IP Library Granted Patent US 8,223,229
Granted Patent B2
US 8,223,229 · App. 12/496,687 · Granted Jul 17, 2012

Lens shading correction for autofocus and zoom lenses

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,223,229
App. No.
12/496,687
Granted
Jul 17, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

In one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a method of correcting a captured image for lens shading artifacts, the captured image being captured by an image capture system, the method comprising: determining a function L(x, y) being a lens shading correction function to be applied to images captured by a lens of the image capture system in order to correct for lens shading artifacts; if a focal length associated with the captured image is less than a focal length associated with, the function L(x, y) then cropping the function L(x, y) based on the focal length associated with the captured image; and scaling the cropped function L(x, y) to a size of the tin-cropped Junction L(x, y).

Claims (28)

1. A method of correcting a captured image for lens shading artifacts, the captured image being captured by an image capture system, the method comprising:

determining a function L(x, y) being a lens shading correction function to be applied to images captured by a lens of the image capture system in order to correct for lens shading artifacts;

if a focal length associated with the captured image is greater than a focal length associated with the function L(x, y) then cropping the function L(x, y) based, on the focal length associated with the captured image; and scaling the cropped function L(x, y) to a size of the un-cropped function L(x, y);

wherein the scaling comprises mapping each data point in the cropped function L(x, y) to a corresponding data point in the un-cropped function L(x, y).

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the function L(x,y) is determined based on a reference image captured at a widest angle supported by the image capture system.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the function L(x,y) comprises reading sample data points for the function L(x,y) from memory.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the function L(x,y) further comprises deriving missing data points for the function L(x,y) based on interpolation, after scaling.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein a data point of the function L(x, y) is deemed to be missing if a pixel in the function L(x, y) after cropping and scaling falls between sample points for the function L(x, y).

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising correcting an intensity associated with each pixel in the captured image based on the function L(x, y).

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising correcting an intensity associated with each pixel in the full sized image based on the function L(x, y).

8. An image processor, comprising:

lens shading correction logic to execute a method of correcting a captured image for lens shading artifacts, the captured image being captured by an image capture system, the method comprising;

determining a function L(x, y) being a lens shading correction function to be applied to images captured by a lens of the image capture system in order to correct for lens shading artifacts;

if a focal length associated with, the captured image is greater than a focal length associated with the function L(x, y), then cropping the function L(x, y) based on the focal length associated with the captured image; and scaling the cropped function L(x, y) to a size of the un-cropped function L(x, y)

wherein the scaling comprises mapping each data point in the cropped function L(x, y) to a corresponding data point in the un-cropped function L(x, y).

9. The image processor of claim 8 , wherein the function L(x,y) is determined based on a reference image captured at a widest angle supported by the image capture system.

10. An image capture system, comprising;

camera optics;

an image sensor; and

an image processor to process an Image captured by the image sensor using the camera optics, the image processor comprising:

lens shading correction logic to execute a method of correcting a captured image for lens shading artifacts, the captured image being captured by an image capture system, the method comprising:

determining a function L(x, y) being a lens shading correction function to be applied to images captured by a lens of the image capture system in order to correct for lens shading artifacts;

if a focal length associated with the captured image is greater than a focal length associated with the function L(x, y) then cropping the captured image based on the focal length associated with the captured image; and scaling the cropped image to a full sized image

wherein the scaling comprises mapping each data point in the cropped function L(x, y) to a corresponding data point in the full un-cropped function L(x, y).

11. The image capture system of claim 10 , wherein the function L(x, y) is determined based on a reference image captured at a widest angle supported by the image capture system.

12. The image capture system of claim 11 , wherein determining the function L(x,y) comprises reading sample data points for the function L(x, y) from memory.

13. The image capture system claim 10 , wherein determining the function L(x, y) further comprises deriving missing data points for the function L(x, y) based on interpolation.

14. The image capture system of claim 13 , wherein a data point of the function L(x, y) is deemed to be missing if a pixel in the function L(x, y) after cropping and scaling falls between sample points for the function L(x, y).

Assignments (5)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 31, 2024
From: IMAGINATION TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
To: FORTRESS INVESTMENT GROUP (UK) LTD
Reel/Frame 068221/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 26, 2013
From: METAGENCE TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
To: IMAGINATION TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
Reel/Frame 031683/0028 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 25, 2013
From: NETHRA IMAGING, INC
To: METAGENCE TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
Reel/Frame 031672/0731 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 30, 2010
From: NETHRA IMAGING, INC.
To: ARM LIMITED
Reel/Frame 024611/0288 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 21, 2010
From: NGUYEN, HUGH P.
To: NETHRA IMAGING INC.
Reel/Frame 024265/0447 →