Digital camera with in-camera software for image correction
A system is disclosed for the automated correction of optical and digital aberrations in a digital imaging system. The system includes several main parts, including (a) digital filters, (b) hardware modifications, (c) digital system corrections, (d) digital system dynamics and (e) network aspects. The system solves numerous problems in still and video photography that are presented in the digital imaging environment.
1. A method of processing one or more images in a digital camera, comprising:
electronically storing in the digital camera at least one variable associated with capture of at least one image by an optical system of the digital camera, the optical system including a digital image sensor in the digital camera and a lens;
digitally processing the at least one image for image correction of the at least one image, the digitally processing using upgradable in-camera software that is configured to perform a plurality of image correction algorithms and to access image correction data stored in an upgradable database system, the in-camera software using the at least one variable;
storing in memory one or more corrected images resulting from the digitally processing the at least one image;
detecting dust on the digital image sensor; and
digitally correcting for dust on the digital image sensor,
wherein the in-camera software and database system are upgradable to provide improved algorithms and correction data for correction of images.
2. The method of claim 1 , further, comprising:
wherein the at least one variable relates to prior in-camera settings for application by the in-camera software.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the digitally processing the at least one image includes processing corrections using at least one digital signal processor.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the digitally processing the at least one image includes processing corrections using at least one application specific integrated circuit.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the digitally processing the at least one image includes processing corrections using at least one microprocessor.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the digitally processing the at least one image includes processing image aberration corrections using hardware comprising at least one processor and at least one application specific circuit.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the digitally processing the at least one image includes processing image aberration corrections using combinations of processors and application specific circuits.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one variable includes an aperture setting.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one variable includes lens data.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one variable includes shutter speed settings.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one variable includes ISO settings.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one variable includes digital sensor data.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one variable includes subject type.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the digitally processing the at least one image for image correction further comprises adjusting a depth of field of an image.
15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising adjusting a depth of field of an image after capture of the image using the in-camera software.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the in-camera software processes image corrections based on one or more prior image corrections.
17. The method of claim 1 , further comprising changing a variable based on an auto-focus process performed by the camera and electronically storing that changed variable.
18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising digitally processing the at least one image using the in-camera software to correct at least one optical image aberration associated with the optical system and the changed camera variable.
19. The method of claim 1 , further comprising changing a variable based on an auto-exposure process performed by the camera and electronically storing that changed variable.
20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising digitally processing the at least one image using the in-camera software to correct at least one optical image aberration associated with the optical system and the changed camera variable.
21. The method of claim 1 , further comprising changing a variable based on a depth of field adjustment process performed by the camera and electronically storing that changed camera variable.
22. The method of claim 21 , further comprising digitally processing the at least one image using the in-camera software to correct at least one optical image aberration associated with the optical system and the changed camera variable.
23. The method of claim 1 , wherein the image processing algorithms include a fast Fourier transform.
24. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
displaying a corrected image of the one or more corrected images on a monitor, and
based on a change to the at least one variable, displaying a modified version of the corrected image.
25. The method of claim 1 , further comprising electronically storing updated in-camera software.
26. The method of claim 25 , further comprising updating the image correction data with lens correction data.
27. The method of claim 25 , comprising updating in-camera software using wireless communications.
28. The method of claim 25 , comprising updating in-camera software using the INTERNET.
29. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
correcting for a dead pixel of the digital image sensor.
30. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
digitally processing a plurality of images to correct video taken by the digital camera; and
storing a plurality of corrected images.