KR102654700B1 - Camera including at least one image sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

The camera includes an imager including at least one image sensor and a controller in communication with the image sensor. The controller acquires a color image through an image capture device, acquires a black-and-white image through an image capture device, generates motion information indicating motion when motion is detected in the black-and-white image, and color channels provided from the color image according to the motion information. It is configured to adjust the values of the color channels and generate a composite image according to the adjusted values of the color channels and the values of the brightness channel provided from the black and white image.

Description

Camera including at least one image sensor {CAMERA INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE IMAGE SENSOR}

The present invention relates to electronic devices, and more specifically to cameras including at least one image sensor.

The camera may include day/night modes to obtain optimized images depending on the shooting environment. In day mode, a color image based on the wavelength range of visible light can be captured, and in night mode, a black-and-white image based on the wavelength range of infrared light can be captured. When the shooting environment is relatively bright, color images can have higher discrimination power than black-and-white images because they contain color information. On the other hand, when the shooting environment is dark, black-and-white images based on the infrared wavelength range can have higher discrimination power than color images. The selection of such day mode and night mode can generally be automatically selected according to the luminance of the subject calculated based on the AE (Auto Exposure) function.

The AE function adjusts shutter speed, aperture, and AGC (Auto Gain Control) to ensure that the captured image is in the desired state. For example, in day mode, if the subject is relatively dark, the aperture can be opened further, the shutter speed can be slowed to receive light for a relatively long exposure time, and the sensor gain can be increased to amplify the luminance of the color image. If the subject is darker, you can enter night mode and shoot black-and-white video.

The content described above is only intended to help understand the background technology of the technical ideas of the present invention, and therefore, it cannot be understood as content corresponding to prior art known to those skilled in the art of the present invention.

Embodiments of the present invention are intended to provide a camera that provides output images with improved discrimination. For example, the camera can produce vivid colors even in low light.

A camera according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an image capture device including at least one image sensor; and a controller communicating with the image sensor, wherein the controller acquires a color image through the image capture device; Obtaining a black and white image through the image capture device; When motion is detected in the black-and-white image, generate motion information representing the motion; adjusting values of color channels provided from the color image according to the motion information; It is configured to generate a composite image according to the adjusted values of the color channels and the values of the brightness channel provided from the black and white image.

The motion information may include information indicating the size of the motion and the area in which the motion occurred.

The controller may be configured to adjust the values of the color channels by decreasing the values corresponding to the area where the motion occurs among the values of the color channels as the magnitude of the motion increases.

The at least one image sensor may include first and second image sensors, and the controller acquires the color image using the first image sensor and the black-and-white image using the second image sensor. The camera may further include a sensor controller configured to control the image capture device to increase the exposure time corresponding to the first image sensor as the gain value of the first image sensor increases.

The controller includes: a first color space converter configured to receive a first original image captured by the image capture device and convert the first original image into the color image; and a second color space converter configured to receive a second original image captured by the image capture device and convert the second original image into the black and white image.

Each of the first original image, the second original image, and the composite image may include values of channels in the RGB color space, the color channels are the A channel and the B channel in the LAB color space, and the brightness channel is It may be a brightness channel of the LAB color space.

According to embodiments of the present invention, a camera providing an output image with improved discrimination is provided.

1 is a block diagram showing a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the main controller of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a diagram conceptually showing images generated according to the operations of the main controller of FIG. 2.
Figure 4 is a flowchart showing a method of operating a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 5 is a flowchart showing a method of generating an output image by combining first and second original images according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a method for photographing a first original image.
Figure 7 is a block diagram showing a camera according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. It should be noted that in the following description, only the parts necessary to understand the operation according to the present invention will be described, and the description of other parts will be omitted in order to not obscure the gist of the present invention. Additionally, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein and may be embodied in other forms. However, the embodiments described herein are provided to explain in detail enough to enable those skilled in the art to easily implement the technical idea of the present invention.

Throughout the specification, when a part is said to be "connected" to another part, this includes not only the case where it is "directly connected," but also the case where it is "indirectly connected" with another element in between. . The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and is not intended to limit the invention. Throughout the specification, when a part is said to “include” a certain element, this means that it may further include other elements rather than excluding other elements, unless specifically stated to the contrary. “at least one of X, Y, and Z”, and “at least one selected from the group consisting of It can be interpreted as any combination (e.g., XYZ, XYY, YZ, ZZ). As used herein, “and/or” includes any combination of one or more of the constituents.

1 is a block diagram showing a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the camera 100 may include an image capture device 110, a sensor gain controller 120, a memory 130, and a main controller 140.

The image capture device 110 may include one or more image sensors, and the one or more image sensors are configured to generate original images according to light received from the outside. In embodiments, the image capture device 110 includes a first image sensor 111 that captures a color first original image (RV1), and a second image sensor 112 that captures a black-and-white second original image (RV2). may include. Light may be guided to each image sensor through a lens. Each image sensor can convert optical signals into electrical signals and digitize the electrical signals into pixel values that make up data streams. An original image may contain frames, and each frame may contain pixel values.

Each image sensor may be implemented as a solid-state image sensor, such as a charge coupled device (CCD) or complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS). Each image sensor may include sensor units in which color filters of three colors: R (red), G (green), and B (blue) are arranged in a Bayer arrangement. The first image sensor 111 can generate the first original image RV1 based on light mainly in the wavelength range of visible light using these sensor units. The second image sensor 112 may generate a second original image RV2 mainly according to the wavelength range of infrared rays using these sensor units. Accordingly, each of the first and second original images RV1 and RV2 may have pixel values of the R (red) channel, G (green) channel, and B (blue) channel of the RGB color space. In embodiments, an infrared cut-off filter is provided on the path of light reaching the first image sensor 111, so that the first image sensor 111 mainly senses light in the wavelength range of visible light and produces a first original image (RV1). ) can be created. In embodiments, the camera 100 may include an infrared generator such as a light emitting diode (LED), and the second image sensor 112 may generate a second original image RV2 when infrared rays are generated by the infrared generator. can be created. In this case, the second image sensor 112 may generate the second original image RV2 by sensing the infrared rays generated by the infrared generator and reflected by the subject. For example, the second image sensor 112 may include a CMOS sensor without an infrared cut-off filter. For example, the second image sensor 112 may include a black-and-white sensor without a color filter array. In addition, through various methods, the first image sensor 111 may be configured to generate a color first original image (RV1), and the second image sensor 112 may be configured to generate a black-and-white second original image (RV2). You can.

In embodiments, the first and second image sensors 111 and 112 may sense light incident through a common lens. Alternatively, the first and second image sensors 111 and 112 may sense light incident through different lenses.

The image capture device 110 is connected to the sensor gain controller 120. The first image sensor 111 of the image capture device 110 receives a gain (GN) provided from the sensor gain controller 120, and a gain value at which optical signals are converted into electrical signals according to the received gain (GN). Alternatively, the brightness of the first original image RV1 can be adjusted by adjusting the gain value at which electrical signals are converted into pixel values. The sensor gain controller 120 can adjust the gain (GN) according to various methods. In an embodiment, as the illuminance of the surrounding environment decreases, the sensor gain controller 120 may increase the gain GN to increase the brightness of the first original image RV1. For example, the camera 100 may include an illuminance sensor to detect the illuminance of the surrounding environment. In another embodiment, the sensor gain controller 120 may increase the brightness of the first original image RV1 by increasing the gain GN in response to the user's selection.

When the gain GN increases, the brightness of the first original image RV1 increases, but noise included in the first original image RV1 may also increase. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the sensor gain controller 120 also provides the main controller 140 with the gain GN used to generate the first original image RV1 as described above.

The image capture device 110 may receive a control signal for adjusting the exposure time corresponding to each frame of the first original image RV1. For example, the image capture device 110 may be controlled to increase the exposure time as the illuminance of the surrounding environment becomes relatively dark. For example, the image capture device 110 may be controlled to increase the exposure time as the gain GN increases. In this case, the first image sensor 111 may capture each frame of the first original image RV1 with an exposure time according to the control signal. For example, the exposure time can be adjusted to 1/30 second, 1/15 second, 1/4 second, etc. In embodiments, the image capture device 110 controls the corresponding mechanical or electronic shutter according to a control signal, so that the first image sensor 111 is exposed to light to capture each frame of the first original image RV1. can be adjusted.

When the exposure time increases, the brightness of the first original image RV1 increases, so that the first original image RV1 can have high discrimination power. However, when a moving object exists in the first original image RV1, the discrimination power of the first original image RV1 for the object may actually decrease due to the increased exposure time. For example, a ghost phenomenon may occur in relation to a corresponding object within the first original image RV1.

Memory 130 may be used as a working memory of the main controller 140. In embodiments, when some of the components of the main controller 140 are implemented through software and/or firmware, the corresponding program codes are loaded into the memory 130 from a non-volatile storage medium associated with the camera 100, The loaded program codes may be executed by one or more processors and/or one or more functional blocks of the main controller 140 to perform operations and/or functions of the corresponding configuration. In embodiments, memory 130 may be used as buffer memory for operations of main controller 140. For example, the image capture device 110 stores the first and second original images RV1 and RV2 in the memory 130, and the main controller 140 accesses the memory 130 to store the first and second original images RV1 and RV2. You can read the original videos (RV1, RV2). For example, one of the components of the main controller 140 stores processed data in the memory 130, and the other accesses the memory 130 to read the stored data, so that the components communicate with each other. You can.

The main controller 140 is configured to receive the first original image RV1 and the second original image RV2 from the image capture device 110. The main controller 140 is configured to further receive gain (GN) from the sensor gain controller 120. The main controller 140 is configured to provide the first original image RV1 as the output image OV when the gain GN is less than or equal to the threshold value. When the gain (GN) is greater than the threshold, the main controller 140 generates a composite image based on the first original image (RV1) and the second original image (RV2), and outputs the generated composite image as an output image (OV). ) is configured to provide as.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the main controller of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram conceptually showing images generated according to the operations of the main controller of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 2, the main controller 200 includes a first color space converter (211), a second color space convertor (212), and a contrast enhancement block (213). , motion detector (214, Motion Detector), noise reduction block (215, Noise Reduction Block), color enhancement block (216, Color Enhancement Block), decolorizer (217, Decolorizer), third color space converter (218, Third Color) It may include a Space Convertor), a mode selector (219), and an output device (220).

The first color space converter 211 receives the first original image (RV1) and converts the R (red) channel, G (green) channel, and B (blue) channel of the RGB color space of the first original image (RV1) It is configured to convert the pixel values of to pixel values of the brightness channel (LCH), A channel (ACH), and B channel (BCH) of the LAB color space. At this time, the A channel (ACH) and B channel (BCH) are channels representing colors. The values of the brightness channel (LCH), A channel (ACH), and B channel (BCH) of the LAB color space are independent of each other. Since the conversion is mainly performed from the first original image (RV1) based on visible light, at relatively low illuminance, the values of the brightness channel (LCH) generated by the first color space converter 211 are converted to the second color space converter ( 212) may have lower discrimination power than the brightness channel (LCH). The first color space converter 211 may output a first converted image (CV1) including an A channel (ACH) and a B channel (BCH).

The second color space converter 212 receives the second original image RV2 and converts the pixel values of the RGB color space of the second original image RV2 into the brightness channel (LCH) and the A channel (ACH) of the LAB color space. , and is configured to convert to pixel values of the B channel (BCH). Since the conversion is mainly performed from the infrared-based second original image (RV2), at relatively low illuminance, the values of the brightness channel (LCH) generated by the second color space converter 212 can have relatively high discrimination power. there is. The second color space converter 212 may output a second converted image CV2 including a brightness channel (LCH).

Embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto, and the first and second color space converters 211 and 212 convert pixel values of the RGB color space into values of the LAB color space through various methods well known in the field. can do.

The contrast enhancement block 213 may receive the second converted image CV2 from the second color space converter 212. The contrast enhancement block 213 is configured to perform a contrast enhancement operation on the second converted image CV2. In embodiments, the contrast enhancement block 213 includes an unsharp mask, processes values of the brightness channel (LCH) of the second converted image CV2 using the unsharp mask, and processes the processed values. A contrast enhancement operation can be performed by adjusting the values of the brightness channel (LCH) of the second converted image CV2 according to . The contrast enhancement block 213 provides the processed second converted image CV2' to the third color space converter 218. The processed second converted image CV2' includes values of the brightness channel (LCH).

The motion detector 214 is configured to detect motion from the second converted image CV2 and generate motion information (MI) indicating the area where the motion occurred (MA, hereinafter referred to as motion area) and the magnitude of the motion (MMV). At this time, the magnitude of motion (MMV) may mean the magnitude of a motion vector representing the motion of the motion area (MA) or the motion of an object within the motion area (MA). Motion detector 214 may generate motion information (MI) according to various algorithms known in the art. For example, the motion detector 214 calculates the Sum of Absolute Difference (SAD) between the brightness channel (LCH) values of the current frame of the second converted image CV2 and the brightness channel (LCH) values of the previous frame. And motion information (MI) can be generated according to the calculated SAD. As another example, the motion detector 214 may detect the same object in the current frame and the previous frame of the second converted image CV2 and generate motion information (MI) according to the motion of the object in the current frame and the previous frame. You can. Motion detector 214 provides motion information (MI) to decolorizer 217.

The noise reduction block 215 is configured to receive the first converted image CV1 and remove noise included in the first converted image CV1. The noise reduction block 215 may remove noise included in the first converted image CV1 through various methods well known in the field. For example, the noise reduction block 215 may include at least one low-pass filter, and noise included in the first converted image CV1 may be removed using the low-pass filter. Considering that the gain (GN) is relatively high at relatively low illuminance and that the first original image (RV1) may contain relatively much noise due to this, the noise reduction block 215 is used to reduce the first converted image (CV1). ) can improve the discrimination ability.

The color enhancement block 216 may process values of the A channel (ACH) and B channel (BCH) of the first converted image CV1 so that the first converted image CV1 has improved color discrimination. The color enhancement block 216 can adjust the values of the A channel (ACH) and B channel (BCH) using gain values. The color enhancement block 216 may determine gain values through various methods well known in the field and process the first converted image CV1 accordingly. The processed first converted image CV1' is provided to the decolorizer 217. Considering that the first original image RV1 has relatively low brightness in relatively low illuminance, the color enhancement block 216 can improve the discrimination of the first converted image CV1.

The decolorizer 217 receives the first converted image (CV1') and motion information (MI). The decolorizer 217 is configured to adjust the values of the A channel (ACH) and B channel (BCH) of the first converted image (CV1') based on the motion information (MI). In embodiments, the decolorizer 217 may adjust the values of the A channel (ACH) and the B channel (BCH) corresponding to the motion area (MA) according to the motion magnitude (MMV).

Referring to FIG. 3 together with FIG. 2 , the values of the A channel (ACH) and the B channel (BCH) of the first converted image CV1' are provided to the decolorizer 217. The decolorizer 217 detects the motion area (MA) according to the motion information (MI), and detects the values of the A channel (ACH) and the B channel (BCH) in the motion area (MA) of the first converted image (CV1'). By decreasing the values of as the motion size (MMV) increases, the values of the A channel (ACH) and the B channel (BCH) in the motion area (MA) of the first converted image (CV1'') can be determined. For example, the values of each of the A channel (ACH) and B channel (BCH) of the first converted image CV1'' may be determined according to Equation 1.

In Equation 1, C_ORG represents each value of the A channel (ACH) or B channel (BCH) in the motion area (MA) of the first converted image (CV1'), is a coefficient proportional to the size of motion (MMV), and C_BLK represents each value of the A channel (ACH) or B channel (BCH) in the motion area (MA) of the first converted image (CV1'').

The third color space converter 218 performs third conversion on the A channel (ACH) and B channel (BCH) of the first converted image (CV1'') and the brightness channel (LCH) of the second converted image (CV2'). It is configured to generate a composite image (SV) by including it in the image (CV3) and converting the third converted image (CV3) into pixel values of the RGB color space. For example, the A channel (ACH) and B channel (BCH) of the third converted image (CV3) are determined from the A channel (ACH) and B channel (BCH) of the first converted image (CV1''), and The brightness channel (LCH) of the third converted image (CV3) may be determined from the brightness channel (LCH) of the second converted image (CV2'). The composite image SV has pixel values of the same color space as the first and second original images RV1 and RV2, for example, the R channel, G channel, and B channel.

The mode selector 219 is configured to generate a selection signal (SEL) according to the gain (GN, see FIG. 1). As previously explained, the gain GN may increase as the illuminance of the surrounding environment decreases. In embodiments, mode selector 219 enables selection signal (SEL) when gain (GN) is greater than a threshold and disables selection signal (SEL) when gain (GN) is less than or equal to a threshold. You can.

The output device 220 is configured to output either the first original image SV1 or the composite image SV1 as the output image OV according to the selection signal SEL. In embodiments, the output device 220 provides a composite image SV1 as an output image OV when the selection signal SEL is enabled, and provides a first original image SV1 when the selection signal SEL is disabled. ) can be provided as an output image (OV). In embodiments, when the selection signal (SEL) is disabled, the second image sensor 112, the first and second color space converters 211 and 212, the contrast enhancement block 213, the motion detector 214, The noise reduction block 215, color enhancement block 216, decolorizer 217, and third color space converter 218 can be disabled.

In embodiments, the controller 200 may further include additional components that perform additional processing on the output image OV.

At relatively high illuminance, the first original image RV1 with high discrimination ability due to the presence of color information can be provided as the output image OV.

At relatively low illuminance, the first original image RV1 may have relatively low discrimination power. For example, as the illuminance decreases, the gain (GN) increases. In this case, the first original image (RV1) may contain relatively much noise, and the discrimination ability for objects included in the first original image (RV1) can be reduced. For example, the first raw image RV1 may be provided by shooting each frame with a relatively long exposure time at relatively low illuminance, and in this case, the first raw image RV1 has reduced discrimination against moving objects. You can have For example, a ghost phenomenon may occur in relation to a corresponding object within the first original image RV1. On the other hand, since the second original image (RV2) is captured based on infrared rays, it contains relatively low noise even at relatively low illuminance, and each frame is captured with a relatively low exposure time to produce the second original image (RV2). can be provided. In this way, the second original image RV2 can maintain high discrimination against moving objects even in relatively low illuminance.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first and second original images RV1 and RV2 are converted to generate first and second converted images including a brightness channel, an A channel, and a B channel, respectively, and motion information Based on this, the A channel and B channel values of the first converted image are reduced, and a composite image may be generated based on the reduced A channel and B channel values and the brightness channel values of the second converted image. Accordingly, even at relatively low illuminance, the composite image can express the motion area (or moving object) with relatively high discrimination according to the brightness channel of the second converted image and the A channel and B channel of the first converted image. Areas other than the motion area can also be expressed with relatively high discrimination power. Accordingly, a camera can be provided that provides an output image with improved discrimination ability and includes vivid colors even in low illumination.

Figure 4 is a flowchart showing a method of operating a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4 , in step S110, it is determined whether the gain GN is greater than the threshold. If so, step S120 is performed. If not, step S130 is performed.

In step S120, the first original image (RV1) captured in color and the second original image (RV2) captured in black and white are synthesized to provide an output image (OV).

In step S130, the first original image (RV1) captured in color is provided as an output image (OV).

Figure 5 is a flowchart showing a method of generating an output image by combining first and second raw images according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Figures 1 and 5, in step S210, the first original image (RV1) is converted to obtain a first converted image including the A and B channels of the LAB color space, and a second original image (RV2) This is converted to obtain a second converted image including the brightness channel of the LAB color space.

In step S220, necessary processing is performed on each of the first and second converted images. For example, a noise reduction operation and/or a color enhancement operation may be performed on the first converted image. For example, a contrast enhancement operation may be performed on the second converted image.

In step S230, when motion is detected in the second converted image, step S240 is performed. In embodiments, step S240 may be selectively performed by additionally determining whether the gain GN is less than the second threshold. At this time, the second threshold may be smaller than the threshold in step S110 of FIG. 4. When the gain GN is greater than or equal to the second threshold, step S240 may be omitted and step S250 may be performed. This is because the possibility of ghosting due to motion is low when the illuminance of the surrounding environment is between the threshold value and the second threshold value of step S110 in FIG. 4, and thus the resources required for step S240 can be saved. . Step S240 may be performed when the gain GN is less than the second threshold.

In step S240, the values of the A channel and B channel of the first converted image are adjusted according to motion information representing the detected motion. Among the values of the A channel and the values of the B channel, those corresponding to the motion area can be decreased as the size of the motion increases. In this way, the first converted image is decolorized according to the motion information.

In step S250, a composite image is generated according to the values of the A channel and B channel of the first converted image and the brightness channel values of the second converted image. The values of the A channel and B channel of the first converted image, and the brightness channel values of the second converted image will be converted to pixel values of the RGB color space to generate a composite image. Accordingly, even at relatively low illuminance, the composite image can express the motion area (or moving object) with relatively high discrimination according to the brightness channel of the second converted image and the A channel and B channel of the first converted image. Areas other than the motion area also provide vivid color images, so they can be expressed with relatively high discrimination. Accordingly, a camera that provides output images with improved discrimination ability even in low illuminance can be provided.

Figure 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a method for photographing a first original image.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 6 , as the gain GN increases, the first original image RV1 is captured with an increased exposure time. In this way, as the illuminance decreases, each frame is photographed with an increased exposure time to obtain the first original image RV1.

Figure 7 is a block diagram showing a camera according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, the camera 1000 includes an image capture device 1100, an image processing device 1200, a system memory 1300, a main processor 1400, and a sensor controller 1500. ), a user interface (1600, User I/F), and a network interface (1700, Network I/F).

The image capture device 1100, the image processing device 1200, and the system memory 1300 are configured similarly to the image capture device 110, the main controller 140, and the memory 130 described with reference to FIG. 1 . Hereinafter, overlapping descriptions will be omitted.

The system memory 1300 is shown as a separate component from the image processing device 1200 and the main processor 1400. However, the embodiments are not limited thereto. For example, at least a portion of the system memory 1300 may be included in the image processing device 1200 and the main processor 1400. In embodiments, the system memory 1300 may include at least one of static RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), and synchronous DRAM (SDRAM).

The main processor 1400 can control various operations of the camera 1000. The main processor 1400 can process user input received through the user interface 1600, process images output from the image processing device 1200, and transmit the processed images through the network interface 1700. there is.

The sensor controller 1500 is configured to control the image capture device 1100 in response to the control of the main processor 1400. The sensor controller 1500 can adjust the exposure time of the first image sensor 1110 by controlling the mechanical or electronic shutter of the image capture device 1100 according to the illuminance of the surrounding environment. Additionally, the sensor controller 1500 may perform the function of the sensor gain controller 120 of FIG. 1. The sensor controller 1500 may increase the gain (GN, see FIG. 1) of the first image sensor 1110 as the illuminance of the surrounding environment decreases.

The user interface 1600 may receive user input to control various operations of the main processor 1400 and may include a switch, dial, touch panel, voice recognition device, etc. The user can set various functions such as power on/off, wide dynamic range mode on/off, zoom in/out, and image display on/off through the user interface 1600.

The network interface 1700 provides communications over a network between the camera 1000 and an external device. The network interface 1700 may receive control signals from an external device, and may transmit frames processed by the image processing device 1200 to the external device in response to control of the main processor 1400.

Although specific embodiments and application examples are described herein, they are provided only to facilitate a more general understanding of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and may be used by those of ordinary skill in the field to which the present invention pertains. Various modifications and variations are possible from this substrate.

Accordingly, the spirit of the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments, and the scope of the patent claims described below as well as all modifications that are equivalent or equivalent to the scope of this patent claim shall fall within the scope of the spirit of the present invention. .

110: video camera
120: sensor gain controller
130: memory
140: main controller

Claims (6)

An image capture device including at least one image sensor; and
Including a controller that communicates with the image sensor,
The controller is,
Obtaining a color image through the image capture device;
Obtaining a black and white image through the image capture device;
Detecting motion from the black-and-white image by analyzing the motion vector of a specific area or object included in the black-and-white image,
When motion is detected in the black-and-white image, generate motion information representing the motion;
adjusting values of color channels provided from the color image according to the motion information;
A camera configured to generate a composite image according to the adjusted values of the color channels and values of a brightness channel provided from the black-and-white image. According to claim 1,
The motion information includes information indicating the size of the motion and the area in which the motion occurred. According to claim 2,
The controller is configured to adjust the values of the color channels by decreasing the values corresponding to the area where the motion occurs among the values of the color channels as the size of the motion increases. According to claim 1,
The at least one image sensor includes first and second image sensors,
The controller acquires the color image using the first image sensor and the black-and-white image using the second image sensor,
The camera further includes a sensor controller configured to control the image capture device to increase the exposure time corresponding to the first image sensor as the gain value of the first image sensor increases. According to claim 1,
The controller is,
a first color space converter configured to receive a first original image captured by the image capture device and convert the first original image into the color image; and
A camera comprising a second color space converter configured to receive a second original image captured by the image capture device and convert the second original image into the black and white image. According to claim 5,
Each of the first original image, the second original image, and the composite image includes values of channels in an RGB color space,
The color channels are the A channel and the B channel of the LAB color space, and the brightness channel is a brightness channel of the LAB color space.

Images