Devices, systems, and methods for controlling a shutter
Devices, systems, and methods for controlling a shutter of a still or video camera or cellular telephone, to reduce blurring due to motion of vibrations are disclosed. The control device includes an inertial sensor for measuring acceleration, velocity and/or angular rotation and for providing data therefrom and a controller for calculating an acceleration amplitude and frequency for predicting the time between acceleration maximums. The controller opens and closes the camera shutter at a time corresponding to the predicted time between maximum accelerations as measured from a real-time acceleration maximum, negating the need for post-imaging correction.
1. A device for controlling opening and closing a shutter to an optical device or an imaging device, the control device comprising:
an inertial sensor for measuring acceleration, velocity or angular rotation of the optical device or the imaging device and for providing data therefrom; and
a controller for calculating an acceleration amplitude and an acceleration frequency from the data and for estimating a time between acceleration maximums;
the controller being operative to open and close the shutter at a time corresponding to the estimated time between acceleration maximums (t 2 -t 1 ) as measured from a real-time acceleration amplitude maximum.
2. The device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the inertial sensor is selected from the group consisting of an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and a magnetic compass.
3. The device as recited in claim 2 , wherein the inertial sensor is a two-dimensional sensor.
4. The device as recited in claim 2 , wherein the inertial sensor is a three-dimensional sensor.
5. The device as recited in claim 2 , wherein the accelerometer is operative to sense motion in the plane of the image sensor of the optical or imaging device.
6. The device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the time between maximum accelerations is estimated from the acceleration frequency calculated from the data.
7. An optical device or an imaging device, having a shutter and a shutter release, for providing sharp, high-quality images, the optical or imaging device comprising:
an inertial sensor for measuring acceleration, velocity or angular rotation of the optical or imaging device and for providing data therefrom; and
a controller for calculating an acceleration amplitude and an acceleration frequency from the data and for estimating a time between acceleration maximums;
the controller being operative to open and close the shutter at a time corresponding to the estimated time between maximum accelerations as measured from a real-time acceleration amplitude maximum.
8. The optical or imaging device as recited in claim 7 , wherein the device is a still camera, video camera or a cellular telephone.
9. The optical or imaging device as recited in claim 7 , wherein the inertial sensor is selected from the group consisting of an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and a magnetic compass.
10. The optical or imaging device as recited in claim 9 , wherein the inertial sensor is a two-dimensional sensor.
11. The optical or imaging device as recited in claim 9 , wherein the inertial sensor is a three-dimensional sensor.
12. The optical or imaging device as recited in claim 7 , wherein the time between maximum accelerations is estimated from the acceleration frequency calculated from the data.
13. A method of providing high-quality images from an optical device or an imaging device, the optical or imaging device having a shutter and a shutter release, the method comprising:
calculating an acceleration amplitude and an acceleration frequency from data provided by an inertial sensor in operative association with the optical device or the imaging device;
estimating a time between acceleration maximums; and
opening and closing the shutter after the shutter release has been activated at a time corresponding to the predicted time between maximum accelerations as measured from a real-time acceleration amplitude maximum.
14. The method as recited in claim 13 , wherein the data are provided by the inertial sensor that is structured and arranged to measure multi-directional acceleration, velocity or angular rotation.
15. The method as recited in claim 14 , wherein the inertial sensor provides the optical or imaging device with two- or three-dimensional data.
16. The method as recited in claim 13 , wherein the time between maximum accelerations is predicted from the acceleration frequency calculated from the data.
17. A device for providing high-quality images from an optical device or an imaging device without post-imaging correction, the optical device or imaging device having a shutter, the device for providing high-quality images comprising:
an inertial sensor for measuring acceleration, velocity or angular rotation of the optical device or imaging device and for providing data therefrom; and
a controller for calculating an acceleration amplitude and an acceleration frequency from the data,
the controller being operative to optimize image quality by opening and closing the shutter coincident with a period of zero or near zero displacement of the optical device or imaging device.
18. The device for providing high-quality images as recited in claim 17 , wherein the controller is structured and arranged to estimate a time between acceleration maximums (t max2 - t max1 ) using acceleration amplitude and acceleration frequency calculations.
19. The device for providing high-quality images as recited in claim 18 , wherein the controller is structured and arranged to open and close the shutter, after activation of a shutter release, at a time corresponding to the estimated time between acceleration maximums (t max2 -t max1 ) measured from detection of a real-time acceleration amplitude maximum.
20. The device for providing high-quality images as recited in claim 17 , wherein the inertial sensor is selected from the group consisting of an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and a magnetic compass.