Patent · US Active

Calibration of defective image sensor elements

US9854188B2 · kind B2 · utility

2Cited by
2References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 16, 2015
Grant dateDec 26, 2017
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 16, 2035

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06T2207/20221
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to methods and systems that may reduce pixel noise due to defective sensor elements in optical imaging systems. Namely, a camera may capture a burst of images with an image sensor while adjusting a focus distance setting of an optical element. For example, the image burst may be captured during an autofocus process. The plurality of images may be averaged or otherwise merged to provide a single, aggregate image frame. Such an aggregate image frame may appear blurry. In such a scenario, “hot” pixels, “dead” pixels, or otherwise defective pixels may be more easily recognized and/or corrected. As an example, a defective pixel may be removed from a target image or otherwise corrected by replacing a value of the defective pixel with an average value of neighboring pixels.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.