Patent ID: 8237813
Filing Date: 2012-08-07
Classification: G06F,G09G,H04N

Abstract:
1. A method of mixing a series of two or more images of a scene, each series image composed of pixels containing digital bits to generate a composite image in which each pixel contains a number of digital bits, the number being greater than the number of digital bits contained in any series image pixel, comprising: capturing the series images at different exposure levels; registering the counterpart pixels of each image of the image series one to another; deriving a normalized image exposure level for each image in the series by using the exposure level of the series image that is least exposed as a reference level; employing the normalized image exposure levels in an image blending process; using the image blending process to blend together a first image of the series and a second image of the series, wherein the second image of the series is captured at a higher exposure level than the first image of the series, to generate an intermediate image, the intermediate image being a mixed output image when the series is composed of two images; and repeating-the image blending process using the generated intermediate image in place of the first image of the series and a subsequent series image in place of the second image of the series when the series is composed of more than two images, each successively blended series image being exposed at a next higher exposure level than the previously blended series image, until all series images have been blended, the last generated intermediate image being the mixed output image.