Patent Document ID: 20130208141
Application ID: 13851213
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 shutters deployed in a single camera to light from a scene image from a focal lens of the camera, wherein the first matrix of the shutters 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 shutters 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 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 shutters opening for a first shutter time during the exposure time period and thereby 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 shutters opening for a second matrix shutter time during the exposure time period that is shorter than the first matrix shutter time and thereby 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.