Camera Exposure Timing Manipulation for Cinematic Motion Blur
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern digital image sensors capture images with high light sensitivity, resulting in undesirably crisp images when attempting to achieve motion blur, as long exposure times lead to overexposure, making it difficult to achieve cinematic image blurring effects like those from traditional film cameras.
Innovation Solution
A camera system with an image sensor chip and settings register that manipulates exposure timing by generating reset, expose, and read signals based on cinematic effect data, allowing for sub-exposures and varying exposure durations to simulate motion blur and other cinematic effects without overexposing the image.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If long exposure times are used to achieve motion blur, then cinematic image blurring effect is improved, but image overexposure occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides a single long exposure into multiple shorter sub-exposures distributed across different frames. Each frame captures a portion of the total exposure time, and when played back in sequence, they collectively create the motion blur effect of a long exposure without any single frame being overexposed. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by distributing the exposure burden across multiple temporal segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic exposure patterns where the image sensor alternates between exposure and non-exposure states across multiple frames. By periodically activating the sensor for short durations and keeping it inactive for equal or longer periods, the system accumulates motion blur information over time while preventing any individual frame from receiving excessive light, thus resolving the overexposure issue.
2Illumination intensity
If short exposure times are used to prevent overexposure, then image overexposure is avoided, but motion blur effect is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the desired long exposure effect into multiple short exposure frames. Each frame uses a short exposure time that prevents overexposure, but the cumulative effect across multiple frames achieves the equivalent of a long exposure, thereby obtaining motion blur without any single frame being overexposed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains continuous useful action by sequentially capturing multiple short exposures without gaps in the overall exposure accumulation process. The sensor continuously alternates between exposure and non-exposure states, ensuring that motion blur information is continuously gathered across frames while each individual exposure remains within safe brightness limits.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the capture of images with controlled motion blur and other cinematic effects, such as color emphasis, by adjusting exposure times to achieve desired aesthetic outcomes while preventing overexposure, effectively replicating traditional film camera effects in digital images.
Implementation Method 1
Image sensors convert light, such as light entering the aperture of a camera through a camera lens, into image information
Data Source
AI summary
Cinematic motion blur and other cinematic effects are enabled during image capture through exposure timing manipulation. The resulting captured images and videos include one or more cinematic effects without the need for a user to impose the cinematic effects post-capture.