Digital camera which estimates and corrects small camera rotations

• US 20050212931A1
• Filed: 05/19/2005
• Published: 09/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Monument Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Parulski, Kenneth A., Gallagher, Andrew C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,893,963 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/239
• 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

Abstract

A method of detecting and correcting camera rotation in a digital camera, that includes the steps of: capturing a digital image to provide a captured digital image; and analyzing the captured digital image to detect a set of lines. The set of lines are used to determine a rotation angle of the captured digital image; and the captured digital image is modified based on the rotation angle, before storing the modified digital image.

Claims

1. A method of detecting and correcting camera rotation in a digital camera, comprising the steps of:

a) capturing a digital image to provide a captured digital image;

b) analyzing the captured digital image to detect a set of lines;

c) using the set of lines to determine a rotation angle of the captured digital image;

d) modifying the captured digital image based on the rotation angle; and

e) storing the modified digital image.

2. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein analyzing the captured digital image includes computing gradient information at a number of locations in the captured digital image.

3. The method claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of using a gravitational orientation sensor for determining vertical axis of the captured digital image.

4. The method claimed in claim 3, wherein step c above uses the vertical axis to determine the rotation angle.

5. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotation angle and the modified digital image are stored in a memory of the digital camera.

6. The method claimed in claim 5, wherein the rotation angle and the modified digital image are both stored in an image file.

7. The method claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying the modified digital image.

8. The method claimed in claim 7, further comprising the step of employing a user interface to enable a user to select the captured digital image or the modified digital image for storage.

9. The method claimed in claim 7, further comprising displaying the captured digital image.

10. The method claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of determining a vanishing point location from the set of lines.

11. The method claimed in claim 10, wherein the rotation angle is computed from the vanishing point location.

12. A method of detecting and correcting camera rotation in a digital camera, comprising the steps of:

a) capturing a digital image to provide a captured digital image;

b) using a gravitational orientation sensor for determining vertical axis of the captured digital image.

c) analyzing the captured digital image to determine a small rotation angle of the captured digital image

d) modifying the captured digital image based on the rotation angle and the vertical axis; and

e) storing the modified digital image.

13. The method claimed in claim 12 wherein step c above uses the vertical axis to determine the small rotation angle.

14. The method claimed in claim 12, wherein analyzing the captured digital image includes computing gradient information at a number of locations in the captured digital image.

15. The method claimed in claim 12, wherein analyzing the captured digital image includes detecting a set of lines in the captured digital image.

16. The method claimed in claim 12, wherein analyzing the captured digital image includes detecting a vanishing point location.

17. A method of detecting and correcting camera rotation in a digital camera, comprising the steps of:

a) capturing a digital image to provide a captured digital image;

b) analyzing the captured digital image to determine a rotation angle of the captured digital image;

c) modifying the captured digital image based on the rotation angle;

d) displaying the modified digital image;

e) employing a user interface to enable a user to select either the captured digital image or the modified digital image for storage; and

f) storing the selected digital image.

18. The method claimed in claim 17, wherein the user interface enables the user to selectively display either the captured digital image or the modified digital image.

19. The method claimed in claim 17, wherein analyzing the captured digital image includes detecting a vanishing point location.

20. A digital camera comprising:

a) an image sensor for capturing an image;

b) a first memory for storing the captured image;

c) a processor for analyzing the captured image to determine a rotation angle of the captured image and for providing a modified image based on the rotation angle;

d) a display for displaying the modified image;

e) a user interface for selecting the modified image or the captured image; and

f) a second memory for storing the selected image.