High dynamic range imaging using external light source

Abstract

Disclosed herein are devices, methods, and systems for providing an externally augmented camera that may utilize external light sources of a separate sensor to emit light toward a scene so as to provide accurate imaging of the scene, even in dark or low-light situations or where the scene has a high dynamic range of brightness. The externally augmented camera system may include a sensor with a light source capable of emitting light toward a scene, a camera separate from the light source, where the camera includes a detector capable of detecting emitted light from the light source. The externally augmented camera system also causes the sensor to emit light toward the scene via the light source, causes the camera to capture image data of the scene that has been illuminated by emitted light from the light source, and generates an image of the scene based on the image data.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.