IP Library Granted Patent US 11,930,272
Granted Patent B2
US 11,930,272 · App. 17/642,563 · Granted Mar 12, 2024

Camera and method for controlling camera

Inventor: Hirotake Usami (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc.
H04N23/665G06T5/002H04N7/0127H04N23/81H04N25/443G06T2207/10016G06T2207/10021G06T2207/20008
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,930,272
App. No.
17/642,563
Granted
Mar 12, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention performs a processing for improving an image quality of a camera in a state where a sufficient link rate cannot be ensured. A controlling method for a camera includes an imaging sensor configured to acquire an imaging data, a signal processing unit configured to perform an image processing on the imaging data, a buffer into which data subjected to the image processing is written, and a format conversion unit configured to convert a format of data read from the buffer and transmit the data to a transmission path, wherein the controlling method includes a status prediction step of predicting a status of the buffer based on a readout rate of the imaging sensor and a link rate of the transmission path and generating a status prediction information, and an adjustment step of adjusting a content of the image processing according to the status prediction information.

Claims (33)

1. A method for controlling a camera comprising:

an imaging sensor configured to acquire an imaging data;

a signal processing unit configured to perform an image processing on the imaging data;

a buffer into which data subjected to the image processing is written; and

a format conversion unit configured to convert a format of data read from the buffer and transmit the data to a transmission path,

wherein the method comprises:

a status prediction step of predicting a status of the buffer based on a readout rate of the imaging sensor and a link rate of the transmission path and generating a status prediction information; and

an adjustment step of adjusting a content of the image processing according to the status prediction information.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein, in a state where the status prediction information predicts change of status of the buffer to an overflow side, the adjustment step elongates a time required for the image processing and also lowers an input rate of the buffer.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the image processing is a three-dimensional digital noise reduction.

4. The method according to claim 3 ,

wherein the three-dimensional digital noise reduction is configured to multiply respective pixel values constituting a plurality of input video frames by a coefficient corresponding to each frame, obtain a total sum for a pixel at a corresponding position of each frame, and reduce noise components, and

the adjustment step is configured to increase or decrease a number of input video frames used to obtain one output and also adjust an input rate of the buffer.

5. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the image processing is a three-dimensional digital noise reduction.

6. The method according to claim 5 ,

wherein the three-dimensional digital noise reduction is configured to multiply respective pixel values constituting a plurality of input video frames by a coefficient corresponding to each frame, obtain a total sum for a pixel at a corresponding position of each frame, and reduce noise components, and

the adjustment step is configured to increase or decrease a number of input video frames used to obtain one output and also adjust an input rate of the buffer.

7. A camera comprising:

an imaging sensor configured to acquire an imaging data;

a signal processing unit configured to perform an image processing on the imaging data;

a buffer into which data subjected to the image processing is written;

a format conversion unit configured to convert a format of data read from the buffer and transmit the data to a transmission path; and

a status prediction unit of predicting a status of the buffer based on a readout rate of the imaging sensor and a link rate of the transmission path and generating a status prediction information,

wherein the signal processing unit is configured to adjust a content of the image processing according to the status prediction information.

8. The camera according to claim 7 , wherein, in a state where the status prediction information predicts change of status of the buffer to an overflow side, a time required for the image processing is elongated and an input rate of the buffer is lowered.

9. The camera according to claim 7 , wherein the image processing is a three-dimensional digital noise reduction.

10. The camera according to claim 8 , wherein the image processing is a three-dimensional digital noise reduction.

11. The camera according to claim 9 ,

wherein the three-dimensional digital noise reduction is configured to multiply respective pixel values constituting a plurality of input video frames by a coefficient according to each frame, obtain a total sum for a pixel at a corresponding position of each frame, and reduce noise components, and

the signal processing unit is configured to increase or decrease a number of input video frames used to obtain one output and also adjust an input rate of the buffer.

12. The camera according to claim 10 ,

wherein the three-dimensional digital noise reduction is configured to multiply respective pixel values constituting a plurality of input video frames by a coefficient according to each frame, obtain a total sum for a pixel at a corresponding position of each frame, and reduce noise components, and

the signal processing unit is configured to increase or decrease a number of input video frames used to obtain one output and also adjust an input rate of the buffer.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded May 15, 2025
From: HITACHI KOKUSAI ELECTRIC INC.
To: HITACHI KOKUSAI ELECTRIC INC.
Reel/Frame 071275/0058 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 15, 2025
From: HITACHI KOKUSAI ELECTRIC INC.
To: KOKUSAI DENKI ELECTRIC INC.
Reel/Frame 071275/0236 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 11, 2022
From: USAMI, HIROTAKE
To: HITACHI KOKUSAI ELECTRIC INC.
Reel/Frame 059245/0466 →
Continuity (1)
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