IP Library Granted Patent US 7,333,145
Granted Patent B2
US 7,333,145 · App. 10/794,961 · Granted Feb 19, 2008

Camera module

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,333,145
App. No.
10/794,961
Granted
Feb 19, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

A camera module comprising an image sensor array, a gain amplifier, an indicator set to indicate whether a first flash device or a second flash device is present, and a plurality of storage locations. The plurality of storage locations is configured to store an exposure time and a gain. The exposure time and the gain are associated with the first flash device in response to the indicator indicating the presence of the first flash device, and the exposure time and the gain are associated with the second flash device in response to the indicator indicating the presence of the second flash device. The image sensor array is configured to capture an image using the exposure time, and the gain amplifier is configured to perform processing on the image using the gain.

Claims (74)

1. A camera module comprising:

an image sensor array;

a gain amplifier;

an indicator set to indicate whether a first flash device or a second flash device is present; and

a plurality of storage locations;

wherein the plurality of storage locations is configured to store an exposure time and a gain, wherein the exposure time and the gain are associated with the first flash device in response to the indicator indicating the presence of the first flash device, wherein the exposure time and the gain are associated with the second flash device in response to the indicator indicating the presence of the second flash device, wherein the image sensor array is configured to capture an image using the exposure time, and wherein the gain amplifier is configured to perform processing on the image using the gain.

2. The camera module of claim 1 wherein the first flash device comprises an LED flash device, and wherein the second flash device comprises a xenon flash device.

3. The camera module of claim 2 wherein the exposure time is calculated using a flash time in response to the indicator indicating the presence of the LED flash device.

4. The camera module of claim 2 wherein the plurality of storage locations are configured to store a plurality of white balance coefficients in response to the indicator indicating the presence of the LED flash device.

5. The camera module of claim 2 wherein the gain is calculated using an exposure time in response to the indicator indicating the presence of the xenon flash device.

6. The camera module of claim 1 further comprising:

a control circuit;

wherein the control circuit is configured to generate a flash signal in accordance with the indicator, wherein the control circuit is configured to provide the flash signal to the first flash device in response to the indicator indicating the presence of the first flash device, and wherein the control circuit is configured to provide the flash signal to the second flash device in response to the indicator indicating the presence of the second flash device.

7. The camera module of claim 6 wherein the flash signal has a first duration in response to the indicator indicating the presence of the first flash device, and wherein the flash signal has a second duration in response to the indicator indicating the presence of the second flash device.

8. The camera module of claim 1 further comprising:

a processor; and

firmware executable by the processor;

wherein the firmware is configured to cause the processor to generate the exposure time and the gain in accordance with the indicator, and wherein the firmware is configured to cause the processor to store the exposure time and the gain in the plurality of storage locations.

9. The camera module of claim 1 wherein the exposure time is greater than a frame time of the image sensor array.

10. The camera module of claim 1 wherein the exposure time is less than or equal to a frame time of the image sensor array.

11. The camera module of claim 1 wherein the plurality of storage locations comprises at least a first register and a second register.

12. A system comprising:

a camera module comprising an image sensor array, a gain amplifier, and an indicator;

a flash device coupled to the camera module;

a processor coupled to the camera module; and

firmware executable by the processor;

wherein the firmware is executable by the processor to cause the indicator to be accessed to determine a type of the flash device, wherein the firmware is executable by the processor to cause an exposure time and a gain associated with the type of the flash device to be provided to the camera module, wherein in response to the camera module receiving a snapshot signal:

the image sensor array is configured to capture an image using the exposure time,

the camera module is configured to provide a flash signal to the flash device, and

the gain amplifier is configured to amplify image data associated with the image using the gain.

13. The system of claim 12 further comprising:

a host comprising the processor and the firmware;

wherein the firmware is executable by the processor to cause the host to provide the snapshot signal to the camera module.

14. The system of claim 12 further comprising:

a host coupled to the camera module and configured to provide the snapshot signal to the camera module;

wherein the camera module comprises the processor and the firmware.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein the flash device comprises an LED flash device.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the firmware is executable by the processor to cause the exposure time to be calculated using the gain.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the firmware is executable by the processor to cause a flash time to be calculated using the gain, wherein the firmware is executable by the processor to cause the flash time to be provided to the camera module, and wherein the camera module is configured to provide the flash signal to the flash device for a duration associated with the flash time.

18. The system of claim 15 further comprising:

an image processing circuit;

wherein the firmware is executable by the processor to cause at least one white balance coefficient to be provided to the camera module, and wherein the image processing circuit is configured to perform processing on the image data using the at least one white balance coefficient.

19. The system of claim 12 wherein the flash device comprises a xenon flash device.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the firmware is executable by the processor to cause the gain to be calculated using the exposure time.

21. The system of claim 19 wherein the image sensor array is operated as a rolling shutter.

22. The system of claim 19 wherein the image sensor array is operated as a non-rolling shutter.

23. A method of operating a camera module coupled to an LED flash device, the camera module comprising an image sensor array configured to operate as a rolling shutter, comprising:

calculating an exposure time using a gain;

providing the exposure time and the gain to the camera module; and

in response to receiving a snapshot signal:

capturing an image using the image sensor array in accordance with the exposure time;

providing a flash signal to the LED flash device; and

amplifying image data associated with the image in accordance with the gain.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

calculating a flash time using the gain and an exposure-gain product calculated using an auto exposure function;

calculating the exposure time using the flash time; and

providing the flash time to the camera module.

25. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

calculating a plurality of white balance coefficients using interpolation;

providing plurality of white balance coefficients to the camera module; and

processing the image data using the plurality of white balance coefficients.

26. A method of operating a camera module coupled to a xenon flash device, the camera module comprising an image sensor array, comprising:

calculating a gain using an exposure time and an exposure-gain product associated with a viewfinder mode;

providing the gain and the exposure time to the camera module; and

in response to receiving a snapshot signal:

capturing a first image using the image sensor array in accordance with the exposure time;

providing a flash signal to the xenon flash device; and

amplifying image data associated with the image in accordance with the gain.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising:

calculating the exposure gain product using an auto exposure function.

28. The method of claim 26 further comprising:

capturing the first image using the image sensor array in accordance with the exposure time by operating the image sensor array as a rolling shutter.

29. The method of claim 26 further comprising:

capturing the first image using the image sensor array in accordance with the exposure time by operating the image sensor array as a fixed shutter.

Assignments (10)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 19, 2019
From: IN-DEPTH TEST LLC
To: ID IMAGE SENSING LLC
Reel/Frame 050436/0445 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 017206 FRAME: 0666. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded May 6, 2016
From: AGILENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES GENERAL IP (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
Reel/Frame 038632/0662 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 30, 2010
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: APTINA IMAGING CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 024160/0051 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 1, 2008
From: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES SENSOR IP PTE. LTD.
To: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES IMAGING HOLDING CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 021603/0690 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 7, 2007
From: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES IMAGING HOLDING CORPORATION
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 019407/0441 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 3, 2007
From: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES IMAGING HOLDING CORPORATION
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 018757/0159 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 25, 2006
From: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES IMAGING IP (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
To: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES SENSOR IP PTE. LTD.
Reel/Frame 017675/0691 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 25, 2006
From: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES GENERAL IP (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
To: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES IMAGING IP (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
Reel/Frame 017675/0738 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 22, 2006
From: AGILENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES GENERAL IP PTE. LTD.
Reel/Frame 017206/0666 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 7, 2004
From: POPLIN, DWIGHT D
To: AGILENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 014824/0942 →