Patent Document ID: 20130083226
Application ID: 13248067
Patent Status: 0

Claim One:
1. A method for using a single array of pixels to obtain a plurality of different images at different levels of admitted exposure light from a common source level of exposure light, the method comprising: exposing for an exposure time period first and second matrices of light-admitting elements deployed in a single camera to light from a scene image from a focal lens of the camera, wherein the first matrix of the light-admitting elements is disposed relative to the focal lens light in front of a corresponding first matrix of pixels arrayed in a singular focal plane array in the camera and in circuit communication with a processing unit, and wherein the second matrix of light-admitting elements is disposed relative to the focal lens light in front of a corresponding second matrix of pixels arrayed in the singular focal plane array and in circuit communication with the processing unit, and wherein the pixels of the corresponding first and second matrices of pixels react equally to equal levels of color image information in the exposed focal lens light; the first matrix of light-admitting elements transmitting the color image information from the exposed focal lens light from the scene image to each pixel of the corresponding first matrix of pixels at a first level of brightness of the exposed light during the exposure time period; the second matrix of light-admitting elements transmitting the color image information from the exposed focal lens light from the scene image to each pixel of the corresponding second matrix of pixels at a second level of brightness of the exposed light that is different than the first level of brightness; acquiring a first image that has the first level of brightness from the color image information transmitted to the corresponding first matrix of pixels during the exposure time period; acquiring a second image that has the second level of brightness from the color image information transmitted to the corresponding second matrix of pixels during the exposure time period; and combining via the processing unit pixel data from the acquired first and second images to produce a high dynamic range image of the scene; and wherein the first and the second matrices of light-admitting elements comprise pluralities of different color shade transparency masking elements each having different color shades and that each transmit color image information at a level of brightness of their respective color shades; wherein the first matrix of light-admitting elements transmitting the color image information from the exposed focal lens light from the scene image to each pixel of the corresponding first matrix of pixels at the first level of brightness during the exposure time period comprises first light-admitting element matrix white masks transmitting white color image information to corresponding ones of the pixels of the corresponding first matrix of pixels at a first level of white-light brightness, first light-admitting element matrix red masks transmitting red color image information to corresponding ones of the pixels of the corresponding first matrix of pixels at a first level of red-light brightness, first light-admitting element matrix blue masks transmitting blue color image information to corresponding ones of the pixels of the corresponding first matrix of pixels at a first level of blue-light brightness, and first light-admitting element matrix green masks transmitting green color image information to corresponding ones of the pixels of the corresponding first matrix of pixels at a first level of green-light brightness; and wherein the second matrix of light-admitting elements transmitting the color image information from the exposed focal lens light from the scene image to each pixel of the corresponding second matrix of pixels at the second level of brightness during the exposure time period comprises second light-admitting element matrix dark white masks transmitting the white color image information to corresponding ones of the pixels of the corresponding second matrix of pixels at a second level of white-light brightness that is different than the first level of white-light brightness, second light-admitting element matrix dark red masks transmitting the red color image information to corresponding ones of the pixels of the corresponding second matrix of pixels at a second level of red-light brightness that is different than the first level of red-light brightness, second light-admitting element matrix dark blue masks transmitting the blue color image information to corresponding ones of the pixels of the corresponding second matrix of pixels at a second level of blue-light brightness that is different than the first level of blue-light brightness, and second light-admitting element matrix dark green masks transmitting the green color image information to corresponding ones of the pixels of the corresponding second matrix of pixels at a second level of green-light brightness that is different than the first level of green-light brightness.