US 9,288,377 B2 · System and method for combining focus bracket images

Abstract

Imaging systems may be provided with stacked-chip image sensors and adjustable lens systems. A stacked-chip image sensor may include a vertical chip stack that includes an array of image pixels and processing circuitry. The adjustable lens system may pass light from a scene onto the image pixels at a number of focus positions. The image pixels may capture a focus bracket of image frames at a capture frame rate for light passed by the adjustable lens system at two or more of the focus positions. The processing circuitry may combine a set of image frames in the focus bracket to generate a focused image. The focused image may have one or more portions of the captured scene in focus. The processing circuitry may output the focused image to off-chip image processing circuitry at an output frame rate that is less than the capture frame rate.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A method for operating an imaging system having a stacked-chip image sensor and an adjustable lens system to capture an image of an object in a scene, wherein the stacked-chip image sensor comprises a planar array of image pixels and storage and processing circuitry, the method comprising:

moving at least one lens in the adjustable lens system into a plurality of focus positions while passing light from a scene to the image pixels through the at least one lens;
with the image pixels, capturing a focus bracket of image frames while moving the at least one lens;
with the storage and processing circuitry, gathering depth map information for the scene by comparing a first image frame in the focus bracket with a second image frame in the focus bracket, wherein gathering the depth map information comprises determining a distance between the object in the scene and the imaging system;
and
with the storage and processing circuitry, combining a set of image frames from the focus bracket of image frames to generate a focused image based on the gathered depth map information.

2 more elements

A system, comprising:

a central processing unit;
memory;
input-output circuitry;
and
an imaging device, wherein the imaging device comprises:
a stacked-chip image sensor having a pixel array and storage and processing circuitry;
image processing circuitry coupled to the stacked-chip image sensor;
and
an adjustable lens system that focuses light from a scene onto the pixel array, wherein the adjustable lens system is configured to pass light from the scene to the image pixels, wherein the image pixels are configured to capture a focus bracket of image frames at a capture frame rate, wherein the storage and processing circuitry is configured to gather depth map information for the scene by comparing a first image frame in the focus bracket with a second image frame in the focus bracket, wherein gathering the depth map information comprises determining a distance between an object in the scene and the imaging device, wherein the storage and processing circuitry is configured to combine a set of image frames from the focus bracket of image frames to generate a focused image based on the gathered depth map information, and wherein the storage and processing circuitry is configured to output the focused image at an output frame rate that is less than the capture frame rate.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method for combining focus bracket images

Life of this patent

System and method for combining focus bracket images

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13