Camera system for with velocity sensor and de-blurring processor

• US 8,421,869 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2011
• Issued: 04/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia, Lapstun, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, LUONG TRUNG
• Application Number:
  US13/021,780
• Publication Number:
  US 20110122263A1
• Time in Patent Office: 800 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 for outputting deblurred still images includes a portable handheld camera device comprising an image sensor for recording an image; a two-dimensional accelerometer for detecting an angular velocity of the camera system relative to an external environment and to produce an angular velocity output indicative thereof; a linear image sensor for sensing data provided on an encoded card inserted into the camera system, the encoded card containing instructions for the manipulation of the image; and a processor for receiving the image from the image sensor, receiving the angular velocity output from the two-dimensional accelerometer, and processing the image in accordance with the instructions sensed from the encoded to deblur any blurred pixels present in the image in consideration of the angular velocity output.

Claims

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

a portable handheld camera device comprising an image sensor for recording an image;

a two-dimensional accelerometer for detecting an angular velocity of the camera system relative to an external environment and to produce an angular velocity output indicative thereof;

a linear image sensor for sensing data provided on an encoded card inserted into the camera system, the encoded card containing instructions for the manipulation of the image;

and

a processor for receiving the image from the image sensor, receiving the angular velocity output from the two-dimensional accelerometer, and processing the image in accordance with the instructions sensed from the encoded card to deblur any blurred pixels present in the image in consideration of the angular velocity output.

2. A camera system according to claim 1, wherein the linear image sensor includes an LED for illuminating the encoded card via a light-pipe, and a molded array of microlenses for focusing light reflected from the encoded card.