Flash Control for Motion Blur Reduction in Digital Imaging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing digital cameras struggle to effectively minimize motion blur caused by camera shake and scene motion during image capture, as current automatic exposure control systems do not adequately account for these factors, leading to suboptimal image quality.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves calculating motion quantities from pre-capture images to adjust exposure parameters and control artificial light settings, such as flash intensity, duration, and timing, to minimize or eliminate motion blur, thereby optimizing image quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If exposure time is increased to improve image brightness and reduce noise, then image quality improves, but motion blur increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage qualityVSAvoidmotion blur

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by capturing multiple preview images before the final exposure to analyze motion characteristics. Based on this preliminary motion analysis, the system determines an optimal exposure timing that minimizes motion blur while maintaining sufficient exposure time for image quality. This allows the system to prepare motion information in advance and use it to optimize the final capture parameters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts exposure parameters based on real-time motion detection. By continuously monitoring motion during the capture process and adapting exposure timing accordingly, the system optimizes the balance between image brightness and motion blur reduction. The exposure parameters are not fixed but dynamically adjusted according to detected motion characteristics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Illumination intensity

If flash duration is increased to improve illumination, then image brightness improves, but motion blur increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage brightnessVSAvoidmotion blur

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system captures preview images with flash illumination before the final exposure to analyze motion characteristics. This preliminary action allows the system to determine optimal flash duration and timing for the final image capture, ensuring sufficient illumination while minimizing motion blur effects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes flash parameters (duration, intensity, timing) based on detected motion characteristics. When motion is detected, the system adjusts flash duration to be shorter or modifies flash timing to coincide with minimal motion periods, while still providing adequate illumination for the image capture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If exposure time is decreased to reduce motion blur, then motion blur decreases, but image brightness and signal strength decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemotion blurVSAvoidimage brightness

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary motion analysis using preview images to determine the optimal timing for exposure. By analyzing motion patterns in advance, the system identifies the best moment to capture the image when motion blur is minimized, allowing for shorter exposure times while maintaining adequate image brightness and signal strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Illumination intensity

If flash intensity is increased to improve illumination in low-light conditions, then image brightness improves, but motion blur effects are exacerbated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage brightnessVSAvoidmotion blur

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system captures preview images with flash illumination to analyze motion characteristics before the final exposure. This preliminary action enables the system to determine optimal flash parameters for the final image, ensuring adequate illumination while minimizing motion blur through careful timing and duration control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from motion analysis of preview images to adjust flash parameters. Based on the detected motion characteristics, the system modifies flash intensity, duration, and timing to achieve the optimal balance between illumination quality and motion blur reduction for the final image capture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS8190016B2Control of artificial lighting of a scene to reduce effects of motion in the scene on an image being acquired

Publication Date: 2012.05.29 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

Motion of an image of a scene being captured by a digital image acquisition device is detected and used to control parameters of illumination of the scene by a flash lamp that is typically built into the device. Parameters that may be controlled include the intensity, duration and timing of light emitted by the flash lamp. Such control of the flash illumination is preferably performed in conjunction with adjusting one or more exposure parameters used to capture an image. Such exposure parameters include duration, aperture and sensor gain. Motion blur caused by movement of the camera or by movement of an object within the scene being photographed is reduced by selecting appropriate exposure parameters and flash light characteristics.