Methods to compensate manufacturing variations and design imperfections in a capsule camera
First Claim
1. A method for characterizing a camera with a transparent housing and a light source within the transparent housing, wherein the camera comprises an optical system and image sensor having pixels within a field of view of the optical system and pixels outside of the field of view of the optical system, comprising:
- placing the camera inside a light absorption environment so that no substantial reflected light falls on the optical system, and taking a first plurality of exposures using both the pixels within the field of view of the optical system and the pixels outside of the field of view of the optical system;
placing the camera within a field-dependent reflectance environment, and taking a second plurality of exposures using both the pixels within the field of view of the optical system and the pixels outside of the field of view of the optical system; and
processing the first and second pluralities of exposures to extract parameter values of a model for images to be taken with the camera; and
based on the parameter values, compensating images captured by the camera after the images are captured.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method is provided for characterizing manufacturing variations in a camera and imperfections in its operating environment to allow images captured by the camera to be compensated for these defects. In one embodiment, a method for characterizing a camera includes: (a) illuminating a field of view of the optical elements under a controlled condition; (b) exposing multiple images onto the image sensor under the controlled condition; (c) extracting parameter values of a model for the image provided on the image sensor from the multiple images; and (d) compensating images taken subsequently in the camera using the parameter values. The objects in the field of view may have a predetermined color, contrast or pattern. In one instance, the controlled condition includes an external light source for illuminating the field of view, and the image sensor is sensitive to a plurality of color components. The field of view may be illuminated at a predetermined light intensity for each of the color components. The camera may include an archival memory for storing the images taken. Alternatively, the camera may include a transmitter for sending images taken to an external depository. The camera may also be associated with an identification, and the transmitter sends the images together with the identification to identify the images sent.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for characterizing a camera with a transparent housing and a light source within the transparent housing, wherein the camera comprises an optical system and image sensor having pixels within a field of view of the optical system and pixels outside of the field of view of the optical system, comprising:
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placing the camera inside a light absorption environment so that no substantial reflected light falls on the optical system, and taking a first plurality of exposures using both the pixels within the field of view of the optical system and the pixels outside of the field of view of the optical system; placing the camera within a field-dependent reflectance environment, and taking a second plurality of exposures using both the pixels within the field of view of the optical system and the pixels outside of the field of view of the optical system; and processing the first and second pluralities of exposures to extract parameter values of a model for images to be taken with the camera; and based on the parameter values, compensating images captured by the camera after the images are captured. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification