Extended dynamic range imaging system

• US 20060007498A1
• Filed: 07/07/2004
• Published: 01/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omnivision Technologies Incorporated (Will Semiconductor Co., Ltd. Shanghai)
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: McDermott, Bruce C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,583,305 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/296
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/71 Circuitry for evaluating the brightness variation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/533 by using differing integration times for different sensor regions

Abstract

A method for decreasing integration time of saturated paxels within an imager; wherein the method includes decreasing the integration time of the saturated paxels within an imager according to scene data from a captured image.

Claims

1. A method for decreasing integration time of saturated paxels within an imager, comprising the step of:

decreasing the integration time of the saturated paxels within an imager according to scene data from a captured image.

2. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the saturated paxels are geographically located by X-Y addressing of paxels within the captured image.

3. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein a magnitude of the decreased integration time is relative to an amount of the saturated paxels.

4. The method claimed in claim 3, wherein a large amount of the saturated paxels causes a large magnitude of the decreased integration time.

5. The method claimed in claim 3, wherein a small amount of the saturated paxels causes a small magnitude of the decreased integration time.

11. The electronic image capture system as recited in claim 1 wherein the imager enables independent integration time control of paxels and an algorithm for determining the correct integration time for the paxels based on their geographic location within a captured image and light recorded from the captured image.

12. The electronic image capture system, claimed in claim 11, wherein said imager includes multiple signal outputs for thereby reducing image capture time.

6. A method for addressing X-Y paxels in an imaging system, comprising the steps of:

a) capturing a first image;

b) testing the first image for saturation on a paxel by paxel basis, wherein the paxels are groups of pixels associated geographically with each other;

c) recording an X-Y address for each saturated paxel within the first image;

d) determining the number of saturated paxels;

e) comparing the number of saturated paxels to a constant, N, where the number of saturated paxels is greater than zero;

f) varying integration time of the saturated paxels according to the number of saturated paxels being greater than or less than the constant N;

7. An electronic image capture system comprising an imager that enables independent integration time control of paxels and an algorithm for determining the correct integration time for the paxels based on their saturation level.

8. The electronic image capture system as recited in claim 7 using multiple means for determining the integration time for saturated paxels.

9. The electronic image capture system as recited in claim 7 that runs continuously to reduce the time to capture a picture.

10. The electronic image capture system as recited in claim 7 that utilizes a dual, staged, shutter release switch, wherein said switch initializes the electronic image capture system to capture a final image.

13. The electronic image capture system as recited in claim 7 comprising a coarse resolution imager that enables independent integration time control of paxels and an algorithm for determining the correct integration time for the paxels based on their geographic location within the captured image.

14. The electronic image capture system claimed in claim 13, wherein the imager gathers scene exposure information for a camera exposure determination algorithm.