Camera having an adaptive gain control
AssigneeIntel Corporation
InventorEric C. Hannah
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for generating a digital output signal representing a captured image includes a sensor for capturing the image and generating a sensor output signal. A gain control amplifier is coupled to the sensor and receives the sensor output signal. The gain control amplifier has controls for applying various levels of gain to the sensor output signal. An analog-to-digital converter is coupled to the gain control amplifier and generates the digital output signal representing the captured image. A processor is coupled to the analog-to-digital converter and the gain control amplifier. The processor provides a control signal to the gain control amplifier for adjusting the level of gain applied by the amplifier.
Claims22
A camera comprising:
- a sensor configured to capture an image and generate a sensor output signal representing the captured image;
- an amplifier coupled to receive the sensor output signal, wherein the amplifier is configured to apply multiple gain levels to the sensor output signal;
- and
- a processor coupled to the amplifier, wherein the processor is configured to provide a control signal to the amplifier to adjust the gain levels applied by the amplifier.
An apparatus for capturing an image, comprising
- a camera, including:
- a sensor configured to capture the image and generate a sensor output signal representing the captured image;
- an amplifier coupled to receive the sensor output signal, wherein the amplifier has controls to apply multiple gain levels to the sensor output signal;
- and
- a processor coupled to the camera, wherein the processor is configured to receive the sensor output signal, and wherein the processor is configured to provide a control signal to the amplifier to adjust the gain level applied by the amplifier.
A method for enhancing the dynamic range of a sensor output signal representing a captured image, the method comprising the steps of:
- amplifying the sensor output signal in response to gain settings contained in a gain map, wherein each gain setting is associated with a particular region of the captured image;
- and
- updating the gain settings contained in the gain map in response to changes in the sensor output signal.
An apparatus for capturing an image and generating a signal representing the captured image, comprising:
- means for amplifying the signal in response to gain settings contained in a gain map, wherein each gain setting is associated with a particular region of the captured image;
- means for updating the gain settings contained in the gain map;
- and
- means for generating a control signal indicating a particular gain setting to be applied to a portion of the signal representing the captured image.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.