US 11,683,593 B2
High dynamic range image capture using single photon avalanche diodes
Raymond Kirk Price, Redmond, WA (US); Christopher Douglas Edmonds, Carnation, WA (US); and Michael Bleyer, Seattle, WA (US)
Assigned to Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC, Redmond, WA (US)
Filed by Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC, Redmond, WA (US)
Filed on Jun. 28, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/852,131.
Application 17/852,131 is a continuation of application No. 17/181,922, filed on Feb. 22, 2021, granted, now 11,431,918.
Prior Publication US 2022/0329722 A1, Oct. 13, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H04N 23/741 (2023.01); H04N 23/73 (2023.01); G06T 5/00 (2006.01); G06T 5/50 (2006.01)
CPC H04N 23/741 (2023.01) [G06T 5/003 (2013.01); G06T 5/50 (2013.01); H04N 23/73 (2023.01); G06T 2207/10144 (2013.01); G06T 2207/20201 (2013.01); G06T 2207/20208 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for facilitating high dynamic range (HDR) image capture, comprising:
an image sensor array comprising a plurality of sensor pixels;
one or more processors; and
one or more hardware storage devices storing instructions that are executable by the one or more processors to configure the system to:
perform a split long exposure operation, comprising:
applying a first set of long exposure shutter operations to configure each sensor pixel of the image sensor array to enable photon detection; and
applying a second set of long exposure shutter operations to configure each sensor pixel of the image sensor array to enable photon detection, wherein a time period intervenes between the applying of the first set of long exposure shutter operations and the applying of the second set of long exposure shutter operations;
perform a short exposure operation, comprising:
applying a set of short exposure shutter operations to configure each sensor pixel of the image sensor array to enable photon detection, the set of short exposure shutter operations being applied during the time period that intervenes between the applying of the first set of long exposure shutter operations and the applying of the second set of long exposure shutter operations; and
generate an image based at least on a number of photons detected during the split long exposure operation and a number of photons detected during the short exposure operation.