Noise reduction in an image capturing device
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsMark N. Robins, Heather N. Bean
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Abstract
An image capturing device includes an electronic image sensor and a memory including a dark frame buffer that stores one or more dark frames generated by the electronic image sensor. A processor controls the electronic image sensor to substantially continuously capture and store a newest dark frame from the electronic image sensor when the electronic image sensor is not performing an image capture. The processor subtracts the newest dark frame from an image upon an image capture.
Claims20
An image capturing device, comprising:
- an electronic image sensor;
- a memory including a dark frame buffer that stores one or more dark frames generated by said electronic image sensor;
- and
- a processor communicating with said electronic image sensor and said memory, with said processor controlling said electronic image sensor to substantially continuously capture and store a newest dark frame from said electronic image sensor when said electronic image sensor is not performing an image capture and subtracting said newest dark frame from an image upon an image capture.
A noise reduction method for an electronic image sensor of an image capturing device, comprising the steps of:
- substantially continuously capturing a newest dark frame in said electronic image sensor when said electronic image sensor is not performing an image capture;
- storing said newest dark frame;
- and
- subtracting said newest dark frame from an image upon an image capture;
- wherein said subtracting reduces noise in said image.
A noise reduction method for an electronic image sensor of an image capturing device, comprising the steps of:
- checking whether said image capturing device is in a preview mode;
- checking a dark frame preview timer if said image capturing device is in said preview mode;
- stopping said preview mode if said image capturing device is in said preview mode and if said dark frame preview timer is expired;
- capturing a newest dark frame in said electronic image sensor if said electronic image sensor is not performing an image capture and if said preview mode is not active;
- storing said newest dark frame;
- and
- subtracting said newest dark frame from an image upon an image capture;
- wherein said subtracting reduces noise in said image.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.