Patent ID: 6801257
Filing Date: 2004-10-05
Classification: G01C,G06T,H04N

Abstract:
An image acquisition arrangement for acquiring at least one pair of images of at least one portion of a scene, comprisingA. at least one camera including an image recording medium and a shutter system comprising a mechanical shutter and an electronic shutter, said shutter system being controllable to enable the image recording medium to acquire said at least one pair of images; B. at least one illumination source for providing illumination to said at least one portion of the scene for at least one illumination time period; C. a control module configured to control the at least one camera to sequentially acquire said at least one pair of images and to control said at least one illumination source to illuminate the at least one portion of the scene with said at least one illumination source, such as to enable said image recording medium to individually record each image of said pair of images. During an image acquisition time period for each said image that is a function of said illumination time period; wherein said control module is configured: (I) to enable the mechanical shutter to open and thereafter enable the electronic shutter to open to enable the image recording medium to begin acquisition of a first of said two images, and subsequently enable the electronic shutter to close at a time that is a function of said image acquisition time period of said first image, and to transfer the first image to a selected intermediate device during a transfer time period; (II) to enable the electronic shutter to re-open to enable the image recording medium to begin acquisition of the second image and to enable the mechanical shutter to subsequently close at a time that is a function of said image acquisition time period of said second image; and (III) to enable the electronic shutter to remain open for a time period after the mechanical shutter has closed, said time period being a function of the transfer time period of the first image to the selected intermediate device.