Adaptive sensitivity control, on a pixel-by-pixel basis, for a digital imager

A method of adaptively controlling sensitivity, on a pixel-by-pixel basis, of a digital imager, comprising:

• (a) determining a number of pixels of image data having illumination intensity levels within a first defined range of illumination intensity levels;
• (b) determining an illumination intensity level mapping function based upon the determined number of pixels within the first defined range of illumination intensity levels;
• (c) determining a transfer control function based on the determined illumination intensity level mapping function;
• and
• (d) imposing the determined transfer control function upon a pixel of the digital imager;
• said determination of a number of pixels of image data having illumination intensity levels within a first defined range of illumination intensity levels determines a number of pixels of image data having illumination intensity levels within a first defined range of illumination intensity levels during a period of time that the digital imager is creating a second frame of pixels;
• said determination of an illumination intensity level mapping function determines an illumination intensity level mapping function based upon the determined number of pixels of image data having illumination intensity levels within a first defined range of illumination intensity levels during the period of time that the digital imager is creating the second frame of pixels;
• and
• said imposition of the determined transfer control function imposes the determined transfer control function upon a pixel of the digital imager during a third frame of pixels of image data being created by the digital imager.

A method of adaptively controlling sensitivity, on a pixel-by-pixel basis, of a digital imager, comprising:

• (a) determining a number of pixels of image data having illumination intensity levels within a first defined range of illumination intensity levels;
• (b) determining an illumination intensity level mapping function based upon the determined number of pixels within the first defined range of illumination intensity levels;
• (c) determining a transfer control function based on the determined illumination intensity level mapping function;
• and
• (d) imposing the determined transfer control function upon a pixel of the digital imager;
• said determination of a number of pixels of image data having illumination intensity levels within a first defined range of illumination intensity levels determines a number of pixels of image data having illumination intensity levels within a first defined range of illumination intensity levels during a period of time that the digital imager is creating a first frame of pixels;
• said determination of an illumination intensity level mapping function determines an illumination intensity level mapping function based upon the determined number of pixels of image data having intensity levels within a first defined range of intensity levels during the period of time that the digital imager is creating the first frame of pixels;
• and
• said imposition of the determined transfer control function imposes the determined transfer control function upon a pixel of the digital imager during a second frame of pixels of image data being created by the digital imager.

A method of adaptively controlling sensitivity, on a pixel-by-pixel basis, of a digital imager, comprising:

• (a) determining a plurality of numbers of pixels, each determined number of pixels being a number of pixels within an associated defined range of illumination intensity levels;
• (b) determining a plurality of illumination intensity level mapping functions, each determined illumination intensity level mapping function corresponding to one defined range of illumination intensity levels, each illumination intensity level mapping function being determined based upon the determined number of pixels within an associated defined range of illumination intensity levels;
• (c) determining a transfer control function based on the plurality of determined illumination intensity level mapping functions;
• (d) imposing the determined transfer control function upon a pixel of the digital imager;
• (e) determining a number of pixels having illumination intensity levels within a specified range of illumination intensity levels;
• and
• (f) determining an integration time based upon the determined number of pixels having illumination intensity levels within a specified range of illumination intensity levels;
• said determination of the transfer control function being determined based on the plurality of determined illumination intensity level mapping functions and the determined integration time.

A method of adaptively controlling sensitivity, on a pixel-by-pixel basis, of a digital imager, comprising:

• (a) determining a plurality of numbers of pixels, each determined number of pixels being a number of pixels within an associated defined range of illumination intensity levels;
• (b) determining a plurality of illumination intensity level mapping functions, each determined illumination intensity level mapping function corresponding to one defined range of illumination intensity levels, each illumination intensity level mapping function being determined based upon the determined number of pixels within an associated defined range of illumination intensity levels;
• (c) determining a transfer control function based on the plurality of determined illumination intensity level mapping functions;
• and
• (d) imposing the determined transfer control function upon a pixel of the digital imager;
• said determination of a plurality of numbers of pixels determines each number of pixels corresponding to one defined range of illumination intensity levels during a period of time that the digital imager is creating a second frame of pixels;
• said determination of a plurality of illumination intensity level mapping function determining each illumination intensity level mapping function corresponding to one of the defined ranges of illumination intensity levels during the period of time that the digital imager is creating the second frame of pixels;
• and
• said imposition of the determined transfer control function imposes the determined transfer control function upon a pixel of the digital imager during a third frame of pixels of image data created by the digital imager.

A method of adaptively controlling sensitivity, on a pixel-by-pixel basis, of a digital imager, comprising:

• (a) determining a plurality of numbers of pixels, each determined number of pixels being a number of pixels within an associated defined range of illumination intensity levels;
• (b) determining a plurality of illumination intensity level mapping functions, each determined illumination intensity level mapping function corresponding to one defined range of illumination intensity levels, each illumination intensity level mapping function being determined based upon the determined number of pixels within an associated defined range of illumination intensity levels;
• (c) determining a transfer control function based on the plurality of determined illumination intensity level mapping functions;
• and
• (d) imposing the determined transfer control function upon a pixel of the digital imager;
• said determination of a plurality of numbers of pixels determines each number of pixels corresponding to one defined range of illumination intensity levels during a period of time that the digital imager is creating a first frame of pixels;
• said determination of a plurality of illumination intensity level mapping function determining each illumination intensity level mapping function corresponding to one of the defined ranges of illumination intensity levels during the period of time that the digital imager is creating the first frame of pixels;
• and
• said imposition of the determined transfer control function imposes the determined transfer control function upon a pixel of the digital imager during a second frame of pixels of image data created by the digital imager.

A method of adaptively controlling sensitivity, on a pixel-by-pixel basis, of a digital imager, comprising:

• (a) determining a number of saturated pixels;
• (b) selecting a first illumination intensity level mapping function when the determined number of saturated pixels is above a first threshold;
• (c) determining a number of pixels having illumination intensity levels within a defined range of values;
• (d) selecting a second illumination intensity level mapping function when the determined number of pixels is below a second threshold;
• (e) determining a transfer control function based on the selected illumination intensity level mapping function;
• and
• (f) imposing the determined transfer control function upon a pixel of the digital imager.

A method of adaptively controlling sensitivity, on a pixel-by-pixel basis, of a digital imager, comprising:

• (a) determining a number of pixels of image data having illumination intensity levels within a first defined range of illumination intensity levels, the first defined range of illumination intensity levels including an illumination intensity level corresponding to a pixel saturation value;
• (b) determining an illumination intensity level mapping function based upon the determined number of pixels within the first defined range of illumination intensity levels;
• (c) determining a number of pixels having illumination intensity levels within a second defined range of illumination intensity levels, the second defined range of illumination intensity levels including an illumination intensity level corresponding to a minimum illumination intensity level;
• (d) determining an integration time based upon the determined number of pixels having illumination intensity levels within the second defined range of illumination intensity levels;
• (e) determining a transfer control function based on the determined illumination intensity level mapping function and the determined integration time;
• and
• (f) imposing the determined transfer control function upon a pixel of the digital imager.

A method of adaptively controlling sensitivity, on a pixel-by-pixel basis, of a digital imager, comprising:

• (a) selecting a first illumination intensity level mapping function;
• (b) determining a first transfer control function based on the selected first compression;
• (c) imposing the determined first transfer control function upon a pixel of the digital imager;
• (d) determining a histogram of illumination intensity levels of pixels of image data being generated by the digital imager having the determined first transfer control function imposed thereon;
• (e) determining an illumination intensity level maximum, the illumination intensity level maximum representing a greatest illumination intensity level for a pixel in a sample forming the histogram;
• (f) determining a second illumination intensity level mapping function, based on the determined intensity level maximum, the second illumination intensity level mapping function preventing the generation of any saturated pixels and providing a dynamic range of image data enabling each level in the histogram to be realized by the digital imager;
• (g) determining a second transfer control function based on the determined second illumination intensity level mapping function;
• and
• (h) imposing the determined second transfer control function upon a pixel of the digital imager.

A system for adaptively controlling sensitivity, on a pixel-by-pixel basis, of a digital imager, comprising:

• an illumination intensity level mapping controller, operatively connected to the digital imager, to determine a number of pixels of image data having illumination intensity levels within a first defined range of illumination intensity levels and to determine an illumination intensity level mapping function based upon the determined number of pixels within the first defined range of illumination intensity levels;
• a transfer control function generation circuit, operatively connected to the digital imager and said illumination intensity level mapping controller, to determine a transfer control function based on the determined illumination intensity level mapping function and to impose the determined transfer control function upon a pixel of the digital imager;
• and
• an exposure controller, operatively connected to the digital imager and said transfer control function generation circuit, to determine a number of pixels having illumination intensity levels within a second defined range of illumination intensity levels and to determine an integration time based upon the determined number of pixels having illumination intensity levels within a second defined range of illumination intensity levels;
• said transfer control function generation circuit determining said transfer control function based on the determined illumination intensity level mapping function and the determined integration time.

A system for adaptively controlling sensitivity, on a pixel-by-pixel basis, of a digital imager, comprising:

• an illumination intensity level mapping controller, operatively connected to the digital imager, to determine a number of pixels of image data having illumination intensity levels within a first defined range of illumination intensity levels and to determine an illumination intensity level mapping function based upon the determined number of pixels within the first defined range of illumination intensity levels;
• and
• a transfer control function generation circuit, operatively connected to the digital imager and said illumination intensity level mapping controller, to determine a transfer control function based on the determined illumination intensity level mapping function and to impose the determined transfer control function upon a pixel of the digital imager;
• said illumination intensity level mapping controller determines a number of pixels of image data having illumination intensity levels within a first defined range of illumination intensity levels during a period of time that the digital imager is creating a second frame of pixels;
• said illumination intensity level mapping controller determines the illumination intensity level mapping function based upon the determined number of pixels of image data having illumination intensity levels within a first defined range of illumination intensity levels during the period of time that the digital imager is creating the second frame of pixels;
• and
• said transfer control function generation circuit imposes the determined transfer control function upon a pixel of the digital imager during a third frame of pixels of image data being created by the digital imager.

A system for adaptively controlling sensitivity, on a pixel-by-pixel basis, of a digital imager, comprising:

• an illumination intensity level mapping controller, operatively connected to the digital imager, to determine a number of pixels of image data having illumination intensity levels within a first defined range of illumination intensity levels and to determine an illumination intensity level mapping function based upon the determined number of pixels within the first defined range of illumination intensity levels;
• and
• a transfer control function generation circuit, operatively connected to the digital imager and said illumination intensity level mapping controller, to determine a transfer control function based on the determined illumination intensity level mapping function and to impose the determined transfer control function upon a pixel of the digital imager;
• said illumination intensity level mapping controller determines a number of pixels of image data having illumination intensity levels within a first defined range of illumination intensity levels during a period of time that the digital imager is creating a first frame of pixels;
• said illumination intensity level mapping controller determines the illumination intensity level mapping function based upon the determined number of pixels of image data having intensity levels within a first defined range of intensity levels during the period of time that the digital imager is creating the first frame of pixels;
• and
• said transfer control function generation circuit imposes the determined transfer control function upon a pixel of the digital imager during a second frame of pixels of image data being created by the digital imager.

A system for adaptively controlling sensitivity, on a pixel-by-pixel basis, of a digital imager, comprising:

• an illumination intensity level mapping controller, operatively connected to the digital imager, to determine a plurality of number of pixels, each determined number of pixels being a number of pixels within an associated defined range of illumination intensity levels and to determine a plurality of illumination intensity level mapping functions, each determined illumination intensity level mapping function corresponding to one defined range of illumination intensity levels, each illumination intensity level mapping function being determined based upon the determined number of pixels within an associated defined range of illumination intensity levels;
• a transfer control function generation circuit, operatively connected to the digital imager and said illumination intensity level mapping controller, to determine a transfer control function based on the plurality of determined illumination intensity level mapping functions and to impose the determined transfer control function upon a pixel of the digital imager;
• and
• an exposure controller, operatively connected to the digital imager and said transfer control function generation circuit, to determine a number of pixels having illumination intensity levels within a specified range of illumination intensity levels and to determine an integration time based upon the determined number of pixels having illumination intensity levels within a specified range of illumination intensity levels;
• said transfer control function generation circuit determining said transfer control function based on the plurality of determined illumination intensity level mapping functions and the determined integration time.

A system for adaptively controlling sensitivity, on a pixel-by-pixel basis, of a digital imager, comprising:

• an illumination intensity level mapping controller, operatively connected to the digital imager, to determine a plurality of number of pixels, each determined number of pixels being a number of pixels within an associated defined range of illumination intensity levels and to determine a plurality of illumination intensity level mapping functions, each determined illumination intensity level mapping function corresponding to one defined range of illumination intensity levels, each illumination intensity level mapping function being determined based upon the determined number of pixels within an associated defined range of illumination intensity levels;
• and
• a transfer control function generation circuit, operatively connected to the digital imager and said illumination intensity level mapping controller, to determine a transfer control function based on the plurality of determined illumination intensity level mapping functions and to impose the determined transfer control function upon a pixel of the digital imager;
• said illumination intensity level mapping controller determines each number of pixels corresponding to one defined range of illumination intensity levels during a period of time that the digital imager is creating a second frame of pixels;
• said illumination intensity level mapping controller determines each illumination intensity level mapping function corresponding to one of the defined ranges of illumination intensity levels during the period of time that the digital imager is creating the second frame of pixels;
• and
• said transfer control function generation circuit imposes the determined transfer control function upon a pixel of the digital imager during a third frame of pixels of image data created by the digital imager.

A system for adaptively controlling sensitivity, on a pixel-by-pixel basis, of a digital imager, comprising:

• an illumination intensity level mapping controller, operatively connected to the digital imager, to determine a plurality of number of pixels, each determined number of pixels being a number of pixels within an associated defined range of illumination intensity levels and to determine a plurality of illumination intensity level mapping functions, each determined illumination intensity level mapping function corresponding to one defined range of illumination intensity levels, each illumination intensity level mapping function being determined based upon the determined number of pixels within an associated defined range of illumination intensity levels;
• and
• a transfer control function generation circuit, operatively connected to the digital imager and said illumination intensity level mapping controller, to determine a transfer control function based on the plurality of determined illumination intensity level mapping functions and to impose the determined transfer control function upon a pixel of the digital imager;
• said illumination intensity level mapping controller determines each number of pixels corresponding to one defined range of illumination intensity levels during a period of time that the digital imager is creating a first frame of pixels;
• said illumination intensity level mapping controller determines each illumination intensity level mapping function corresponding to one of the defined ranges of illumination intensity levels during the period of time that the digital imager is creating the first frame of pixels;
• and
• said transfer control function generation circuit imposes the determined transfer control function upon a pixel of the digital imager during a second frame of pixels of image data created by the digital imager.

A system for adaptively controlling sensitivity, on a pixel-by-pixel basis, of a digital imager, comprising:

• an illumination intensity level mapping controller, operatively connected to the digital imager, to determine a number of saturated pixels and to select a first illumination intensity level mapping function when the determined number of saturated pixels is above a first threshold;
• said illumination intensity level mapping controller determining an number of pixels having illumination intensity levels within a defined range of values and selecting a second illumination intensity level mapping function when the determined number of pixels is below a second threshold;
• and
• a transfer control function generation circuit, operatively connected to the digital imager and said illumination intensity level mapping controller, to determine a transfer control function based on the selected illumination intensity level mapping function and to impose the determined transfer control function upon a pixel of the digital imager.

A system for adaptively controlling sensitivity, on a pixel-by-pixel basis, of a digital imager, comprising:

• an illumination intensity level mapping controller, operatively connected to the digital imager, to determine a number of pixels of image data having illumination intensity levels within a first defined range of illumination intensity levels, the first defined range of illumination intensity levels including an illumination intensity level corresponding to a pixel saturation value, and to determine an illumination intensity level mapping function based upon the determined number of pixels within the first defined range of illumination intensity levels;
• an exposure controller, operatively connected to the digital imager, to determine a number of pixels having illumination intensity levels within a second defined range of illumination intensity levels, the second defined range of illumination intensity levels including an illumination intensity level corresponding to a minimum illumination intensity level, and to determine an integration time based upon the determined number of pixels having illumination intensity levels within the second defined range of illumination intensity levels;
• and
• a transfer control function generation circuit, operatively connected to the digital imager, said exposure controller and said illumination intensity level mapping controller, to determine a transfer control function based on the determined illumination intensity level mapping function and the determined integration time and to impose the determined transfer control function upon a pixel of the digital imager.

A system for adaptively controlling sensitivity, on a pixel-by-pixel basis, of a digital imager, comprising:

• an illumination intensity level mapping controller, operatively connected to the digital imager, to select a first illumination intensity level mapping function;
• and
• a transfer control function generation circuit, operatively connected to the digital imager and said illumination intensity level mapping controller, to determine a first transfer control function based on the selected first compression and to impose the determined first transfer control function upon a pixel of the digital imager;
• said illumination intensity level mapping controller determining a histogram of illumination intensity levels of pixels of image data being generated by the digital imager having the determined first transfer control function imposed thereon;
• said illumination intensity level mapping controller determining an illumination intensity level maximum, the illumination intensity level maximum representing a greatest illumination intensity level for a pixel in a sample forming the histogram;
• said illumination intensity level mapping controller determining a second illumination intensity level mapping function, based on the determined intensity level maximum, the second illumination intensity level mapping function preventing the generation of any saturated pixels and providing a dynamic range of image data enabling each level in the histogram to be realized by the digital imager;
• said transfer control function generation circuit determining a second transfer control function based on the determined second illumination intensity level mapping function;
• said transfer control function generation circuit imposing the second determined transfer control function upon a pixel of the digital imager.