Image pickup systems

• US 7,679,646 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2007
• Issued: 03/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Asia Optical International Limited (Asia Optical Company Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Asia Optical Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Chung, Lung-Pin, Chiang, Chih-Yang, Lee, Yu-Ting
• Primary Examiner(s): Villecco; John M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Flohre; Jason
• Application Number:
  US11/775,270
• Publication Number:
  US 20080012950A1
• Time in Patent Office: 980 Days
• Field of Search: 348/208.2, 348/208.4, 348/208.7, 348/208.99
• US Class Current: 348/208.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/68 for stable pick-up of the scene, e.g. compensating for camera body vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/6812 based on additional sensors, e.g. acceleration sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/687 by shifting the lens or sensor position

Abstract

Image pickup systems capable of preventing blurred images are provided, in which a first sensor detects a variation in inclination of an image pickup device to generate a first sensing data, a second sensor detects a position movement from an image sensor in the image pickup device to generate a second sensing data and a driving unit is coupled to the image sensor. A processing module receives the first and second sensing data, integrates the first sensing data, calculates the integrated first sensing data and the second sensing data to obtain control information, and enables the driving unit to adjust the position of the image sensor according to the control information.

Claims

1. An image pickup system, comprising:

a first sensor detecting a variation in inclination of an image pickup device to generate a first sensing data;

a second sensor detecting a position movement from an image sensor in the image pickup device to generate a second sensing data;

a driving unit coupled to the image sensor; and

a processing module receiving the first and second sensing data, integrating the first sensing data, calculating the integrated first sensing data and the second sensing data to obtain control information, and enabling the driving unit to adjust the position of the image sensor according to the control information,

wherein the processing module further comprises;

a combination unit processing the integrated first sensing data and the second sensing data to output a combined data; and

a phase compensation unit calculating phase compensation data according to the first sensing data, transferring the phase compensation data to the combining unit, such that the combining unit processes the integrated first sensing data, the second sensing data and the phase compensation data to output the combined data.

2. The image pickup system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first sensor comprises a gyro sensor.

3. The image pickup system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second sensor comprises a Hall effect sensor.

4. The image pickup system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first sensing data comprises an angular velocity signal of the image pickup device.

5. The image pickup system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second sensing data comprises a position signal of the image sensor.

6. The image pickup system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processing module comprises:

a first integrator integrating the first sensing data; and

a first proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller receiving the combined data to generate a first information to serve as the control information.

7. The image pickup system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the processing unit further comprises at least one analog to digital converter converting the first sensing data and the second sensing data into digital data.

8. The image pickup system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the processing module further comprises:

a second PID controller receiving the second sensing data to generate a second information; and

a selection unit coupled to the first and second PID controllers, selectively outputting the first information or the second information to serve as the control information.

9. The image pickup system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the selection unit outputs the first information or the second information to serve as the control information according to user input instructions.

10. A method for pickup images, comprising:

detecting a variation in inclination of an image pickup device to generate a first sensing data by a first sensor;

detecting a position movement an image sensor in the image pickup device to generate a second sensing data by a second sensor;

integrating the first sensing data;

calculating phase compensation data according to the first sensing data;

calculating the integrated first sensing data, the second sensing data and the phase compensation data to obtain control information; and

enabling a driving unit to adjust the position of the image sensor according to the control information.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first sensing data comprises an angular velocity signal of the image pickup device.

12. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the second sensing data comprises a position signal of the image sensor.

13. The method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising:

generating a first information to serve as the control information according to the combined data by a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising:

generating a second information according to the second sensing data by another PID controller; and

outputting the first information or the second information to serve as the information.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the first information or the second information is output to serve as the control information according to constructions input by users.

16. An image pickup system, comprising:

a gyro sensor detecting a variation in inclination of an image pickup device to generate an angular velocity signal of the image pickup device;

a Hall effect sensor detecting a position movement from an image sensor in the image pickup device to generate a position signal of the image sensor; and

a processing module, comprising;

an integrator integrating the angular velocity signal;

a combination unit processing the integrated angular velocity signal and the position signal to output a combined data; and

a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller generating control information according to the combined data;

a driver control unit generating a corresponding control signal according to the control information; and

a phase compensation unit calculating phase compensation data according to the angular velocity signal, transferring the phase compensation data to the combining unit, such that the combining unit processes the integrated angular velocity signal, the position signal and the phase compensation data to output the combined data; and

a driving unit adjusting the position of the image sensor according to the corresponding control signal.

17. The image pickup system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the processing unit further comprises at least one analog to digital converter converting the angular velocity signal and the position signal into digital data.