System and method for enhanced monoimaging

• US 9,578,224 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2012
• Issued: 02/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
• Original Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
• Inventors: Zhang, Guanghua Gary, Lin, Michael, Shehane, Patrick, Nguyen, Hugh Phu
• Primary Examiner(s): HSU, AMY R
• Application Number:
  US13/609,010
• Publication Number:
  US 20140071330A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,625 Days
• Field of Search: 348/345, 348/349
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/45 for generating image signals from two or more image sensors being of different type or operating in different modes, e.g. with a CMOS sensor for moving images in combination with a charge-coupled device [CCD] for still images
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/64 Computer-aided capture of images, e.g. transfer from script file into camera, check of taken image quality, advice or proposal for image composition or decision on when to take image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/667 Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums

Abstract

A system and method for enhanced automatic monoimaging. Embodiments of the present invention are operable for configuring a first camera based on a configuration determination by a second camera. The method includes capturing a first image with the first camera and determining an optical configuration based on an optical measurement performed by a second camera. In one embodiment, the second camera comprises a lower resolution sensor than a sensor of the first camera. The method further includes sending the optical configuration from the second camera to the first camera and adjusting a configuration of the first camera based on the optical configuration. The method further includes capturing a second image with the first camera. The first image and the second image may be preview images.

Claims

1. A method for configuring a first camera, said method comprising:

capturing a first image with said first camera;

determining an optical configuration based on an optical measurement performed by a second camera, wherein said second camera comprises a lower resolution sensor than a sensor of said first camera;

sending said optical configuration from said second camera to said first camera; and

adjusting a configuration of said first camera based on said optical configuration and a predetermined mathematical function correlating said first camera and said second camera with respect to said optical configuration; and

capturing a second image with said first camera, wherein said first image and said second image are preview images.

2. The method as described in claim 1 wherein said optical configuration comprises a focus setting.

3. The method as described in claim 1 wherein said optical configuration comprises an exposure setting.

4. The method as described in claim 1 wherein said optical configuration comprises a color balance setting.

5. The method as described in claim 1 wherein said optical configuration comprises a location of an area of interest.

6. The method as described in claim 1 wherein said second camera is operable to determine said optical configuration in less time than said first camera is operable of determining said optical configuration.

7. The method as described in claim 1 wherein said first camera operates at a first power consumption level and said second camera operates at a second power consumption level, and wherein said first power consumption level is greater than said second power consumption level.

8. The method as described in claim 1 wherein said second camera is operable to capture an image in less time than said first camera is operable to capture said image.

9. The method as described in claim 1 wherein said optical measurement performed by said second camera is based on an image captured by said second camera.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon, computer executable instructions that, if executed by a computer system cause the computer system to perform a method of configuring a first camera, said method comprising:

capturing a first image with said first camera;

determining a focus configuration based on an optical measurement performed by a second camera, wherein said second camera comprises a lower resolution sensor than a sensor of said first camera;

transmitting said focus configuration from said second camera to said first camera; and

adjusting a focus of said first camera based on said focus configuration and a predetermined mathematical function correlating said first camera and said second camera with respect to said focus configuration; and

capturing a second image with said first camera.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as described in claim 10 wherein said focus configuration comprises a focus position.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as described in claim 10 wherein said second camera is operable to determine a focal point in less time than said first camera.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as described in claim 10 wherein said first camera comprises a first sensor and said second camera comprises a second sensor, and wherein said first sensor and said second sensor share a common aperture.

14. A system comprising:

a first camera comprising a first imaging sensor;

a second camera comprising a second imaging sensor that has a lower resolution than said first imaging sensor;

a processor coupled to said first camera and said second camera; and

memory coupled to said processor and comprising instructions that, when executed by said processor, cause the system to perform a method of capturing images, said method comprising;

capturing a first image with said first camera;

determining an optical configuration based on an optical measurement performed by the second camera;

sending said optical configuration from said second camera to said first camera; and

adjusting a configuration of said first camera based on said optical configuration and a predetermined mathematical function correlating said first camera and said second camera with respect to said optical configuration; and

capturing a second image with said first camera.

15. The system as described in claim 14, wherein said second camera has a higher capture speed and a higher frame rate than said first camera.

16. The system as described in claim 14, wherein said first camera is configured to capture images under different lighting conditions than said second camera.

17. The system as described in claim 14, wherein said optical configuration is selected from a group consisting of a focus setting, an exposure setting, a color balance setting, and a location of an area of interest.

18. The system as described in claim 14, wherein said second camera is operable to determine said optical configuration in less time than said first camera.

19. The system as described in claim 14, wherein said first camera operates at a greater power consumption level than said second camera.

20. The system as described in claim 14, wherein said method further comprises

rendering said first image on a display device for user preview;

and

storing said second image in a predetermined format.