Automatic image capture
A method of automatically capturing images with precision uses an intelligent mobile device having a camera loaded with an appropriate image capture application. When a user initializes the application, the camera starts taking images of the object. Each image is qualified to determine whether it is in focus and entirely within the field of view of the camera. Two or more qualified images are captured and stored for subsequent processing. The qualified images are aligned with each other by an appropriate perspective transformation so they each fill a common frame. Averaging of the aligned images reduces noise and a sharpening filter enhances edges, which produces a sharper image. The processed image is then converted into a two-level, black and white image, which may be presented to the user for approval prior to submission via wireless or WiFi to a remote location.
1. A method of capturing an image on a mobile device comprising the steps of:
capturing an image of a desired object on a mobile device to produce a captured image;
displaying the captured image on a display screen for the mobile device to enable review by a user;
providing the user with the ability to select from a plurality of options including approving the captured image and modifying the captured image to correct any errors prior to further processing; and
further processing the captured image after the providing step.
2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the displaying step comprises the step of presenting data extracted from the captured image together with the captured image on the display screen in correlation with a location of the extracted data on the captured image.
3. An apparatus for capturing an image of a desired object comprising:
an image sensor for detecting the image of the desired object to produce a captured image;
a storage device for storing the captured image;
a display device for displaying the captured image;
a processor for controlling the image sensor, the storage device and display device under instructions from a user; and
a user interface coupled to the processor to enable the user to modify the captured image to correct any perceived errors in the captured image prior to further processing of the captured image by the processor.
4. The apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein the processor extracts data from the captured image for display on the display device together with the captured image, the extracted data being displayed in correlation with a location on the captured image from which the data was extracted so that the extracted data may be corrected via the user interface for any perceived errors.