Multiple exposure methods and apparatus for electronic cameras
AssigneeDolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
InventorGregory John Ward
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for capturing multiple sets of image data with an electronic camera having a shutter and an electronic shutter for selectively allowing light to reach an image sensor comprises opening the shutter and the electronic shutter, allowing light to reach the image sensor for a first exposure time, closing the electronic shutter, reading out pixel data captured during the first exposure time, allowing light to reach the image sensor for a second exposure time, and, reading out pixel data captured during the second exposure time. The method may be used to obtain multiple differently exposed images of a scene for combination into a high dynamic range image.
Claims52
A method of capturing an image with an electronic camera having a shutter for selectively allowing light to reach an image sensor and readout circuitry for selectively reading out pixel data from the image sensor, the method comprising:
- opening the shutter;
- allowing light to reach the image sensor for a first exposure period;
- preserving pixel data captured during the first exposure period;
- allowing light to reach the image sensor for a second exposure period;
- reading out pixel data captured during the first exposure period while allowing light to reach the image sensor for the second exposure period;
- and,
- reading out pixel data captured during the second exposure period.
A method of capturing an image with an electronic camera having a shutter for selectively allowing light to reach an image sensor and readout circuitry for selectively reading out pixel data from the image sensor, the method comprising:
- opening the shutter;
- allowing light to reach the image sensor for a first exposure period having a first duration;
- preserving pixel data captured during the first exposure period;
- allowing light to reach the image sensor for a second exposure period having a second duration different from the first duration;
- changing an aperture setting between the first exposure period and the second exposure period;
- and,
- reading out pixel data captured during the first and second exposure periods.
A method of capturing an image with an electronic camera having a shutter for selectively allowing light to reach an image sensor and readout circuitry for selectively reading out pixel data from the image sensor, the method comprising:
- opening the shutter;
- allowing light to reach the image sensor for a first exposure period;
- preserving pixel data captured during the first exposure period;
- allowing light to reach the image sensor for a second exposure period;
- reading out pixel data captured during the first and second exposure periods;
- and,
- compensating for smearing of the pixel data from the first exposure period by comparing pixel data for the first exposure period to corresponding pixel data for the second exposure period.
An electronic camera comprising:
- an image sensor;
- a shutter for selectively allowing light to reach the image sensor;
- readout circuitry for selectively reading out pixel data from the image sensor;
- and,
- a controller configured to control the shutter and the readout circuitry, the controller comprising a processor and a memory having computer-readable code embodied therein which, when executed by the processor, causes the controller to:
- open the shutter;
- allow light to reach the image sensor for a first exposure period;
- preserve pixel data captured during the first exposure period;
- allow light to reach the image sensor for a second exposure period;
- read out pixel data captured during the first exposure period while allowing light to reach the image sensor for the second exposure period;
- and,
- read out pixel data captured during the second exposure period.
An electronic camera comprising:
- an image sensor;
- a shutter for selectively allowing light to reach the image sensor;
- readout circuitry for selectively reading out pixel data from the image sensor;
- and,
- a controller configured to control the shutter and the readout circuitry, the controller comprising a processor and a memory having computer-readable code embodied therein which, when executed by the processor, causes the controller to:
- open the shutter;
- allow light to reach the image sensor for a first exposure period having a first duration;
- preserve pixel data captured during the first exposure period;
- allow light to reach the image sensor for a second exposure period having a second duration different from the first duration;
- change an aperture setting between the first exposure period and the second exposure period;
- and,
- read out pixel data captured during the first and second exposure periods.
An electronic camera comprising:
- an image sensor;
- a shutter for selectively allowing light to reach the image sensor;
- readout circuitry for selectively reading out pixel data from the image sensor;
- and,
- a controller configured to control the shutter and the readout circuitry, the controller comprising a processor and a memory having computer-readable code embodied therein which, when executed by the processor, causes the controller to:
- open the shutter;
- allow light to reach the image sensor for a first exposure period;
- preserve pixel data captured during the first exposure period;
- allow light to reach the image sensor for a second exposure period;
- read out pixel data captured during the first and second exposure periods;
- and,
- compensate for smearing of the pixel data from the first exposure period by comparing pixel data for the first exposure period to corresponding pixel data for the second exposure period.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.