Freescale Semiconductor,inc.

Michael Skow

Hung Hoa Tran

Arnold W Yanof

Anoosh Adby

A method and system for digital cameras provides improved automatic exposure control, improved automatic white balance, improved color interpolation, improved automatic gamma correction, and improved progressive edge enhancement. These improvements are preferably implemented in CMOS semiconductor technology for faster speed.

Digital image processing using white balance and gamma correction

An Automatic Exposure Control (AEC) regulates the operation of the digital camera sensor array. The acquisition of images and videos is optimized through having the automatic exposure control lock the exposure time of the photo-sensor array prior to performing any digital processing on the acquired image. The automatic exposure control determines the amount of exposure through moving the median brightness to the center of the dynamic range.

Automatic exposure control system for a digital camera

In one embodiment, the invention involves a method for processing an image. A sensor output is provided. An automatic gain control of the sensor output is performed to generate a first output. An automatic white balance correction to the first output is performed to generate a second output. A gamma correction of the second output is performed to generate a third output. A color interpolation is performed to the third output to generate a fourth output. A low-pass spatial filtration of the fourth output is performed to generate a fifth output. A color saturation and correction of the fifth output is performed to generate a sixth output, and a high-pass spatial filtration of the sixth output is performed to generate an image output.

Digital color image pre-processing

In performing automatic white balance of a digital image, a signal is obtained from an image sensor, which represents data corresponding to an image. A plurality of channels is obtained from the signal. A mean value for each of the plurality of channels is determined using a histogram. An average dynamic range is determined from the signal using a histogram. A difference or ratio between one or more of the mean values and the average dynamic range is determined, and that difference or ratio defines a white balance correction. The white balance of the image is then adjusted using the white balance correction.

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Mesa, AZ, United States of America

Michael Skow