Advanced magnification device and method for low-power sensor systems
US8390720B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 14, 2010 |
| Grant date | Mar 5, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 15, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N23/69
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system and method is provided for enabling an advanced optical magnification (zooming) function for low-power sensors, such as a remote wireless camera, using electronic methods and enabling that magnification be performed in any part of the imager. An image sensor has a set of imager pixels that have a defined field of view. A display device is also provided, which has a far lower resolution than the imager. A magnification level is selected, which results in macroblocks being defined for the sensor. A display data value is generated for each macroblock, and the set of display data values is used to drive a data display. The area of magnification is flexibly selected on the imager. As the magnification level is increased, the number of imager pixels in each macroblock decrease, enabling the display to present increasingly higher resolution images. Accordingly, an aesthetically pleasing magnification function is provided for a low-power, battery operated mobile environment.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.