Method and apparatus for optimizing exposure time in image acquisitions
US6765619B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 4, 2000 |
| Grant date | Jul 20, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 4, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N23/73
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method of optimizing the exposure times of regions of pixels of an image sensor array during exposure is accomplished by utilizing time interval sampling of an image sensor array comprising of pixels configured to generate digital image signals. Luminance values are extracted from each digital image signal and analyzed to determine if a pixel has reached the optimal exposure. If a pixel has reached the optimal exposure, subsequent digital image signals from this pixel will not be recorded. This preserves the recording of the optimal digital image signal generated by the pixel at the time when the pixel reached its optimal exposure. This process of selectively terminating the recording of digital image signals based on optimal exposures of the pixels can be performed on individual pixels or can be performed on a region of pixels.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.