Patent ID: 8228400

Claim:
An apparatus for simulating a long exposure-time image, comprising: means for capturing a sequence of images which are digital images; a computer with memory coupled to said computer; and programming adapted for execution on said computer for: receiving a sequence of normal exposure images at a normal exposure time setting from said means for capturing, in which image capture duration of said normal exposure time setting is less than a desired long exposure interval over which a simulated long exposure time image is to be obtained; selecting a set of sequential images, from within said sequence of images, which span the desired long exposure interval; performing global motion estimation and compensation wherein camera motion arising between each of said sequential images is eliminated by post processing; identifying regions of independent motion from a background in the set of sequential images; and performing artificial motion blurring on said regions of independent motion, prior to combining the set of sequential images through temporal integration, to create at least one long exposure image.