Method and apparatus for capturing stabilized video in an imaging device

What is this patent about?

'689 is related to the field of digital image processing, specifically addressing the problem of image distortion caused by relative motion between the camera and the subject during image capture. Traditional methods for correcting blurred images often involve increasing sharpness or contrast, which can lead to data loss and alter the image's nature. Existing electro-mechanical image stabilization systems add significant cost, weight, and complexity to lenses.

The underlying idea behind '689 is to compensate for image blur by calculating and applying an inverse transfer function that represents the motion-induced distortion. This transfer function describes how the image 'travels' across the recording medium during capture. By inverting this function and applying it as a deconvolution filter, the blurring effect can be reversed, effectively recovering the original, undistorted image.

The claims of '689 focus on an imaging apparatus and a method for capturing stabilized digital video. The apparatus includes a user interface, an image sensor, motion sensors, a lens with a movable element, and a video image processor. The processor calculates shift amounts based on motion data, modifies the image sequence, and combines the modified images to create a stabilized video, which is then stored in memory. The method mirrors these steps, emphasizing the process of capturing and stabilizing video using motion-compensated image adjustments.

In practice, the invention uses motion sensors to detect and record the camera's movement while capturing video. This motion data is then used to derive the transfer function, which is subsequently inverted to create a deconvolution filter. This filter is applied to the captured video frames, shifting and combining them to counteract the blur caused by the camera's movement. The result is a stabilized video output, effectively removing the unwanted motion artifacts.

The invention differentiates itself from prior approaches by directly addressing the root cause of motion blur through real-time motion compensation. Unlike traditional image sharpening techniques that merely enhance the appearance of sharpness, this invention aims to reconstruct the original image by undoing the effects of motion. Furthermore, it offers an alternative to bulky and expensive electro-mechanical stabilization systems by leveraging digital signal processing techniques and motion-sensing technology to achieve image stabilization.