354 results about "Exposure Elapsed Time" patented technology

A robotic system includes a humanoid robot with robotic joints each moveable using an actuator(s), and a distributed controller for controlling the movement of each of the robotic joints. The controller includes a visual perception module (VPM) for visually identifying and tracking an object in the field of view of the robot under threshold lighting conditions. The VPM includes optical devices for collecting an image of the object, a positional extraction device, and a host machine having an algorithm for processing the image and positional information. The algorithm visually identifies and tracks the object, and automatically adapts an exposure time of the optical devices to prevent feature data loss of the image under the threshold lighting conditions. A method of identifying and tracking the object includes collecting the image, extracting positional information of the object, and automatically adapting the exposure time to thereby prevent feature data loss of the image.

An information communication method includes: setting an exposure time of an image sensor to less than or equal to 1/2000 second so that, in an image obtained by capturing a subject by the image sensor, a stripe bright line parallel to a plurality of exposure lines included in the image sensor appears according to a change in luminance of the subject; obtaining the image including the stripe bright line parallel to the plurality of exposure lines by, using the set exposure time, starting exposure sequentially for the plurality of exposure lines each at a different time; and obtaining information by demodulating data according to, in a pattern of the bright line included in the obtained image, a brightness change in a direction perpendicular to the plurality of exposure lines.

An imaging system divides image pixels intensities by exposure time to generate image data in units of intensity per time. The imaging system divides a fluorescent light image in intensity per time units by an excitation light image in intensity per time units to provide a quantitative corrected fluorescent light image that is generally invariant to position of an imaging instrument relative to a biological tissue being imaged.

An image pickup device includes an image pickup section that picks up a long-time exposure image and short-time exposure image; a combining section that combines the long-time exposure image and short-time exposure image with each other, to generate a combined image, the exposure images being combined on the basis of a ratio between the exposure time of the long-time exposure image and the exposure time of the short-time exposure image; a dynamic range calculating section that calculates an object dynamic range from the long-time exposure image, the exposure time of the long-time exposure image, the short-time exposure image, and the exposure time of the short-time exposure image; and a compressing section that, using base compression curve data, calculates a compression curve suitable for the object dynamic range, and generates a compressed image in accordance with the calculated compression curve.

A camera automatic exposure method and a control device, the method comprising the following steps: a. obtaining the average brightness value of the current frame image; b. comparing the current frame image average brightness value with a preset average brightness value, if the current frame image If the average brightness value of the current frame image is within the allowable range of the preset average brightness value, maintain the exposure time in the current exposure setting and return to step a, otherwise continue; c. If the average brightness value of the current frame image is greater than the preset average brightness value within the allowable range, adjust the shortening of the exposure time to obtain the new exposure time in the exposure setting; if the average brightness value of the current frame image is less than the allowable range of the preset average brightness value, then adjust the lengthening of the exposure time to obtain the exposure setting a new exposure time; and e, setting the image sensor according to the new exposure time. The present invention can realize automatic exposure at low cost, simply and quickly.

Two subject images shot by an imaging section before real exposure are captured, and the difference between data is obtained for each corresponding pixels of the subject images by an interframe difference calculation section. The difference is compared with a threshold value by a threshold value comparison section, the pixels of levels not less than the threshold value level are extracted as a non-correlated portion, and the ratio of the area of the non-correlated portion to all the detected pixels is obtained by a non-correlated portion area calculation section. When the ratio of the area of the non-correlated portion is high, it is determined that the subject movement is large, so that a speed priority program line is selected by an exposure calculation block and the exposure time is set to be shorter than the normal exposure time, thereby preventing subject image blur.

The invention provides an image processing method and an image processing device. The image processing method comprises steps of collecting at least two exposure frames of different brightness of the same scene in different exposure times; for every exposure frame, combining raw data units which are subjected to repeated permutation in the exposure frame, and obtaining the combined first brightness data; and acquiring correction parameters of all exposure frames in accordance with all first brightness data, conducting weighting for all exposure frames in accordance with correction parameters, and obtaining a High Dynamic Range (HDR) image of corrected raw data. By the aid of the method, the problem of serious distortion of color, brightness and contrast of the image acquired from Raw data through the prior art is solved.

A digital camera takes interleaved photographs of two different kinds. In one example embodiment, the first kind of photograph is taken using a first set of pixels of the camera's electronic array light sensor and has a short exposure time. The second kind of photograph is taken using a second set of pixels and has a long exposure time. More than one of the short-exposure-time photographs is taken while each long-exposure-time photograph is exposed. The two kinds of photographs are used for different purposes. For example, one kind may be used for performing automatic focusing while the other kind is used for displaying in a live view display. In this way, live view may continue while automatic focusing is performed. In another embodiment, one kind of photograph is used for providing a live view display, and the other is used in selecting exposure settings for a final photograph.

An imaging apparatus and an imaging method able to obtain images having no blurring with a small number of images under different exposure conditions and capable of shortening a processing time, wherein an imaging apparatus 10 captures a plurality of images including an image having a short exposure time and high resolution, but having much noise and an image having a long exposure time, but having little noise and low resolution by an optical system 11 and an imaging element 12. After the signal processing of a signal processing part 13, a CPU 14 detects positional deviation among the captured images and blurring, changes the ratio of the plurality of images according to the distances from the edge, and combines these to thereby form an image free from blurring and reducing noise.

Performance of pixel detectors in a TOF imaging system is dynamically adjusted to improve dynamic range to maximize the number of pixel detectors that output valid data. The invention traverses the system-acquired z depth, the brightness, and the active brightness images, and assigns each pixel a quantized value. Quantization values encompass pixels receiving too little light, normal light, to too much light. Pixels are grouped into quantized category groups, whose populations are represented by a histogram. If the number of pixels in the normal category exceeds a threshold, no immediate corrective action is taken. If the number of pixel receiving too little (or too much) light exceeds those receiving too much (or too little) light, the invention commands at least one system parameter change to increase (or decrease) light reaching the pixels. Controllable TOF system parameters can include exposure time, common mode resets, video gain, among others.

This invention relates to a process for regulating the exposure time of a light sensor, characterized in that it comprises the following steps:

• • a) setting the exposure time of the sensor to a value selected in a first range of M prefixed values defined between a minimum and a maximum value;
  • b) acquiring an image of an object on the sensor, such image comprising a plurality of luminous pixels;
  • c) analyzing the acquired image in order to detect its level of luminosity;
  • d) comparing the detected level of luminosity with a prefixed higher (lower) global threshold level representative of a condition of overexposure (under-exposure) of the image;
  • e) varying the exposure time of the sensor and iteratively repeating the previous steps until an optimum exposure time equal to the highest (lowest) exposure time is found, amongst the ones set, for which the image presents a level of luminosity which is smaller (greater) than the prefixed higher (lower) global threshold level.

A method, apparatus, and system for dynamic range estimation of imaged scenes for automatic exposure control. For a given exposure time setting, certain areas of a scene may be brighter than what a camera can capture. In cameras, including those experiencing substantial lens vignetting, a gain stage may be used to extend dynamic range and extract auto-exposure data from the extended dynamic range. Alternatively, dynamic range can be extended using pre-capture image information taken under reduced exposure conditions.

A rolling blade exposure system includes odd rows of a pixel array being read out with a short exposure time and even rows being read out at a long exposure time. Each pair of sampled rows are stitched together before to form a single output line. The resultant image is then formed from the output lines. The stitching process ensures that the resultant image has a wide dynamic range. This is achieved at the expense of a loss of resolution, but this loss is acceptable for certain applications.

The invention provides a method and apparatus for controlling long exposure time and belongs to the image processing field. With the method and apparatus of the invention adopted, the problem of underexposure and overexposure of images can be effectively solved. The method includes the following steps of: obtaining the brightness value of a current preview image; determining target long exposure time from the corresponding relation of the brightness value of a preset standard image and optimal long exposure time, wherein the standard image is an image which is obtained through utilizing short exposure time under different illumination intensities, the optimal long exposure time is long exposure time corresponding to an image of which the brightness value is most approximate to an optimal brightness value in images which are obtained through utilizing different long exposure time, and the corresponding relation of the brightness value of the standard image and the optimal long exposure time is a corresponding relation of the brightness value of a standard image and optimal long exposure time in the same illumination intensity; and controlling the exposure time of a photographing device through utilizing the target long exposure time so as to make the photographing device obtain a long-exposure image through utilizing the target long exposure time.

A motor controller determines a drive speed of a motor for driving a filter such that an area shifting cycle of the filter synchronizes with a cardiac cycle. The filter starts to rotate before radiation emission, and continues to rotate at a constant speed during two successive radiation emissions. An emission controller controls timing of two emissions in accordance with a phase of the filter. The area shifting cycle of the filter and the cardiac cycle are previously synchronized, and thus a high-performance filter switching device for switching or shifting the filter in synchronization with the emission timing becomes unnecessary. Adjusting the area shifting cycle of the filter in accordance with the cardiac cycle realizes two radiation emissions in two successive cardiac cycles. As a result, an exposure time is shortened.

Dynamic range of photodetector sensors useable in a TOF system is enhanced by capturing images of an object using multiple exposure time settings. Longer exposure settings more appropriately capture non-reflective and/or distant objects, while shorter exposure settings more appropriately capture reflective and/or closer objects. During parallel mode operation, detection signal readouts are taken from each photodetector at different time intervals within an overall exposure time. In sequential mode operation, detection signal readouts are taken and stored for each photodetector at the end of a first exposure time interval and the photodetectors are reset. After a second, different exposure time interval readouts are taken and stored, and the photodetectors reset, etc. In these modes one of the time exposure intervals will be relatively optimum for enhanced dynamic range operation. Once images with multiple exposure settings are obtained, best effort brightness and range images can be obtained, and motion artifacts can be reduced.

An imaging apparatus includes: an imaging device outputting, during a unit period of time, a long-exposure-time image signal having a relatively long exposure time and a short-exposure-time image signal having a relatively short exposure time; a first clipping processing mechanism clipping a part not lower than a first signal level of a luminance signal obtained from the long-exposure-time image signal; a second clipping processing mechanism clipping a part not higher than a second signal level of a luminance signal obtained from the short-exposure-time image signal; and a signal processing mechanism generating a synthesized image signal having a dynamic range wider than dynamic ranges of both of the image signals by synthesizing the clipped image signals, wherein the second signal level is not lower than a signal level obtained by dividing the first signal level by a ratio in time of the long exposure time to the short exposure time.

A method for capturing displayed images periodically renewed and displayed on a display device, by a global-shutter type capturing device. Prior to actual capturing of the displayed images, a predetermined image is displayed on the display device and captured N-times (N>2) by the capturing device with a predetermined capturing period, and over an exposure time selected from a predetermined search range. Among the N captured images, there are calculated N−1 sum values or average values of differences between a specified image and remaining images at their predetermined regions. A flicker amplitude evaluation value is calculated based on a deviation of the sum values or the average values. A flickerless exposure time is calculated based on at least two exposure times, which are the minimal values among the flicker amplitude evaluation values corresponding to a plurality of exposure times within the search range. The exposure time of the capturing device is controlled based on the calculated flickerless exposure time, for actually capturing the displayed image of the display device.

An exposure controller of a digital camera, using an image pick-up device, includes a photometering sensor, and a control device. The control device calculates a first exposure time in accordance with a photometering value obtained via the photometering sensor, and performs a pre-exposure in which a sensitive surface of the image pick-up device is exposed at a second exposure time shorter than the first exposure time. Thereafter, the control device performs a main exposure in which the sensitive surface of the image pick-up device is exposed at a third exposure time obtained by changing the value of one of the first exposure time and the second exposure time in accordance with a picture signal output from the image pick-up device, the picture signal being output when the image pick-up device is exposed at the second exposure time by the pre-exposure.

The invention discloses a method for adjusting the exposure time of a camera. The method comprises the steps that an interested area is determined according to the position of the nose of a driver in a detected current frame image, and the estimated value of the brightness feature in the interested area is calculated; the estimated value of the brightness feature and the exposure time set value of a current frame of the camera are compared to obtain the difference value of the estimated value of the brightness feature and the exposure time set value; the exposure time set value of the next frame of the camera is calculated according to the difference value, and the exposure time of the next frame of the camera is adjusted according to the exposure time set value. Through the method for adjusting the exposure time of the camera, the brightness variation of images can be quickly and accurately judged according to indexes, and therefore the exposure time of the camera can be accurately calculated.