Method And Apparatus For Capturing Digital Video

What is this patent about?

’149 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. Traditional methods for correcting blur often involve increasing sharpness or contrast, which can lead to data loss and altered image characteristics. Existing electro-mechanical image stabilization systems add significant cost, weight, and complexity to lenses. The patent aims to provide a method for correcting image distortion without these drawbacks.

The underlying idea behind ’149 is to selectively blur the background of an image while keeping the main subject sharp. This is achieved by capturing a sequence of images and then processing them to identify a main subject and the background. The images are then combined in a way that the subject is clear and sharp, and the background is blurred. This can be done by aligning the images based on the subject's movement, effectively canceling out its motion blur, while the background remains blurred due to the intentional misalignment.

The claims of ’149 focus on an imaging apparatus (e.g., a camera) and a method for capturing and processing digital images. The apparatus includes a user interface, a camera with a lens and image sensor, a memory, and a processor. The processor executes instructions to receive a sequence of images, determine a designated subject and background, generate a final image with a sharp subject and blurred background, store the final image, and display it on the user interface. The claims also specify that the focal length of the lens can be taken into account during the subject/background determination.

In practice, the invention captures multiple images in quick succession. The processor then analyzes these images to identify the primary subject, potentially using pattern recognition or user input. The images are then aligned based on the movement of the subject, ensuring that the subject remains sharp in the final image. The background, however, is not aligned, resulting in a blurred effect. This creates a final image where the subject is in sharp focus against a blurred background, simulating a shallow depth of field effect.

This approach differs from prior art methods that attempt to deblur the entire image. Instead, ’149 selectively blurs the background to emphasize the subject. This can be particularly useful in situations where the subject is moving, and a traditional camera would produce a blurred image. By aligning the images based on the subject's motion, the invention effectively cancels out the motion blur for the subject while intentionally blurring the background, creating a visually appealing and focused image.