Patent ID: 7756330

Claim:
A method of producing a digital image with extended dynamic range, comprising by using a digital image processor the steps of: a. capturing at least a first digital image of a scene having pixels with associated pixel values; b. copying the first digital image to provide a second digital image; c. assigning the pixels in the second digital image to sub-arrays; d. combining the pixel values within each sub-array of the second digital image and replacing the pixel values of the second digital image so that the second digital image has higher pixel values with less noise and lower resolution than the first digital image; and e. combining corresponding pixel values of the first digital image and the second digital image to produce a third digital image, including: i. using the pixel values in the second digital image when corresponding pixel values in the first digital image are less than 50% of the maximum pixel value; and ii. using the pixel values in the first digital image when corresponding pixel values in the first digital image are greater than 50% of the maximum code value whereby the third digital image has extended dynamic range.