Digital camera with integrated accelerometers

• US 7,554,578 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2004
• Issued: 06/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Phase One A/S
• Original Assignee: Phase One A/S
• Inventors: Molgaard, Claus
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Sinh N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Giles; Nicholas G
• Application Number:
  US10/847,354
• Publication Number:
  US 20040212699A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,869 Days
• Field of Search: 348/208.99, 348/208.1, 348/208.2, 348/208.3, 348/231.2, 348/231.3, 348/231.5, 348/231.6
• US Class Current: 348/231.3
• 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 camera 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 displaying an image recorded by a digital camera system, said method comprising:

providing information identifying a roll angle of the recorded image, said information being provided by first and second accelerometers sensitive to accelerations in respective first and second directions to identify angles of roll, the second direction being different from the first direction;

providing information identifying a pitch angle of the recorded image, said information being provided by a third accelerometer and the first and/or second accelerometers, the third accelerometer being sensitive to accelerations in a third direction normal to the first and second directions;

using the provided roll angle information to determine an orientation by which the recorded image is to be displayed and/or stored, the orientation comprises portrait and landscape orientations; and

using the provided pitch angle information to prevent unintended switching between the portrait orientation and the landscape orientation.

2. A method of displaying an image recorded by a digital camera system, said method comprising:

providing first and second micro-mechanical accelerometers integrated on a monolithic chip in the digital camera system, the accelerometers being sensitive to accelerations in first and second directions to provide respective outputs that are continuous functions of accelerations in the first and second directions, wherein the first direction is different than the second direction;

providing a third micro-mechanical accelerometer integrated on a monolithic chip in the digital camera system, the third accelerometer being sensitive to accelerations in a third direction normal to the first and second directions to provide an output that is a continuous function of accelerations in the third direction;

determining, from the outputs of the first and second accelerometers, a roll angle of the camera when the image is to be recorded;

determining, from the output of the third accelerometer, a pitch angle of the camera when the image is to be recorded;

using the determined roll angle to determine an orientation by which the recorded image is to be displayed and/or stored, the orientation comprises portrait and landscape orientations; and

using the determined pitch angle to prevent unintended switching between the portrait orientation and the landscape orientation.

3. A method of recording images using a camera system, comprising:

detecting a roll angle during recording, responsive to accelerations of the camera system in first and second directions to identify angles of roll corresponding to vertical and horizontal orientations and other angles of roll, the second direction being perpendicular with respect to the first direction;

detecting a pitch angle of the camera system during recording, responsive to accelerations of the camera system in a third direction normal to the first and second directions;

using the detected roll angle to determine an orientation by which the recorded image is to be displayed and/or stored, the orientation comprises portrait and landscape orientations; and

using the detected pitch angle to prevent unintended switching between the portrait orientation and the landscape orientation.