Light valve systems and methods
AssigneeNBCUniversal Media, LLC
InventorArley Christopher Seeger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A clipping mitigation circuitry includes a light valve configured to reduce an amount of light captured by a camera and a controller configured to receive sensor feedback indicative of a light levels of an image captured by the camera, identify potential clipping in the image based on the light levels, and adjust the light valve based on the potential clipping to reduce the amount of light captured by the camera.
Claims21
A clipping mitigation circuitry comprising:
- a light valve configured to be directly coupled to one or more sensors configured to provide sensor feedback indicative a plurality of light levels of an image captured by a camera;
- and
- a controller comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the processor is configured to:
- receive the sensor feedback from the one or more sensors;
- identify potential clipping in the image based on the plurality of light levels;
- and
- adjust the light valve configured to reduce an amount of light captured by the camera based on the potential clipping.
(canceled)
A method for controlling a light valve configured to reduce an amount of light captured by a camera, the method comprising:
- receiving an indication of a plurality of light levels of an image captured by the camera;
- determining a Just Noticeable Difference (JND) as an amount of clipping in the image that is noticeable while viewing the image, and wherein the JND is determined based on an intended viewing device, an intended viewing method, whether the image is part of a video or is a still image, or any combination thereof;
- identifying one or more locations of potential clipping within the image based on the plurality of light levels and the JND;
- and
- adjusting the light valve to reduce the amount of light captured by the camera at the one or more locations.
A camera assembly comprising:
- a sensor assembly configured to detect light entering the camera assembly;
- and
- light-blocking circuitry configured to block light directed toward the sensor assembly, wherein the light-blocking circuitry is configured to receive a command indicative of an adjustment to block light entering the camera assembly to prevent potential clipping in an image captured by the camera assembly, and wherein the light-blocking circuitry is coupled to the sensor assembly and configured to be disposed between a lens of the camera assembly and the sensor assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.