Intellectual Ventures II LLC

A digital camera system and method for improving low-light performance. The system includes a plurality of digital cameras, each comprising a luminance channel configured to directly detect luminance signals, one or more chrominance channels configured to detect red and blue chrominance signals, and an optical assembly with lenses optimized for light transmission. A processor is configured to combine luminance and chrominance signals from the cameras to generate image data, independently adjust the integration times for each camera based on the image data to form optimized image data, and transmit the optimized image data for use in digital imaging systems, such as those in automobiles. The invention also encompasses a method and a non-transitory computer-readable medium for performing these operations, providing an efficient solution for capturing high-quality images in low-light environments.

An image capture device includes a plurality of independently formed camera channels. Each of the plurality of independently formed camera channels includes a respective sensor, wherein the respective sensor includes circuitry that controls an integration time of the respective sensor, and a respective lens that receives incident light and transmits the incident light to the respective sensor without transmitting the incident light to respective sensor of other camera channels within the plurality of independently formed camera channels. Further, a processor that is communicatively coupled to the respective sensor of each of the plurality of independently formed camera channels. The processor is configured to receive respective images from the respective sensor of each of the plurality of independently formed camera channels, and form a combined image by combing each of the respective images.

An image capture device includes a plurality of independently formed camera channels. Each of the plurality of independently formed camera channels includes a respective sensor, wherein the respective sensor includes circuitry that controls an integration time of the respective sensor, and a respective lens that receives incident light and transmits the incident light to the respective sensor without transmitting the incident light to respective sensor of other camera channels within the plurality of independently formed camera channels. Further, a processor that is communicatively coupled to the respective sensor of each of the plurality of independently formed camera channels. The processor is configured to receive respective images from the respective sensor of each of the plurality of independently formed camera channels, and form a combined image by combing each of the respective images.

An image capture device includes a plurality of independently formed camera channels. Each of the plurality of independently formed camera channels includes a respective lens that receives incident light and transmits the incident light to a respective sensor without transmitting the incident light to respective sensor of other camera channels within the plurality of independently formed camera channels. Further, a processor that is communicatively coupled to the respective sensor of each of the plurality of independently formed camera channels. The processor is configured to control an integration time of the respective sensor of each of the plurality of independently formed camera channels individually with the receive respective images from the respective sensor of each of the plurality of independently formed camera channels, and form a combined image by combing each of the respective images.

An image capture device includes a plurality of independently formed camera channels. Each of the plurality of independently formed camera channels includes a respective lens that receives incident light and transmits the incident light to a respective sensor without transmitting the incident light to respective sensor of other camera channels within the plurality of independently formed camera channels. Further, a processor that is communicatively coupled to the respective sensor of each of the plurality of independently formed camera channels. The processor is configured to control an integration time of the respective sensor of each of the plurality of independently formed camera channels individually with the receive respective images from the respective sensor of each of the plurality of independently formed camera channels, and form a combined image by combing each of the respective images.