Image stabilization
AssigneeRPX Corporation
InventorsDanny Chan, Horst Knoedgen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system to stabilize images of a digital camera adjusting to unintentional movements of the camera during capture of an image has been achieved. A gyroscopic sensor senses any movement of a camera by angular speed detection and via an electronic regulator at least two linear motors move an x-y table, carrying an optical sensor or a lens barrel of the camera, in a way to adjust the optical sensor to these movements. Position sensors, as e.g. sensors integrated in the linear motors, capacitive sensors, inductive sensors, or Hall sensors, sense the actual position of one or more movable plates of the x-y table and feed it back to the regulator. The movable plates of x-y table are guided by a multitude of rolling elements, e.g. ball bearings.
Claims56
A system to stabilize images of digital cameras by mechanically adjusting a part of the optical system of the camera to unintentional movements of the camera during capture of an image is comprising:
- a gyroscopic sensor, sensing an angle speed of the camera, wherein an output of the gyroscopic sensor is an input to an electronic regulator;
- said electronic regulator controlling a position of said part of the optical system, to be adjusted, wherein said part is moved by at least two linear motors dependent upon the input from said gyroscopic sensor, and, wherein position sensors are providing information about an actual position to the electronic regulator;
- wherein each of said first parts of each of said linear motors comprises magnetic material and each of said second parts comprises one or more coils wrapped around magnetic material;
- wherein a second coil wrapped around said magnetic material is used for position sensing by measuring a difference of inductance between both coils;
- an x-y table carrying said part of the optical system to be adjusted, comprising a movable first plate and a fixed second plate, wherein first parts of the linear motors are mounted to the first plate and second parts are mounted to the fixed second plate;
- and
- said position sensors providing input to said electronic regulator.
A method to stabilize images of digital cameras by adjusting a part of the optical system of the camera to unintentional movements of the camera during capture of an image, comprising the following steps:
- (1) providing a digital camera, wherein the part of the optical system of the 5 camera to be adjusted is fastened firmly on one or more movables plates of a x-y table, wherein, if more than one plate is used, each plate can move in one dedicated direction, linear motors to move each plate separately, a regulator controlling said motors, a gyroscopic sensor, and position sensors for each plate;
- (2) providing first parts of each of said linear motors comprising magnetic material and said second part comprising one or more coils wrapped around magnetic material;
- (3) providing a second coil wrapped around said magnetic material to be used for said position sensing by measuring a difference of inductance between both coils;
- (4) activating said one or more gyroscopic sensors any time before a picture 10 is taken;
- (5) sensing unintentional movements of the camera by said gyroscopic sensor and feed correspondent signals to the regulator;
- (6) activating said linear motors to move said one or more plates in order to compensate unintentional movements of the camera;
- (7) controlling the movements of said one or more plates by said position sensors wherein actual positions of the plates are fed back to the regulator;
- and
- (8) taking a picture while unintentional movements of the camera have been compensated during capture of the picture at the same time.
A system to stabilize images of digital cameras by mechanically adjusting a part of the optical system of the camera to unintentional movements of the camera during capture of an image is comprising:
- a gyroscopic sensor, sensing an angle speed of the camera, wherein an output 5 of the gyroscopic sensor is an input to an electronic regulator;
- said electronic regulator controlling a position of said part of the optical system, to be adjusted, wherein said part is moved by at least two linear motors dependent upon the input from said gyroscopic sensor, and wherein position sensors are providing information about an actual position of said part of the optical system to the electronic regulator;
- a x-y table carrying said part of the optical system to be adjusted, comprising more than one movable plates and a fixed plate, wherein first parts of the linear motors are mounted to the fixed plate and second parts are mounted to each of the movable plates;
- and
- said position sensors providing input to said electronic regulator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.