Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
193 words
A method for controlling a flashlight used for illuminating an object to
be imaged in connection with an electronic image sensor based on a
2-dimensional pixel matrix, or the like, the exposure (RI) of the image
sensor being performed in sub-areas, for example pixel rows or columns,
or in another order, by using a rolling electronic shutter (10) or
the like, wherein the exposure (RI) of said sub-areas of the image sensor
takes place at least partly at different times, characterized in that during the time of exposure of one image, i.e. substantially all the sub-areas
of the image sensor, several discrete, successive flashes of a flashlight are used to
achieve even exposure of the image area, which flashes are timed in such a way that each single flash is performed at a point
of time which is common to the integration or exposure time (RI)
of as many successive sub-areas of the image sensor as possible,
and that the successive flashes of the flashlight are also timed in such a way that one and only one flash of the flashlight
occurs during the integration or exposure time (RI) of each
single sub-area.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
108 words
The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the control
of the flashlight is applied in connection with an image sensor to be
exposed pixel row by pixel row, wherein the number of pixel rows to be
simultaneously covered by one light flash is determined from the ratio
between the integration or exposure time (RI) of a single pixel row and
the processing time (RP) of a single pixel row, which pixel row processing
time (RP) indicates the time taken for a pixel row reset function
(R) and/or read function (S), and which exposure time (RI) and processing
time (RP) are substantially equal for all pixel rows.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
108 words
The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the control
of the flashlight is applied in connection with an image sensor to be
exposed pixel column by pixel column, wherein the number of pixel
columns to be simultaneously covered by one light flash is determined
from the ratio between the integration or exposure time (RI) of a single
pixel column and the processing time (RP) of a single pixel column,
which pixel column processing time (RP) indicates the time taken for a
pixel column reset function (R) and/or read function (S), and which
exposure time (RI) and processing time (RP) are substantially equal for
all pixel columns.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
29 words
The method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized
in that the control of the flashlight is applied in connection with an
image sensor based on CMOS technology.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
31 words
The method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized
in that successive flashes of the flashlight, required for one
image, are triggered by using one or several discrete flash units.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the
successive flashes of the flashlight, required per one image, are triggered
as alternating flashes of two or more flash units.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that a
single flash unit is based on the use of a flash tube, a discharge lamp
or another corresponding thermal light source.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that a
single flash unit is based on the use of a light emitting diode or another
corresponding non-thermal light source.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
30 words
The method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized
in that the control of the flashlight is applied for producing a fill-in
flash in camera shooting under illuminated conditions.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
50 words
The method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized
in that an image taken by using the flashlight and stored in electrical
format is subjected to post-processing to improve the image quality
by utilizing information about the size of image sub-areas corresponding
to successive separate flashes of the flashlight.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method according to claim 10, characterized in that the post-processing
is used to correct a shift caused between said sub-areas
due to the movement of the object to be imaged.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that two or more images taken in succession are subjected to post-processing
by combining them into a single super-resolution image by
image processing.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
32 words
The method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized
in that the flashlight control is applied in a digital camera function
implemented in or in connection with a portable, battery-operated
device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 13, characterized in that the
flashlight control is applied in a mobile station or the like.