to the image; and (B) an external processing device for coupling with the digital camera to receive the image data or converted image data internally processed within the digital camera, the external device comprising digital processing electronics including a processor for processing the image data according to programming instructions; and (C) wherein the system further comprises one or more memories having programming instructions stored therein for performing a method of automatic image correction of dust defect regions, the image correction method comprising; (i) digitally-acquiring one or more original images with said digital camera; (ii) determining probabilities that certain pixels correspond to dust artifact regions within said one or more digitally-acquired images; (iii) associating the dust artifact regions with one or more extracted parameters relating to the optical system when the one or more images were acquired; (iv) forming a statistical dust map including mapped dust regions based on the dust artifact probability determining and associating; (v) correcting pixels corresponding to dust artifact regions within each of said one or more original images based on the associated statistical dust map. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A digital image acquisition and processing system that automatically corrects dust artifact regions within acquired images by compiling a statistical dust map from multiple images acquired under different image acquisition conditions, comprising:
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(A) a digital camera, comprising; (i) an optical system for acquiring an image including a lens assembly and an aperture stop; and (ii) an electronic sensor array disposed approximately at an image focal plane of the optical system for collecting image data according to spectral information associated with multiple pixels that collectively correspond to the image; and (B) an external processing device for coupling with the digital camera to receive the image data or converted image data internally processed within the digital camera, the external device comprising digital processing electronics including a processor for processing the image data according to programming instructions; and (C) wherein the system further comprises one or more memories having programming instructions stored therein for performing a method of automatic image correction of dust defect regions, the image correction method comprising; (i) determining that certain pixels correspond to dust artifact regions within a first digitally-acquired image; (ii) associating the dust artifact regions with one or more extracted parameters relating to a variable optical system of said digital camera when the first image was acquired; (iii) forming an associated statistical dust map including mapped dust regions based on the dust artifact determining and associating operations and known correspondence between effects on dust artifact data of one or more different values of said one or more extracted parameters; and (iv) correcting pixels corresponding to correlated dust artifact regions within a second image acquired with said digital camera according to one or more different values of said one or more extracted parameters relating to said variable optical system based on said associated statistical dust map. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 40)
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37. A digital image acquisition and processing system that automatically corrects dust artifact regions within acquired images by compiling a statistical dust map from multiple images acquired under different image acquisition conditions, comprising:
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(A) a digital camera, comprising; (i) an optical system for acquiring an image including a lens assembly and an aperture stop; and (ii) an electronic sensor array disposed approximately at an image focal plane of the optical system for collecting image data according to spectral information associated with multiple pixels that collectively correspond to the image; and (B) an external processing device for coupling with the digital camera to receive the image data or converted image data internally processed within the digital camera, the external device comprising digital processing electronics including a processor for processing the image data according to programming instructions; and (C) wherein the system further comprises one or more memories having programming instructions stored therein for performing a method of automatic image correction of dust defect regions, the image correction method comprising; (i) determining probabilities that certain pixels within multiple digitally-acquired images correspond to one or more dust artifact regions; (ii) associating probable dust artifact regions with values of one or more extracted parameters relating to a lens system of the digital image acquisition device when the images were acquired; (iii) forming a statistical dust map including mapped dust regions based on the dust artifact determining and associating operations; and (iv) correcting digital data corresponding to pixels within one or more digitally-acquired images correlated with mapped dust regions of the statistical dust map. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39)
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41. A digital image acquisition and processing system that automatically corrects dust artifact regions within acquired images by compiling a statistical dust map from multiple images acquired under different image acquisition conditions, comprising:
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(A) a digital camera, comprising; (i) an optical system for acquiring an image including a lens assembly and an aperture stop; and (ii) an electronic sensor array disposed approximately at an image focal plane of the optical system for collecting image data according to spectral information associated with multiple pixels that collectively correspond to the image; and (B) an external processing device for coupling with the digital camera to receive the image data or converted image data internally processed within the digital camera, the external device comprising digital processing electronics including a processor for processing the image data according to programming instructions; and (C) wherein the system further comprises one or more memories having programming instructions stored therein for performing a method of automatic image correction of dust defect regions, the image correction method comprising; (i) determining probabilities of dust artifact regions corresponding to pixels within a digitally-acquired image based at least in part on a pixel analysis of the region in view of predetermined characteristics indicative of the presence of a dust artifact region; (ii) associating the dust artifact regions with one or more extracted parameters relating to the optical system when the image was acquired; (iii) forming a statistical dust map including mapped-dust-regions based on the dust artifact determining and associating operations; and (iv) correcting the digital data corresponding to the correlated dust artifact regions within the acquired image based on the associated statistical dust map. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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58. A digital image acquisition and processing system that automatically corrects dust artifact regions within acquired images by compiling a statistical dust map from multiple images acquired under different image acquisition conditions, comprising:
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(A) a digital camera, comprising; (i) an optical system for acquiring an image including a lens assembly and an aperture stop; and (ii) an electronic sensor array disposed approximately at an image focal plane of the optical system for collecting image data according to spectral information associated with multiple pixels that collectively correspond to the image; and (B) an external processing device for coupling with the digital camera to receive the image data or converted image data internally processed within the digital camera, the external device comprising digital processing electronics including a processor for processing the image data according to programming instructions; and (C) wherein the system further comprises one or more memories having programming instructions stored therein for performing a method of automatic image correction of dust defect regions, the image correction method comprising; (i) analyzing pixels within one ore more acquired digital images according to probability determinations that such pixels correspond to blemish artifacts; (ii) determining whether a threshold distribution of blemish artifacts is present within one or more of said digital images; and (iii) indicating a need for service when at least said threshold distribution is determined to be present. - View Dependent Claims (59)
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60. A digital image acquisition and processing system that automatically corrects dust artifact regions within acquired images by compiling a statistical dust map from multiple images acquired under different image acquisition conditions, comprising:
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(A) a digital camera, comprising; (i) an optical system for acquiring an image including a lens assembly and an aperture stop; and (ii) an electronic sensor array disposed approximately at an image focal plane of the optical system for collecting image data according to spectral information associated with multiple pixels that collectively correspond to the image; and (B) an external processing device for coupling with the digital camera to receive the image data or converted image data internally processed within the digital camera, the external device comprising digital processing electronics including a processor for processing the image data according to programming instructions; and (C) wherein the system further comprises one or more memories having programming instructions stored therein for performing a method of automatic image correction of dust defect regions, the image correction method comprising; (i) acquiring multiple original digital images with said digital acquisition device; (ii) determining probabilities that certain pixels correspond to dust artifact regions within said images based at least in part on a comparison of suspected dust artifact regions within two or more of said images; (iii) forming a statistical dust record including probabilities of dust artifact regions based on the dust artifact determining and associating; and (iv) determining a need for service when the statistical dust record indicates that a predetermined threshold dust artifact distribution is present within digital images acquired with said digital acquisition device. - View Dependent Claims (61, 62)
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63. A digital image acquisition and processing system that automatically corrects dust artifact regions within acquired images by compiling a statistical dust map from multiple images acquired under different image acquisition conditions, comprising:
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(A) a digital camera, comprising; (i) an optical system for acquiring an image including a lens assembly and an aperture stop; and (ii) an electronic sensor array disposed approximately at an image focal plane of the optical system for collecting image data according to spectral information associated with multiple pixels that collectively correspond to the image; and (B) an external processing device for coupling with the digital camera to receive the image data or converted image data internally processed within the digital camera, the external device comprising digital processing electronics including a processor for processing the image data according to programming instructions; and (C) wherein the system further comprises one or more memories having programming instructions stored therein for performing a method of automatic image correction of dust defect regions, the image correction method comprising; (i) determining probabilities that certain pixels correspond to dust artifact regions within a digitally-acquired image based at least in part on a pixel analysis of the region in view of predetermined characteristics indicative of the presence of a dust artifact region; (ii) forming a statistical dust record including probabilities of dust artifact regions based on the dust artifact determining and associating operations; and (iii) determining a need for service when the statistical dust record indicates that a predetermined threshold dust artifact distribution is present within digital images acquired with said digital acquisition device. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65)
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66. A digital image acquisition and processing system that automatically corrects dust artifact regions within acquired images by compiling a statistical dust map from multiple images acquired under different image acquisition conditions, comprising:
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(A) a digital camera, comprising; (i) an optical system for acquiring an image including a lens assembly and an aperture stop; and (ii) an electronic sensor array disposed approximately at an image focal plane of the optical system for collecting image data according to spectral information associated with multiple pixels that collectively correspond to the image; and (B) an external processing device for coupling with the digital camera to receive the image data or converted image data internally processed within the digital camera, the external device comprising digital processing electronics including a processor for processing the image data according to programming instructions; and (C) wherein the system further comprises one or more memories having programming instructions stored therein for performing a method of automatic image correction of dust defect regions, the image correction method comprising; (i) determining probabilities that certain pixels within multiple digitally-acquired images correspond to one or more dust artifact regions; (ii) forming a statistical dust map including mapped dust artifact regions based on the dust artifact determining; (iii) separating said mapped dust artifact regions into aura regions partially obscured by dust and shadow regions substantially obscured by dust inside said aura regions; and (iv) correcting digital data corresponding to pixels within one or more digitally-acquired images including dust artifact regions separated into aura regions and shadow regions correlated with mapped aura and shadow regions of the statistical dust map. - View Dependent Claims (67, 68, 69, 70)
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Specification