Patent ID: 7009636
Filing Date: 2006-03-07
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. An estimation method for recursively estimating an optimal illumination on a sensor capable of capturing non-destructively a plurality of image samples during an exposure period, said method comprising: measuring an illumination indication from said sensor, said measuring occurs two or more times at intervals during said exposure period, producing a multiplicity of measurements; determining an estimated illumination on said sensor from all or essentially all of said multiplicity of measurements non-destructively captured before motion/saturation, said determining step occurring recursively over said multiplicity of measurements and including statistical signal processing of said multiplicity of measurements, said signal processing being based on a noise model selected from a fixed pattern noise model, a reset noise model, a shot noise model and a read noise model; and maintaining a plurality of parameters during said measuring step, said plurality of parameters comprising: said estimated illumination; a weighting coefficient of a particular one of said multiplicity of measurements; a variance between said particular one of said multiplicity of measurements and said multiplicity of measurements; and an overall variance of said multiplicity of measurements.