Method and apparatus for eliminating flicker effects from discharge lamps during digital video capture

An apparatus comprising:

• a photosensor array;
• an analog-to-digital unit;
• a capture control unit coupled to said photosensor array and said analog-to-digital unit;
• an image processing and control unit coupled to said capture control unit
• a storage unit coupled to said image processing and control unit;
• a flicker detector coupled to said capture control unit having:
• a light sensitive diode for detecting a light intensity level from a light source;
• a level detector coupled to said light sensitive diode for comparing said detected light intensity level with a predetermined level;
• a pulse generator coupled to said level detector for generating a set of pulses based on an output from said level detector;
• and,
• a signal processing unit coupled to (1) said pulse generator and said capture control unit to determine an oscillating frequency of said light source based upon a pulse rate of the set of pulses, and (2) the level detector to adjust the predetermined level in response to the pulse rate.