Methods, apparatuses and systems using windowing to accelerate automatic camera functions
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
G03B-013/00
G03B-013/34
G03B-009/22
H04N-005/238
H04N-009/73
출원번호
US-0513263
(2006-08-31)
등록번호
US-8120696
(2012-02-21)
발명자
/ 주소
Jerdev, Dmitri
출원인 / 주소
Micron Technology, Inc.
대리인 / 주소
Dickstein Shapiro LLP
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
3인용 특허 :
2
초록▼
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
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.
대표청구항▼
1. 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 th
1. 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; andcapturing an image using the updated set of image capture parameters. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps of adjusting the plurality of discrete areas of the pixel array and collecting image data information from the updated plurality of discrete areas is repeated before determining adjustments of the at least one image capture parameter. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps of collecting image data information from the updated plurality of discrete areas, determining required adjustments and adjusting the image capture parameters are repeated prior to the image capture. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of discrete areas comprises a plurality of discrete subwindow areas. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the updated image capture parameters control a camera automatic focus operation. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjustments to the image capture parameters are determined based on a statistical analysis of the image data information collected from the updated plurality of discrete areas of the pixel array. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the plurality of discrete areas comprises adjusting a size of at least one of the plurality of discrete areas. 8. 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; andacquiring an image under the updated set of image capture parameters. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the steps of analyzing the acquired image data information, adjusting the plurality of discrete areas of the pixel array and acquiring updated image data information from the adjusted plurality of discrete areas of the pixel array are repeated until a determination is made that the plurality of discrete areas of the pixel array do not require further adjustment. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein adjusting the plurality of discrete areas of the pixel array comprises adjusting a size of at least one of the plurality of discrete areas of the pixel array. 11. The method of claim 8, further comprising determining if there is an adequate amount of image data information to adjust the automatic function image capture parameter in accordance with current scene conditions and, if not, adjusting image sensor and camera settings in response to the scene statistics and acquiring updated image data information from the adjusted plurality of discrete areas of the pixel array. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the steps of determining if there is an adequate amount of image data information to adjust the at least one automatic function image capture parameter in accordance with current scene conditions, adjusting the image sensor and camera settings in response to the scene statistics, and acquiring updated image data information from the adjusted plurality of discrete areas of the pixel array are repeated until a determination is made that the adequate amount of image data information has been acquired to adjust the automatic function image capture parameter in accordance with current scene conditions. 13. The method of claim 8, wherein the automatic function image capture parameter controls at least one of a camera automatic focus operation, an automatic exposure control operation and an automatic white balance operation. 14. 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; anda 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. 15. The imager of claim 14, wherein the processing circuit further comprises: a statistics collector configured to analyze the information contained in the image data information signals; anda circuit responsive to the statistics collector and configured to set the updated set of image capture parameters in accordance with current scene conditions. 16. The imager of claim 14, wherein the processing circuit provides instructions for setting the updated set of image capture parameters in accordance with current scene conditions to operate at least one automatic function. 17. The imager of claim 16, wherein the at least one automatic function comprises at least one of a camera automatic focus operation, an automatic exposure control operation and an automatic white balance operation. 18. 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; anda 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. 19. The digital camera of claim 18, wherein the at least one automatic function comprises at least one of an automatic focus operation, an automatic exposure control operation and an automatic white balance operation. 20. 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; andan 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; anda 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. 21. The digital camera of claim 20, further comprising: a focus controller; andan image processor located within the image analysis and processing pipeline,wherein the circuit for receiving relevant image data information is operable to provide required adjustments to image capture parameters related to focus, exposure and white balance and to send these required adjustments to the focus controller, the image sensor controller and the image processor, respectively. 22. The digital camera of claim 20, further comprising at least one of: a white balance controller for adjusting white balance, wherein the white balance controller is operable to receive values of the updated set of image capture parameters in accordance with current scene conditions from the circuit for receiving relevant image data information, and adjust the white balance of a captured image according to the values of the updated set of image capture parameters;a focus controller for adjusting focus wherein the focus controller is operable to receive values of the updated set of image capture parameters in accordance with current scene conditions from the circuit for receiving relevant image data information, and adjust the focus of a captured image according to the values of the updated set of image capture parameters; andan exposure controller for adjusting exposure wherein the exposure controller is operable to receive values of the updated set of image capture parameters in accordance with current scene conditions from the circuit for receiving relevant image data information, and adjust the exposure of a captured image according to the values of the updated set of image capture parameters. 23. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the plurality of discrete areas comprises adjusting a location of at least one of the plurality of discrete areas. 24. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the plurality of discrete areas comprises adjusting a shape of at least one of the plurality of discrete areas. 25. The method of claim 1, wherein the updated set of image capture parameters controls an automatic exposure correction operation. 26. The method of claim 1, wherein the updated set of image capture parameters controls an automatic white balance operation. 27. The method of claim 9, wherein adjusting the plurality of discrete areas of the pixel array comprises adjusting a location of at least one of the plurality of discrete areas of the pixel array. 28. The method of claim 9, wherein adjusting the plurality of discrete areas of the pixel array comprises adjusting a number of the plurality of discrete areas of the pixel array. 29. The method of claim 9, wherein adjusting the plurality of discrete areas of the pixel array comprises adjusting a shape of at least one of the plurality of discrete areas of the pixel array.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (2)
Onoda Hitoshi,JPX, Image signal processing apparatus.
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