Digital camera with integrated accelerometers

• US 8,908,053 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2012
• Issued: 12/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Phase One A/S
• Original Assignee: Phase One A/S
• Inventors: Mlgaard, Claus
• Primary Examiner(s): GILES, NICHOLAS G
• Application Number:
  US13/456,652
• Publication Number:
  US 20120206614A1
• Time in Patent Office: 957 Days
• Field of Search: 348/208.5, 348/208.6, 348/208.99, 348/207.99, 348/208.2, 348/208.4
• US Class Current: 348/208.6
• 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 cameral 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 correcting an image of an object recorded by a digital still camera system for time dependent movements of the digital still camera system during recording of a single image, said method comprising the following image post-processing to be carried out by an electronic processor in the digital still camera system or by a computer:

receiving information relating to time dependent movements of the digital still camera system obtained at a plurality of different respective times during the exposure of the single image;

using the received information to mathematically reconstruct a corrected single image of the object wherein the effects of the time dependent movements of the digital still camera system during recording of the single image are reduced, thus reducing or removing image blur in the single image; and

storing the corrected image in an electronic memory.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the mathematical reconstruction involves calculating backwards from the recorded image by removing the amount of blur associated with each movement by starting from a preceding movement.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein receiving the information relating to time dependent movements of the digital still camera system during recording comprises determining the information from:

a first output signal in response to acceleration in a first direction recorded by a first accelerometer in the digital still camera system, the first accelerometer being sensitive to acceleration in the first direction; and

a second output signal in response to acceleration in a second direction different from the first direction and recorded by a second accelerometer in the digital still camera system, the second accelerometer being sensitive to acceleration in the second direction.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the output signals are band-pass filtered to obtain information relating to dynamic accelerations.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein receiving the information relating to time dependent movements of the digital still camera system during recording further comprises determining the information from a third output signal in response to acceleration in a third direction different from the first and second directions and recorded by a third accelerometer in the digital still camera system, the third accelerometer being sensitive to acceleration in the third direction.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the time dependent movements are movements of the digital still camera system relative to the object being imaged.

7. A non-transitory digital storage holding still image post-processing software comprising code adapted to use information relating to time dependent movements of a digital still camera system obtained at a plurality of different respective times during recording of a single image of an object to mathematically reconstruct a corrected still image of the object wherein the effects of the time dependent movements of the digital still camera system during recording of the still image are reduced when executed by a central processing unit in a digital still camera system.

8. The non-transitory digital storage according to claim 7, wherein the mathematical reconstruction of the still image post-processing software involves calculating backwards from the recorded still image by removing the amount of blur associated with each movement by starting from a preceding movement.

9. A digital still camera system comprising:

an image sensor having an array of light sensitive elements for recording image data of an object to be imaged by generating electrical charges in the light sensitive elements;

a first accelerometer sensitive to acceleration in a first direction and being adapted to provide a first output signal in response to acceleration in the first direction;

a second accelerometer sensitive to acceleration in a second direction different from the first direction and being adapted to provide a second output signal in response to acceleration in the second direction; and

a signal processing unit comprising;

an acceleration data processing module configured to determine information relating to time dependent movements of the digital still camera system obtained at a plurality of different respective times during recording of image data of a single image from the first and second output signals; and

an image data processing module configured to mathematically reconstruct a corrected image of the object using the recorded image data and the information from the acceleration data processing module stored as acceleration data obtained during the time of exposure, wherein the effects of the time dependent movements of the digital still camera system during recording in the single image are reduced.

10. The digital still camera system according to claim 9, wherein the image data processing module is further configured to calculate backwards from the recorded image.

11. The digital still camera system according to claim 9, further comprising a filter configured to band-pass filter the first and second output signals to obtain information relating to dynamic accelerations, and wherein the acceleration data processing module for obtaining information relating to time dependent movements uses the information relating to dynamic accelerations from the filter.

12. The digital still camera system according to claim 9, wherein the acceleration data processing module and the image data processing module are integrated in a digital processing unit or analog electronics of the digital still camera system.

13. The digital still camera system according to claim 9, further comprising a non-transitory digital storage holding image post-processing software comprising code adapted to provide the acceleration data processing module and the image data processing module when run by the signal processing unit.

14. The digital still camera system according to claim 9, wherein the accelerometers are integrated on a monolithic chip in the digital still camera system.

15. The digital still camera system according to claim 9, further comprising a third accelerometer sensitive to acceleration in a third direction different from the first and second directions and being adapted to provide a third output signal in response to acceleration in the third direction;

and wherein a filter is further configured to band-pass filter the third output signal to obtain further information relating to dynamic accelerations.