IP Library Granted Patent US 11,910,098
Granted Patent B2
US 11,910,098 · App. 17/930,928 · Granted Feb 20, 2024

Systems and methods for sampling images

Inventors: Emily Cooper (San Francisco, CA); Chad Talbott (San Jose, CA)
Assignee: Google LLC
H04N23/72H04N23/71H04N23/743H04N23/73H04N23/76Y10S901/47
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,910,098
App. No.
17/930,928
Granted
Feb 20, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

An example method includes determining, by a controller of an image capture system, a plurality of sets of exposure parameter values for one or more exposure parameters. The plurality of sets of exposure parameter values are determined at an exposure determination rate. The method further includes capturing, by an image capture device of the image capture system, a plurality of images. Each image of the plurality of images is captured according to a set of exposure parameter values of the plurality of sets of exposure parameter values. The method also includes sending, by the controller of the image capture system to an image processing unit, a subset of the plurality of images. Each subset of images is sent at a sampling rate, and the sampling rate is less than the exposure determination rate.

Claims (42)

1. A method comprising:

determining, by a controller of an image capture system, a plurality of sets of exposure parameter values for one or more exposure parameters;

capturing, by an image capture device of the image capture system, a plurality of images, wherein each image of the plurality of images is captured according to a set of exposure parameter values of the plurality of sets of exposure parameter values;

determining an amount of variance between the plurality of images captured according to the plurality of sets of exposure parameter values; and

based on the determined amount of variance between the plurality of captured images, altering, by the controller of the image capture system, a sampling rate at which images are sent by the controller of the image capture system to an image processing unit, wherein the image processing unit comprises one or more processors configured to process the images.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein altering the sampling rate at which images are sent by the controller of the image capture system to the image processing unit comprises delaying sending the at least one of the plurality of images to the image processing unit.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein each set of the plurality of sets of exposure parameter values comprises a duration value and a gain value.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, by the controller of the image capture system from the image processing unit, a plurality of prompts to send an image of the plurality of images, wherein each image of the plurality of images is sent in response to a received prompt.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, by the controller of the image capture system from the image processing unit, a feedback signal; and

changing, by the controller of the image capture system, the sampling rate based on the received feedback signal.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, by the controller of the image capture system from the image processing unit, a feedback signal; and

changing, by the controller of the image capture system, one or more sets of exposure parameter values of the plurality of sets of exposure parameters based on the received feedback signal.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the images are wirelessly sent by the controller of the image capture system to the image processing unit.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the images are compressed before being sent by the controller of the image capture system to the image processing unit.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a white level of the plurality of images, wherein images are selected for sending by the controller of the image capture system to the image processing unit based on the determined white level.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a focus level of the plurality of images, wherein images are selected for sending by the controller of the image capture system to the image processing unit based on the determined focus level.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein altering, by the controller of the image capture system, the sampling rate at which images are sent by the controller of the image capture system to the image processing unit comprises decreasing the sampling rate.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising subsequently increasing the sampling rate based on one or more subsequently captured images.

13. A system comprising:

at least one image capture device;

an image processing unit comprising to at least one processor configured to process images;

a controller comprising one or more processors;

a non-transitory computer readable medium; and

program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer readable medium and executable by the one or more processors of the controller to:

determine a plurality of sets of exposure parameter values for one or more exposure parameters;

cause the at least one image capture device to capture a plurality of images, wherein each image of the plurality of images is captured according to a set of exposure parameter values of the plurality of sets of exposure parameter values;

determine an amount of variance between the plurality of images captured according to the plurality of sets of exposure parameter values; and

based on the determined amount of variance between the plurality of captured images, alter a sampling rate at which images are sent by the controller to the image processing unit.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the images are wirelessly sent by the controller to the image processing unit.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the images are compressed before being sent by the controller to the image processing unit.

16. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored therein instructions executable by one or more processors to cause a computing system to perform functions comprising:

determining, by a controller of an image capture system, a plurality of sets of exposure parameter values for one or more exposure parameters;

capturing, by an image capture device of the image capture system, a plurality of images, wherein each image of the plurality of images is captured according to a set of exposure parameter values of the plurality of sets of exposure parameter values;

determining an amount of variance between the plurality of images captured according to the plurality of sets of exposure parameter values; and

based on the determined amount of variance between the plurality of captured images, altering, by the controller of the image capture system, a sampling rate at which images are sent by the controller of the image capture system to an image processing unit, wherein the image processing unit comprises one or more processors configured to process the images.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16 , wherein altering the sampling rate at which images are sent by the controller of the image capture system to the image processing unit comprises delaying sending the at least one of the plurality of images to the image processing unit.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16 , wherein altering, by the controller of the image capture system, the sampling rate at which images are sent by the controller of the image capture system to the image processing unit comprises decreasing the sampling rate.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16 , the functions further comprising determining a white level of the plurality of images, wherein images are selected for sending by the controller of the image capture system to the image processing unit based on the determined white level.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16 , the functions further comprising determining a focus level of the plurality of images, wherein images are selected for sending by the controller of the image capture system to the image processing unit based on the determined focus level.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 29, 2025
From: GOOGLE LLC
To: GDM HOLDING LLC
Reel/Frame 071109/0342 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2023
From: X DEVELOPMENT LLC
To: GOOGLE LLC
Reel/Frame 064658/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 12, 2022
From: COOPER, EMILY; TALBOTT, CHAD
To: X DEVELOPMENT LLC
Reel/Frame 061060/0589 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 17448481 · Sep 22, 2021
Continuation 16804052 · Feb 28, 2020
Continuation 15851901 · Dec 22, 2017
Related Publication 20230007157A1 · Jan 5, 2023