DE102018200797A1 - Method for the operation of a lighting device or a camera device, control device and camera device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for operating an illumination device (60) of an underlying camera device (1) for illuminating at least a part of a field of view (50) of the camera device (1), in which one or more regions are illuminated by the illumination device (60) (50-1, 50-2, 50-3) of the field of view (50) of the underlying camera device (1) or the part thereof are controllably selectively illuminated with primary light (57).

Description

State of the art

The present invention relates to a method for operating a lighting device and in particular a camera device, a control device for controlling the operation of a lighting device and in particular a camera device and a camera device as such.

Camera devices are often equipped with lighting devices, for example, so-called flash lights, in addition to illuminate the field of view in insufficient illumination of the field of view of the camera device and thus improve the quality of optical imaging.

Conventional flashlights, however, can take into account local lighting conditions in subregions of the field of view at most flat rates, that is, for example, averaged over the entire field of view. Thus, not all lighting conditions that can prevail in the field of view, can be suitably countered.

Disclosure of the invention

The method according to the invention for the operation of a lighting device of a camera device with the features of claim 1 has the advantage that also local lighting conditions in an illuminated field of view to improve the image quality can also be considered locally taken into account. This is inventively achieved with the features of claim 1, characterized in that a method for the operation of a lighting device of an underlying camera device for illuminating at least a portion of a field of view of the camera device is provided, in which by the illumination device one or more areas of the field of view Underlying camera device or the part thereof controllable selectively be illuminated with primary light. Due to the controllability and selectivity of the illumination of the field of view by the illumination device, the geometry of the field of view and / or the light conditions already present in front of the illumination in the field of view in the additional illumination can also be considered locally.

The dependent claims show preferred developments of the invention.

For controllable and selective illumination of the field of view, different parameters of the light or radiation field to be additionally applied with the illumination can be varied and adapted.

Thus, it is provided in an advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention that the controllable and selective illumination for a particular area of the field of view, the spectrum, the intensity and / or the illumination duration of the primary light are controllably selectively adjusted, in particular with respect to their time course.

In addition to the parameters of the field of view, the forms of exposure to the field of view with the additional light field can be adjusted accordingly, ie in particular the mode with which additional primary light is generated and / or emitted in the field of view.

In a corresponding embodiment of the method according to the invention, it is provided that in the controllable selective illumination the field of view or the part or the respective areas are scanned, so according to the principle of scanning, in which a light beam or a beam of primary light line and / or column by column covers the respective area to be illuminated.

Alternatively or additionally, it is also conceivable that in the case of controllable selective illumination, the field of view or the part or the respective regions are illuminated in a flash in accordance with the flash principle.

During scanning, as in scanning, all parameters of the radiation field can be spatially adjusted locally and temporally, namely the spectrum, the light intensity and the illumination or irradiation duration.

Depending on the application, a single light source can be used for the illumination or, alternatively, a plurality of light sources.

Each individual used light source can be individually adjusted for selective control of the illumination in their operating parameters and consequently in terms of spectrum, light intensity - also spectrally considered - and light duration, preferably possibly without the use of filters, screens or the like.

The operating mode or lighting mode of a respective light source can also be selected and / or controlled accordingly, be it the operation in the manner of a flashlight, ie according to the flash principle, or in the manner of scanning or scanning.

The modes of operation can also be combined with each other by, for example, individual light sources or groups of light sources be assigned to certain segments of the field of view to be illuminated and the light source then respectively the associated segment illuminated either in the manner of a flash or according to the nature of the scanning principle.

In particular, it is conceivable that in controllable selective illumination, primary light is controllably selectively generated via a mirror arrangement with one or more deflecting mirrors and / or in particular by means of one-dimensional or two-dimensionally movable and in particular pivotable micromirrors and / or light sources assigned to a plurality of respective regions of the field of view the field of view is emitted.

Different principles can be used to generate corresponding spectral distributions.

Thus, it is conceivable that for producing a spectrum in the primary light at least one controllable in wavelength controllable light source is used.

Alternatively or additionally, it may be provided that a plurality of light sources with their respective spectrum-in particular according to an RGB scheme-is optically superimposed to the primary light in a controlled manner.

In addition to the RGB scheme, other color schemes can be used.

In order to increase the accuracy and the flexibility of the operation according to the invention of a lighting device of a camera device, the light field already present in the field of view prior to illumination with additional primary light can advantageously be used.

Thus, it is particularly advantageous if, before and / or during illumination of the field of view or the part thereof, from the field of view or the part thereof, incident secondary light is detected by measurement and, in particular, evaluated.

In these circumstances, it may be additionally provided that the control of the illumination of the field of view or the part thereof is based on the measurement and in particular the evaluation.

In particular, it is conceivable to examine the field of view in the manner of a preexposure or preexposure, namely essentially without producing an image or only a preliminary image for the purpose of interim analysis, and then at the final illumination of the field of view to produce a final image, a correspondingly configured light field with the light field to be generated To provide primary light.

The present invention further relates to a method for operating a camera device. In this case, the camera apparatus is formed with a lighting device for illuminating at least a part of a field of view of the camera device and with a receiving device for receiving incident from the field of view secondary light. The operation of the camera device takes place on the basis of the method according to the invention for controlling the illumination device.

In an advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention for the operation of a camera device, the control of the receiving device in coordination with the control of the illumination device, in particular with respect to the beginning and / or end of a shutter opening time, a diaphragm and / or in terms of the beginning and / or the end activating and / or reading in an image memory device.

A further aspect of the present invention is the provision of a control device for controlling the operation of a lighting device of an underlying camera device and / or the camera device as a whole. The control device is set up to carry out a method according to the invention for controlling a lighting device or a camera device as a whole or to be used in such a method.

Finally, the present invention also relates, in particular, to a camera device which is formed with a lighting device for illuminating at least a part of a field of view of the camera device with primary light, with a receiving device for receiving secondary light incident from the field of view and thereby for optically imaging a scene in the field of view and with a Control device according to the invention, which is set up and designed to control the operation of the illumination device and in particular the camera device as a whole according to the invention.

list of figures

• 1 ist eine schematische Ansicht, welches eine Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Kameravorrichtung und deren Betrieb beschreibt.
• 2 zeigt ein Sichtfeld mit einer möglichen Unterteilung in Bereiche und veranschaulicht deren mögliche erfindungsgemäße Ausleuchtung mit Primärlicht.

Embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

• 1 is a schematic view which describes an embodiment of the camera device according to the invention and its operation.
• 2 shows a field of view with a possible division into areas and illustrates their possible illumination according to the invention with primary light.

Preferred embodiments of the invention

The following are with reference to the 1 and 2 Embodiments of the invention and the technical background described in detail. Identical and equivalent as well as equivalent or equivalent elements and components are designated by the same reference numerals. Not in every case of their occurrence, the detailed description of the designated elements and components is reproduced.

The illustrated features and other properties can be isolated in any form from each other and combined with each other, without departing from the gist of the invention.

1 is a schematic view showing an embodiment of the camera device according to the invention 1 and describes their operation.

The camera device 1 according to the embodiment in 1 has a housing 10 in which a lighting device 60 , a receiving device 30 with a lens 31 and controls with a controller 40 , an adjustment device 41 and a trigger 42 on which via a tax bus 45 connected to each other, together with a connection to the reception area 30 and the lens 31 and together with a connection to the illumination device 60 ,

The control device 40 among other things controls the operation of the lighting device 60 and in particular the operation of one or more light sources contained therein, which are not shown individually here, with regard to their light intensity, their lighting duration and / or their spectrum. Optionally provided deflection devices, for example, one-dimensional or two-dimensionally deflectable micromirrors or the like and their drive, if necessary, by the control device 40 be controllable.

The lighting device 60 is designed to be the field of vision 50 the camera device 1 with primary light 57 controllable to illuminate.

In the field of vision 50 there is a scene 53 with different objects 52 - 1 . 52 - 2 . 52 - 3 , Target of the camera device 1 is the optical picture of the scene 53 out of sight 50 by receiving secondary light 58 out of sight 50 ,

It may be the exposure device 60 be used to - in addition to the ambient light - primary light 57 active in the field of view 50 irradiate. The illumination can be carried out according to the principle of a flashlight, according to the scanning principle or in combination of both methods.

In 1 is explained the scanning or scanning principle, in which the beam of the primary light 57 along a trajectory 55 row and / or column by column the field of view 50 sweeps. The reflected secondary light 58 gets in the lens 31 and in other facilities of the receiving device 30 caught and figuratively implemented.

The graphs 70 and 80 with at the abscissa 71 . 81 plotted values of the y and x coordinates and the ordinates, respectively 72 . 82 plotted location-dependent values of the light intensity I (x) . I (y) show in the tracks 73 . 83 the course of the respective intensity along a row or column, each with a clear maximum in the area of the object 52 - 3 which is supposed to represent the sun.

According to the invention, the primary light 57 the lighting device 60 the camera device 1 be used to illuminate the scene in addition to the light of the sun 53 in the field of vision 50 the camera device 1 to effect.

According to the invention, for example, the course 73 . 83 the intensities I (y) and I (x) to a compensated course 74 . 84 be modified, thereby providing a better overall illumination of the scene 53 in the field of vision 50 for optical imaging.

2 shows an example of a field of view 50 with a possible division into areas 50-1 . 50-2 . 50-3 and illustrates its possible illumination according to the invention with primary light 57 , where it is in the subarea 50-1 around a dark area, at the subarea 50-2 around a very bright area and at the subarea 50-3 can act around a medium brightness area.

The subareas 50-1 to 50-3 of the field of view 50 can be obtained by overlaying columns and rows using a one-dimensional or two-dimensional micromirror.

These and other features and characteristics of the present invention will be further elucidated with reference to the following statements:

Image field illumination is used with photo cameras 1 previously solved by surface lighting by a white light flash. It can be the actual Lighting situation of the environment are not fully taken into account, especially with regard to each locally given lighting conditions.

The proposed method allows a precise control of the local image illumination, in particular by an additive superimposition of the existing illumination intensity by means of an active scanning and / or scanning operated light source.

In this case, for example, the deflection of the active illumination takes place with the aid of a one-dimensional or two-dimensional micromirror, ie a micromirror which is deflected along a line or in a plane. The illumination of the micromirror can take place both by a white light source and by individually controllable RGB sources, for example for color compensation or for achieving artistic effects.

By each angular position of the mirrors, a corresponding space area and thus at least a part of the field of view 50 an underlying camera device 1 illuminated. The room area is adjustable via the beam and mirror diameter. This can be achieved, for example, by a collimated laser for the main application. Alternatively, a focus can be made at a certain level. In this case, the focal plane on the transmitter side and the selected depth of field can be combined on the transmitter side with the focal plane and the depth of field of the receiving path.

In addition to a homogenization of the field illumination also artistic effects can be realized by the invention. For example, the accentuation of certain image areas or the monochrome illumination of specific locations in the subject to be photographed.

In contrast to the conventional planar and ultimately flat-rate field illumination, the image area here is scanned or scanned or otherwise selectively illuminated. Thus, a respective field of view area and in particular each individual pixel or image area are individually selectable and thus individually adjustable in illumination intensity, duration of illumination and color.

• - eine mögliche Homogenisierung der Bildausleuchtung, gemäß 1 mit einer Kompensation der Sonnenkurve 73, 83, also der Spektralverteilung, die durch die Sonnenstrahlung gegeben ist, durch eine oder mit einer alternativen Beleuchtungskurve 73, 84 und/oder mit einer Reduzierung der Gesamthelligkeit dann über die Blende und/oder die Verschlussdauer,
• - die Ausbildung künstlerischer Effekte, zum Beispiel farbig oder weiß und/oder mit lokalen Einfärbung des Sichtfeldes 50,
• - die Möglichkeit der Projektion virtueller Inhalte, zum Beispiel im Sinne von Picoprojektoren oder BST,
• - die Möglichkeit einer besonders starken Ausleuchtung gewisser Bereiche des Sichtfeldes und damit bestimmter Bildbereiche, um das Signal-zu-Rauschverhältnis (SNR) zu verbessern, wodurch sich ein verbesserter Einsatz des Zoomens ergibt, und
• - ein verbessertes Fotografieren unter schlechten Lichtverhältnissen, also in dunklen Sichtfeldern 50.

The advantages include:

• - a possible homogenization of the image illumination, according to 1 with a compensation of the sun's curve 73 . 83 , ie the spectral distribution given by solar radiation, through or with an alternative illumination curve 73 . 84 and / or with a reduction of the total brightness then over the aperture and / or the shutter duration,
• - The training of artistic effects, for example, colored or white and / or with local coloring of the field of view 50 .
• the possibility of the projection of virtual contents, for example in the sense of picoprojectors or BST,
• - The possibility of a particularly strong illumination of certain areas of the field of view and thus certain image areas in order to improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), resulting in an improved use of zooming, and
• - Improved photography in low light conditions, ie in dark fields of view 50 ,

• - Wie unter anderem in 2 dargestellt ist, können zwei jeweils eindimensional abtastende oder scannende Spiegel eingesetzt werden, die jeweils eine Spalte bzw. Zeile abtasten oder scannen. Der Überlapp der Spalten und Zeilen mit den jeweiligen Intensitäten ergibt dann lokal Bereiche im Sichtfeld und somit im Bild und insbesondere Punkte, die eine gewünschte Intensität mit einer entsprechenden Spektralverteilung aufweisen.
• - Denkbar ist Verwendung bei Kameras von Mobiltelefonen bei denen Beleuchtung/Blitz besonders kritisch ist, nämlich wegen der vergleichsweise geringen Austrittsapertur. Beim erfindungsgemäßen Vorgehen ist eine geringere Austrittsapertur möglich als bei üblichen Blitzen.
• - Denkbar ist auch die Anpassung der Abtastwinkel oder Scanwinkel, um die notwendige Verschlusszeit abzusenken (Region of Interest), und zwar mit der Folge der Möglichkeit einer höheren Bilderrate auf der Empfangsseitig. Dies ermöglicht das Erstellen von Fotos in Bewegung oder von Actionfotos.
• - Denkbar ist auch Ausführung als Flashquelle, z.B. mit einer Anordnung oder einem Array aus einzelnen Emittern, zum Beispiel Laseremittern, und zwar anstelle des Vorgehens mit einem Abtasten oder Scannen.
• - Denkbar ist auch eine Ausführungsform als Spotlight, nämlich mit einem automatischen Verfolgen eines bestimmten Bereichs oder Punkts im Sichtfeld, des hellsten Bereichs oder Punkts, um ihn zusätzlich zu beleuchten, zum Beispiel auch in ihren verfolgenden Bewegung.

In further embodiments, additionally or alternatively, the following technical aspects can be taken up individually or in combination with one another:

• - As in others 2 can be used, two each one-dimensional scanning or scanning mirrors are used, each scanning or scanning a column or line. The overlap of the columns and rows with the respective intensities then results locally in the field of view and thus in the image and in particular points which have a desired intensity with a corresponding spectral distribution.
• - It is conceivable use in cameras of mobile phones where lighting / flash is particularly critical, namely because of the relatively low exit aperture. In the procedure according to the invention, a smaller exit aperture is possible than with conventional flashes.
• It is also conceivable to adapt the scanning angle or scanning angle in order to reduce the necessary shutter speed (region of interest), with the consequence of the possibility of a higher image rate on the receiver side. This allows you to take pictures in motion or action photos.
• It is also conceivable execution as a flash source, for example with an array or an array of individual emitters, for example, laser emitters, and that instead of the procedure with a scanning or scanning.
• Also conceivable is an embodiment as a spotlight, namely with an automatic tracking of a specific area or point in the field of view, the brightest area or point, in order to additionally illuminate it, for example also in its tracking movement.

Claims (11)

Method for operating an illumination device (60) of an underlying camera device (1) for illuminating at least a part of a field of view (50) of the camera device (1), in which one or more regions (50-1, 50-2, 50-3) of the field of view (50) of the underlying camera device (1) or the part thereof are controllably selectively illuminated with primary light (57). Method according to Claim 1 in which, in the controllable selective illumination for a respective area (50-1, 50-2, 50-3) of the field of view (50), the spectrum, the intensity, the illumination time and / or the illumination duration of the primary light (57) are controllably selectively adjusted become. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in the controllable selective illumination the field of view (50) or the respective areas (50-1, 50-2, 50-3) are illuminated in a scanning and / or instantaneous manner. Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which, in the controllable selective illumination, one or more light sources generating the primary light (57) are used. Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which, in the controllable selective illumination, primary light (57) via a mirror arrangement with one or more deflection mirrors and in particular via one-dimensional or two-dimensionally movable and in particular pivotable micromirrors and / or - Over a plurality of respective areas (50-1, 50-2, 50-3) of the field of view (50) associated light sources controllably selectively generated and / or in the field of view (50) is emitted. Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which for generating a spectrum in the primary light (57) - At least one wavelength controllable tunable light source is used and / or - A plurality of light sources with their respective spectrum - in particular according to an RGB scheme - controlled to the primary light (57) optically superimposed. Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which for generating a spectrum in the primary light (57) - Before and / or during a lighting of the field of view (50) or the part thereof from the field of view (50) or the part thereof, a falling secondary light (58) is detected by measurement and in particular evaluated and - The control of the illumination of the field of view (50) or the part thereof on the basis of the measurement and in particular the evaluation takes place. Method for operating a camera device (1), which is designed with a lighting device (60) for illuminating at least part of a field of view (50) of the camera device (1) and with a receiving device (30) for receiving from the field of view (50) Secondary light (58), wherein a method of controlling the illumination device (60) according to one of Claims 1 to 7 is performed. Method according to Claim 8 in which the control of the receiving device (30) takes place in coordination with the control of the illumination device (60), in particular with regard to the beginning and / or the end of a shutter opening time, an exposure time, an aperture, with respect to the beginning and / or end of the activation and / or reading into an image memory device. Control device (40) for controlling the operation of a lighting device (60) of an underlying camera device (1), which is set up, a method according to one of Claims 1 to 9 to be used or used in such a process. A camera device (1), comprising - a lighting device (60) for illuminating at least part of a field of view (50) of the camera device (1) with primary light (57), - a receiving device (30) for receiving secondary light incident from the field of view (50) ( 58) and thereby imaging a scene (53) in the field of view (50) and - a control device (40), which after Claim 10 and for controlling the operation of the illumination device (60) and in particular the camera device (1) is formed overall.

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