Method and apparatus for implementing a digital graduated filter for an imaging apparatus

• US 9,826,159 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2015
• Issued: 11/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Clear Imaging Research, LLC
• Original Assignee: Clear Imaging Research, LLC
• Inventors: Ozluturk, Fatih M.
• Primary Examiner(s): HO, TUAN V
• Application Number:
  US14/861,731
• Publication Number:
  US 20160014338A1
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10016 Video; Image sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/20201 Motion blur correction
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/73 Deblurring; Sharpening
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/68 for stable pick-up of the scene, e.g. compensating for camera body vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/6811 based on the image signal
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/6845 by combination of a plurality of images sequentially taken
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/687 by shifting the lens or sensor position
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/741 by increasing the dynamic range of the image compared to the dynamic range of the electronic image sensors

Abstract

A digital graduated filter is implemented in an imaging device by combining multiple images of the subject wherein the combining may include combining different numbers of images for highlights and for shadows of the subject. The imaging device may present a user with a set of pre-defined graduated filter configurations to choose from. A user may also specify the direction of graduation and strength of graduation in a viewfinder. In an alternative implementation, combining may include scaling of pixels being added instead of varying the number of images being combined. In an alternative implementation, the combining of multiple images may include combining a different number of images for highlights of the subject than for shadows of subject.

Claims

1. A method of capturing image of a high-dynamic range subject, the method including:

capturing multiple images of the subject in an imaging device, each image comprising portions of highlights and portions of shadows;

combining the multiple images to form a final image, wherein the combining includes combining different number of the images to form highlights than the number of the images to form the shadows; and

storing the final image.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein different number of the images are combined to form different parts of the final image according to a preset pattern.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the preset pattern is selected by a user from among plurality of preset patterns.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the combining of the images is done outside the imaging device as a post process.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the imaging device presents a user information about highlights and shadows of the subject.

6. A method of capturing image of a high-dynamic range subject, the method including:

capturing multiple images of the subject in an imaging device;

combining the multiple images to form a final image, wherein the combining includes processing pixel values with a first scaling factor to form highlights and a second scaling factor to form the shadows; and

storing the final image.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the pixel values are processed with different scaling factors to form different parts of the final image according to a preset pattern.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the preset pattern is selected by a user from among plurality of preset patterns.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the combining of the images is done outside the imaging device as a post process.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the imaging device presents a user information about highlights and shadows of the subject.

11. A method of capturing image of a high-dynamic range subject, the method including:

capturing multiple images of the subject in an imaging device;

combining the multiple images to form a final image, wherein the combining includes combining different number of the images to form highlights than the number of the images to form the shadows, wherein the combining further includes processing pixel values with a first scaling factor to form highlights and a second scaling factor to form the shadows; and

storing the final image.