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US 8,120,696 B2Granted
Methods, apparatuses and systems using windowing to accelerate automatic camera functions
AssigneeMicron Technology, Inc.
InventorDmitri Jerdev
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods, apparatuses and systems are disclosed for accelerating the operation of the automatic functions of an imager, e.g. a camera system. The automatic functions may, for example, include one or more of auto-focus, auto-exposure and auto-white balance. A special “windowing mode” is implemented in which information is acquired from only a subset of defined windows from the full pixel array area in order to set image capture parameters of the imager in accordance with current scene conditions.
Claims29
A method of setting image capture parameters, comprising:
- prior to image capture, collecting image data information from a plurality of discrete areas of a pixel array at a first set of image capture parameters, wherein each of the plurality of discrete areas of the pixel array is smaller than the entire pixel array area and is apart and detached from others of the plurality of the discrete areas of the pixel array by areas of the pixel area that are not part of one of the plurality of discrete areas and wherein the image capture parameters define exposure, white balance and/or focus;
- based on the collected image data information, adjusting at least one of the size, location, number and shape of at least one of the plurality of discrete areas of the pixel array, resulting in an updated plurality of discrete areas of the pixel array, each of the updated plurality of discrete areas of the pixel array being apart and detached from others of the updated plurality of discrete areas of the pixel array;
- collecting image data information from the updated plurality of discrete areas of the pixel array at the first set of image capture parameters;
- determining adjustments of at least one image capture parameter based on the image data information collected from the updated plurality of discrete areas of the pixel array;
- adjusting the at least one image capture parameter based on the determination to an updated set of image capture parameters;
- and
- capturing an image using the updated set of image capture parameters.
4 more elements
A method of operating a digital camera comprising:
- defining a plurality of discrete areas of a pixel array, wherein each of the plurality of discrete areas is a subset of the entire pixel array and is apart and detached from others of the plurality of discrete areas of the pixel array by areas of the pixel area that are not part of one of the plurality of discrete areas;
- prior to image capture, acquiring image data information from the plurality of discrete areas of the pixel array at a first set of image capture parameters wherein the image capture parameters define exposure white balance and/or focus;
- processing the image data information collected from the plurality of discrete areas of the pixel array to obtain scene statistics;
- analyzing the acquired image data information;
- according to the analysis of the acquired image data information, adjusting at least one of the size, location, number and shape of at least one of the plurality of discrete areas of the pixel array, resulting in an adjusted plurality of discrete areas, each of the adjusted plurality of discrete areas being apart and detached from others of the updated plurality of discrete areas;
- acquiring updated image data information from the adjusted plurality of discrete areas of the pixel array at the first set of image capture parameters;
- processing the updated image data information to obtain updated scene statistics;
- adjusting an automatic function image capture parameter to an updated set of image capture parameters in accordance with the updated image data information and the updated scene statistics;
- and
- acquiring an image under the updated set of image capture parameters.
7 more elements
An imager comprising:
- an array of pixels for receiving an image;
- a control circuit for reading image data information signals from a subset of pixels of the array, wherein the subset of pixels comprises a plurality of discrete areas of the array, where each of the plurality of discrete areas of the pixel array is apart and detached from others of the plurality of discrete areas of the pixel array by areas of the pixel area that are not part of one of the plurality of discrete areas;
- and
- a processing circuit for processing image data information signals collected at a first set of image capture parameters from the subset of pixels of the array the image capture parameters defining exposure, white balance and/or focus, the processing circuit providing instructions to the control circuit to adjust, based on the image data information contained in the image data information signals, specifications of at least one of the size, location, number and shape of at least one of the plurality of discrete areas comprising the subset of pixels of the array, resulting in an adjusted subset of pixels of the array comprising an adjusted plurality of discrete areas, each of the adjusted plurality of discrete areas being apart and detached from others of the updated plurality of discrete areas, and to read updated image data information signals from the adjusted subset of pixels of the array at the first set of image capture parameters, and determining an updated set of image capture parameters in accordance with current scene conditions from the image data information contained in the updated image data information signals.
1 more element
A digital camera comprising:
- an array of pixels for receiving an image;
- a lens for focusing an image in said array of pixels;
- a control circuit for reading image data information signals from a subset of pixels of the array, wherein the subset of pixels comprises a plurality of discrete areas of the array and each of the plurality of discrete areas of the pixel array is apart and detached from others of the plurality of discrete areas of the pixel array by areas of the pixel area that are not part of one of the plurality of discrete areas;
- and
- a processing circuit for processing image data information signals produced by the subset of the array of pixels at a first set of image capture parameters the image capture parameters defining exposure, white balance and/or focus, the processing circuit providing instructions to the control circuit to adjust, based on the image data information contained in the image data information signals, specifications of at least one of the size, location, number and shape of at least one of the plurality of discrete areas comprising the subset of pixels of the array, resulting in an adjusted subset of pixels of the array comprising an adjusted plurality of discrete areas, each of the adjusted plurality of discrete areas being apart and detached from others of the updated plurality of discrete areas, and to read updated image data information signals from the adjusted subset of pixels of the array at the first set of image capture parameters, and providing values for an updated set of image capture parameters in accordance with current scene conditions for operation of at least one automatic function of the digital camera from information contained in the updated image data information signals.
2 more elements
A digital camera comprising:
- an image pixel array area;
- a lens for focusing an image in said image pixel array area;
- a system for defining a plurality of discrete subset areas of the image pixel array area;
- an image sensor controller for controlling collection of image data information from the plurality of discrete subset areas of the image pixel array area, wherein each of the plurality of discrete subset areas of the image pixel array area is apart and detached from others of the plurality of discrete subset areas of the image pixel array area by areas of the image pixel array area that are not part of one of the plurality of discrete subset areas;
- a system for adjusting, based on collected image data information collected at a first set of image capture parameters the image capture parameters defining exposure, white balance and/or focus, specifications of at least one of the size, location, number and shape of at least one of the plurality of discrete subset areas of the image pixel array area, resulting in an updated plurality of discrete subset areas of the pixel array, each of the updated plurality of discrete subset areas of the pixel array being apart and detached from others of the updated plurality of discrete subset areas of the pixel array, and causing the image sensor controller to collect updated image data information from the updated plurality of discrete subset areas of the image pixel array area at the first set of image capture parameters;
- and
- an image analysis and processing pipeline for receiving and processing the updated image data information collected from the updated plurality of discrete subset areas of the image pixel array area, wherein the image analysis and processing pipeline further comprises:
- a statistic collector for collecting image data information from the updated plurality of discrete subset areas of the image pixel array area;
- and
- a system for receiving relevant image data information sent from the statistics collector and for determining values for an updated set of image capture parameters in accordance with current scene conditions.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.