Image-stabilization systems and methods

• US 8,063,940 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2004
• Issued: 11/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Stavely, Donald J., Whitman, Christopher A., Hofer, Gregory V., Campbell, David K., Yost, Jason E.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, LUONG TRUNG
• Application Number:
  US10/842,223
• Publication Number:
  US 20050248661A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,752 Days
• Field of Search: 348/208.99, 348/208.11, 348/208.7, 348/208.2
• US Class Current: 348/208.99
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/00 Details of cameras or camera bodies; Accessories therefor lens hoods or caps G03B11/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/6812 based on additional sensors, e.g. acceleration sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/687 by shifting the lens or sensor position

Abstract

Image stabilization systems and methods are disclosed. One embodiment of the image stabilization method, among others, includes detecting motion of a camera, and responsive to the detected motion, changing an optical filter orientation to displace an image provided on a sensor.

Claims

1. An image stabilization method, comprising:

detecting motion of a camera;

measuring a displacement of an image provided on a sensor using the detected motion and focal length information of a lens system using an optical filter control logic; and

changing an orientation of a flat-plate optical filter to displace the image provided on the sensor based on the measurement, the flat-plate optical filter being included in an optical filter assembly disposed substantially between the sensor and the lens system, the optical filter assembly being configured to include actuators, coils, and the flat-plate optical filter.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the changing includes changing the flat-plate optical filter orientation enough to reduce motion blur in the image.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting includes detecting rotational motion of the camera.

4. The method of claim 3, further including determining a first image displacement on the sensor resulting from the rotational motion.

5. The method of claim 4, further including determining the image displacement on the sensor to offset the first image displacement.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein changing includes effecting pitch and yaw motion of the flat-plate optical filter.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein, in changing the orientation, the optical filter assembly is configured in a gimble arrangement.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein, in changing the orientation, a change in the orientation of the flat-plate optical filter is adjustable to offset a displacement of the image caused due to the motion of the camera.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein changing the orientation comprises changing a tilt of the flat-plate optical filter relative to an axis of the lens system.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein, in changing the orientation, a change in the orientation of the flat-plate optical filter is determined as a function of an angle of the flat-plate optical filter in relation to an incident beam of light from the lens system, thickness of the flat-plate optical filter, and refractive index of the flat-plate optical filter.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein the flat-plate optical filter can be tilted ±

13 degrees, resulting in an image displacement of ±

150 micrometers.

7. An image stabilization system, comprising:

a motion sensor configured to detect motion of a camera;

a flat-plate optical filter having an adjustable orientation, the flat-plate optical filter being included in an optical filter assembly disposed substantially between at least one image sensor and a lens system, the optical filter assembly being configured to include actuators, coils, and the flat-plate optical filter; and

an optical filter control logic configured to receive motion information from the motion sensor and, responsive to the received motion information and focal length information of the lens system, measure a displacement of an image provided on the at least one image sensor and effect a change in the adjustable orientation of the flat-plate optical filter to displace the image provided on the at least one image sensor.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the motion sensor is configured to sense pitch and yaw motion of the camera.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the flat-plate optical filter assembly is coupled to the flat-plate optical filter that enables rotational motion of the optical filter.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the logic is configured to effect a change in flat-plate optical filter orientation to reduce motion blur in an image.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the optical filter control logic is configured to effect a change in flat-plate optical filter orientation to offset a first image displacement on the at least one image sensor resulting from the camera motion.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the optical filter control logic is configured to determine a first image displacement on an image sensor based on focal length and the detected camera motion.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the optical filter control logic is configured to determine a second image displacement on the at least one image sensor to offset the first image displacement.

14. The system of claim 7, wherein the optical filter control logic is configured in hardware.

15. The system of claim 7, wherein the optical filter control logic is configured in software.

16. The system of claim 7, wherein the flat-plate optical filter includes a blur filter.

17. The system of claim 7, wherein the flat-plate optical filter includes an infrared filter.

27. The system of claim 7, wherein the change in the adjustable orientation of the flat-plate optical filter is determined as a function of an angle of the flat-plate optical filter in relation to an incident beam of light from the lens system, thickness of the flat-plate optical filter, and refractive index of the flat-plate optical filter.

31. The system of claim 7, wherein the flat-plate optical filter can be tilted ±

13 degrees, resulting in an image displacement off ±

150 micrometers.

18. An image stabilization system, comprising:

means for detecting rotational motion of a camera;

means for measuring a displacement of an image provided on a sensor using the detected motion and focal length information of a lens system; and

means in an optical filter assembly for adjusting an orientation of a flat-plate optical filter included in the optical filter assembly based on the measurement such that the image is displaced on the sensor, the optical filter assembly being disposed substantially between the sensor and the lens system, the optical filter assembly being configured to include actuators, coils, and the flat-plate optical filter.

28. The image stabilization system of claim 18, wherein the orientation of a flat-plate optical filter is adjustable as a function of an angle of the flat-plate optical filter in relation to an incident beam of light from the lens system, thickness of the flat-plate optical filter, and refractive index of the flat-plate optical filter.

32. The image stabilization system of claim 18, wherein the flat-plate optical filter can be tilted ±

13 degrees, resulting in an image displacement of ±

150 micrometers.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having a computer program comprising image stabilization methods, said program comprising:

a first logic configured to receive an indication of camera motion;

a second logic configured to measure a displacement of an image provided on at least one image sensor using the camera motion and focal length information of a lens system; and

a third logic configured to effect a change in an orientation of a flat-plate optical filter included in an optical filter assembly, the change in the orientation based on the measurement, the optical filter assembly being disposed substantially between the at least one image sensor and the lens system, the optical filter assembly being configured to include actuators, coils, and the flat-plate optical filter.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, further including a fourth logic configured to implement Snell'"'"'s law to determine image displacement on the at least one image sensor.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, further including a fifth logic configured to convert signal levels from a motion detector to rotational motion of a camera.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, further including logic configured to convert the image displacement on the at least one image sensor to signal levels to effect pitch and yaw motion of the flat-plate optical filter.

29. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the change in the orientation of the flat-plate optical filter is determined as a function of an angle of the flat-plate optical filter in relation to an incident beam of light from the lens system, thickness of the flat-plate optical filter, and refractive index of the flat-plate optical filter.

33. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the flat-plate optical filter can be tilted ±

13 degrees, resulting in an image displacement of ±

150 micrometers.