Automatic Image Capture

• US 20140044338A1
• Filed: 08/29/2013
• Published: 02/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Northwest IP LLC
• Original Assignee: iParse LLC (Urban FT, Inc.)
• Inventors: Coleman, Mike Reddick
• Granted Patent: US 8,885,963 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/137
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/108 Remote banking, e.g. home banking
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/993 Evaluation of the quality of the acquired pattern
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/142 using hand-held instruments; Constructional details of the instruments
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet

Abstract

A method of automatically capturing images with precision uses an intelligent mobile device having a camera loaded with an appropriate image capture application. When a user initializes the application, the camera starts taking images of the object. Each image is qualified to determine whether it is in focus and entirely within the field of view of the camera. Two or more qualified images are captured and stored for subsequent processing. The qualified images are aligned with each other by an appropriate perspective transformation so they each fill a common frame. Averaging of the aligned images reduces noise and a sharpening filter enhances edges, which produces a sharper image. The processed image is then converted into a two-level, black and white image, which may be presented to the user for approval prior to submission via wireless or WiFi to a remote location.

Claims

1. A method of capturing an image of a document on a mobile device, comprising:

initializing an image sensor on the mobile device to detect at least one image of the document;

measuring a value of at least one parameter related to quality of the at least one image being detected by the image sensor; and

capturing at least one image of the document when the value of the at least one measured parameter reaches or exceeds a threshold value.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one measured parameter is a level of focus.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one measured parameter is movement of the mobile device.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one measured parameter is a size of the document within the image being detected.

5. A mobile device for capturing an image of a document, comprising:

an image sensor which detects at least one image of the document;

a measurement unit which measures a value of at least one parameter related to the quality of the at least one image detected by the image sensor; and

an image capture unit which captures the at least one image of the document when the value of the at least one measured parameter reaches a threshold value.