Lighting synchronization to reduce light clutter
When capturing video imagery at night a camera must be more sensitive to incoming light sources. When the light source for the image capture is strobe-like, and the surface of the object to be captured is highly reflective, captured imagery is obscured by light clutter. This invention is a method and process for capturing clear video imagery of an object despite significant light reflection from a strobe-like light source. Light clutter is minimized through de-synchronization of the light source and the image data capture rate.
1 . A process for use with a digital video recorder system to reduce light clutter in captured image data, the process comprising:
a) initializing a software module within a digital image and data recording system with at least two timing values;
b) means for determining a threshold for lighting conditions;
c) initiating operation of said software module when the threshold level is met;
d) manipulating a light source in accordance with said timing values;
e) recording a data stream including video image data and storing said captured data to a storage device;
f) investigating a data recording timing threshold setting;
g) repeating steps e and f if said timing threshold is not met;
h) and terminating the process if said timing threshold is met.
2 . A process in accordance with claim 1 for use with a digital video recorder system to reduce light clutter in captured image data, the process further comprising:
in which said threshold for lighting conditions in step b is set to indicate adverse lighting conditions.
3 . A process in accordance with claim 1 for use with a digital video recorder system to reduce light clutter in captured image data, the process further comprising:
said at least two timing values in step a are set to a desired frame rate speed and a power-on to power-off to power-on cycle of a lighting source.
4 . A process in accordance with claim 3 for use with a digital video recorder system to reduce light clutter in captured image data, the process further comprising:
said at least two timing values are deliberately set to be de-synchronous one with the other,
wherein said data recorded includes image data captured at a number of different lighting exposure levels.