Image capturing device having continuous image capture

• US 8,289,400 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2009
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Brunner, Ralph, Bhogal, Nikhil, Batson, James David
• Primary Examiner(s): LAM, HUNG H
• Application Number:
  US12/479,756
• Publication Number:
  US 20100309335A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,229 Days
• Field of Search: 348/208.1, 348/221.2, 348/2, 348/229.1, 348/234, 348/362
• US Class Current: 348/208.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2137 with temporary storage before final recording, e.g. in a frame buffer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/62 Control of parameters via user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/632 for displaying or modifying preview images prior to image capturing, e.g. variety of image resolutions or capturing parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/673 based on contrast or high frequency components of image signals, e.g. hill climbing method
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/675 comprising setting of focusing regions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/6811 based on the image signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/683 performed by a processor, e.g. controlling the readout of an image memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/74 by influencing the scene brightness using illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/144 Movement detection for video coding H04N19/503; analysis of motion in general G06T7/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/265 Mixing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

Methods, devices, and systems for continuous image capturing are described herein. In one embodiment, a method includes continuously capturing a sequence of images with an image capturing device. The method may further include storing a predetermined number of the sequence of images in a buffer. The method may further include receiving a user request to capture an image. In response to the user request, the method may further include automatically selecting one of the buffered images based on an exposure time of one of the buffered images. The sequence of images is captured prior to or concurrently with receiving the user request.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

continuously capturing a sequence of images with an image capturing device;

storing a predetermined number of the sequence of images in a buffer;

receiving a user request to capture an image; and

in response to the user request, automatically selecting one of the buffered images based on a comparison of an exposure time of one of the buffered images and a predetermined threshold exposure time, wherein the sequence of images is captured prior to or concurrently with receiving the user request.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

continuously replacing the images stored in the buffer with newly captured images.

3. The method of claim 1:

wherein the continuously captured images are captured and buffered in full resolution.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined number of the sequence of images stored in the buffer comprises three images captured by the image capturing device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically selecting one of the the sequence of images further comprises:

determining the exposure time for one of the sequence of images; and

selecting the most recently captured image, which was captured just prior to or concurrently with receiving the user request, if the exposure time meets predetermined criteria based on the predetermined threshold exposure time.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

determining a focus score for each captured image; and

selecting a buffered image based on the focus score.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the sequence of images comprise only images captured just prior to receiving the user request.

8. A non-transitory machine readable medium containing executable computer program instructions which when executed by a data processing system cause said system to perform a method, the method comprising:

continuously capturing a sequence of images with an image capturing device;

storing a predetermined number of the sequence of images in a buffer;

receiving a user request to capture an image; and

in response to the user request, automatically selecting one of the buffered images based on a comparison of an exposure time of one of the buffered images and a predetermined threshold exposure time, wherein the sequence of images is captured prior to or concurrently with receiving the user request.

9. The medium of claim 8, the method further comprising:

continuously replacing the images stored in the buffer with newly captured images.

10. The medium of claim 8:

wherein the continuously captured images are captured and buffered in full resolution.

11. The medium of claim 8, wherein the predetermined number of the sequence of images stored in the buffer comprises three images captured by the image capturing device.

12. The medium of claim 8, wherein automatically selecting one of the the sequence of images further comprises:

determining the exposure time for one of the sequence of images; and

selecting the most recently captured image, which was captured just prior to or concurrently with receiving the user request, if the exposure time meets predetermined criteria based on the predetermined threshold exposure time.

13. The medium of claim 12, the method further comprising:

determining a focus score for each captured image; and

selecting a buffered image based on the focus score.

14. The medium of claim 8, wherein the sequence of images comprise only images captured just prior to receiving the user request.

15. A data processing system, comprising:

a storage device to store a plurality of captured images;

a lens coupled to the storage device, the lens to receive light associated with the captured images;

a processing system coupled to the storage device, the processing system is configured to continuously capture a sequence of images;

to store a predetermined number of the sequence of images in a buffer;

to receive a user request to capture an image; and

to automatically select one of the buffered images based on a comparison of an exposure time of one of the buffered images and a predetermined threshold exposure time, wherein the sequence of images is captured prior to or concurrently with receiving the user request.

16. The data processing system of claim 15, wherein the processing system while automatically selecting one of the buffered images is further configured to:

determine an exposure time of one of the buffered images;

determine whether the exposure time meets predetermined criteria based on the predetermined threshold exposure time; and

select the most recent image if the exposure time meets the predetermined criteria and wherein the processing system is configured to initiate the continuously capturing and the storing after the data processing system enters an image capture mode.

17. The data processing system of claim 16, wherein the processing system while automatically selecting one of the buffered images is further configured to:

determine a focus score for each buffered image; and

selecting a buffered image based on the focus score.

18. The data processing system of claim 17, wherein the processing system while selecting a buffered image based on the focus score is further configured to:

determine a product of the focus score and the weighted factor for each of the buffered images; and

select a buffered image having a highest product if the exposure time fails to meet the predetermined criteria.

19. A data processing system, comprising:

a storage device to store a plurality of captured images;

a lens coupled to the storage device, the lens to receive light associated with the captured images;

a processing system coupled to the storage device, the processing system is configured to continuously capture a sequence of images;

to store a predetermined number of the sequence of images in a buffer;

to receive a user request to capture an image; and

to automatically select one of the buffered images based on an exposure time of one of the buffered images, wherein the processing system while automatically selecting one of the buffered images is further configured to;

determine a focus score for each buffered image;

determine a product of the focus score and a weighted factor for each of the buffered images; and

select a buffered image having a highest product if the exposure time fails to meet a predetermined criteria.

20. The data processing system of claim 19, wherein the processing system while automatically selecting one of the buffered images is further configured to:

determine an exposure time of one of the buffered images;

determine whether the exposure time meets predetermined criteria based on a predetermined threshold exposure time; and

select the most recent image if the exposure time meets the predetermined criteria and wherein the processing system is configured to initiate the continuously capturing and the storing after the data processing system enters an image capture mode.