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US 6,747,693 B1Granted
Imaging apparatus and method with upside-down mode and normal mode transitioning
AssigneeMitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsKoichi Yamashita, Takashi Itow, Hiroaki Sugiura, Tetsuya Hayashi
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Abstract
An image-processing apparatus operates in different orientations, producing a source image that may be either right-side up or upside down. The source image is stored in a memory circuit, read from the memory circuit on one order if right-side up, and read from the memory circuit in a different order if upside down, generating an output image that is always right-side up.
Claims16
An imaging apparatus, comprising:
- an imaging device operating in different orientations, producing a source image that is right-side up when said imaging device operates in one orientation and upside-down when said imaging device operates in another orientation;
- a control unit coupled to said imaging device, generating a mode signal designating a first mode when said source image is right-side up and a second mode when said source image is upside down;
- a memory circuit coupled to said imaging device, storing said source image;
- and
- a memory control circuit coupled to said memory circuit and said control unit, reading said source image from said memory circuit in a first order in said first mode and in a second order, different from said first order, in said second mode, thereby generating an output image that is right-side up in both said first mode and said second mode, wherein said first mode transitions to said second mode while generating said output image, wherein said imaging device swivels on a horizontal axis so that the imaging device looks forward, downward, and then backward, and the transition between the first mode and the second mode takes place when the imaging device is looking directly downward.
2 more elements
An imaging apparatus, comprising:
- an imaging device operating in different orientations, producing a source image that is right-side up when said imaging device operates in one orientation and upside-down when said imaging device operates in another orientation;
- a control unit coupled to said imaging device, generating a mode signal designating a first mode when said source image is right-side up and a second mode when said source image is upside down;
- a memory circuit coupled to said imaging device, storing said source image;
- and
- a memory control circuit coupled to said memory circuit and said control unit, reading said source image from said memory circuit in a first order in said first mode and in a second order, different from said first order, in said second mode, thereby generating an output image that is right-side up in both said first mode and said second mode;
- wherein said memory control circuit also reads said source image from said memory circuit in said first order, in both said first mode and said second mode, to generate an internal image, further comprising an internal processing circuit that uses said internal image for processing of said source image;
- wherein said internal processing circuit combines said internal image with said source image, thereby reducing noise in said source image.
4 more elements
An imaging apparatus, comprising:
- an imaging device operating in different orientations, producing a source image that is right-side up when said imaging device operates in one orientation and upside-down when said imaging device operates in another orientation;
- a control unit coupled to said imaging device, generating a mode signal designating a first mode when said source image is right-side up and a second mode when said source image is upside down;
- a memory circuit coupled to said imaging device, storing said source image;
- and
- a memory control circuit coupled to said memory circuit and said control unit, reading said source image from said memory circuit in a first order in said first mode and in a second order, different from said first order, in said second mode, thereby generating an output image that is right-side up in both said first mode and said second mode;
- wherein said memory control circuit also reads said source image from said memory circuit in said first order, in both said first mode and said second mode, to generate an internal image, further comprising an internal processing circuit that uses said internal image for processing of said source image;
- wherein said internal processing circuit uses said internal image to interpolate missing portions of said source image.
4 more elements
A method of processing a source image produced by an imaging device operating in different orientations, the source image being right-side up when the imaging device operates in one orientation and upside-down when the imaging device operates in another orientation, comprising the steps of:
- storing the source image in a memory circuit;
- reading the source image from said memory circuit in a first order if the source image is right-side up, and in a second order, vertically reverse to said first order, if the source image is upside down, thereby generating an output image that is right-side up by transitioning between said first order and said second order;
- and
- swiveling said imaging device on a horizontal axis so that the imaging device looks forward, downward and then backward, and the transitioning step between the first mode and the second mode takes place when the imaging device is looking directly downward.
1 more element
A method of processing a source image produced by an imaging device operating in different orientations, the source image being right-side up when the imaging device operates in one orientation and upside-down when the imaging device operates in another orientation, comprising the steps of:
- storing the source image in a memory circuit;
- and reading the source image from said memory circuit in a first order if the source image is right-side up, and in a second order, vertically reverse to said first order, if the source image is upside down, thereby generating an output image that is right-side up by transitioning between said first order and said second order;
- reading the source image from said memory circuit in said first order, both when said source image is right-side up and when said source image is upside down, thereby generating an internal image;
- and
- using said internal image to process said source image;
- wherein said step of using said internal image comprises combining said internal image with said source image to reduce noise in said source image.
3 more elements
A method of processing a source image produced by an imaging device operating in different orientations, the source image being right-side up when the imaging device operates in one orientation and upside-down when the imaging device operates in another orientation, comprising the steps of:
- storing the source image in a memory circuit;
- and
- reading the source image from said memory circuit in a first order if the source image is right-side up, and in a second order, vertically reverse to said first order, if the source image is upside down, thereby generating an output image that is right-side up by transitioning between said first order and said second order;
- reading the source image from said memory circuit in said first order, both when said source image is right-side up and when said source image is upside down, thereby generating an internal image;
- and
- using said internal image to process said source image,
- wherein said step of using said internal image comprises using said internal image to interpolate missing parts of said source image.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.