US 12,250,447 B2
Multiple operating modes to expand dynamic range
Andreas Wendel, Mountain View, CA (US); Jeremy Dittmer, Mountain View, CA (US); Brendan Hermalyn, San Francisco, CA (US); and Benjamin Ingram, Santa Clara, CA (US)
Assigned to Waymo LLC, Mountain View, CA (US)
Filed by Waymo LLC, Mountain View, CA (US)
Filed on Jan. 16, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/413,521.
Application 18/413,521 is a continuation of application No. 17/517,882, filed on Nov. 3, 2021, granted, now 11,917,281.
Application 17/517,882 is a continuation of application No. 16/935,931, filed on Jul. 22, 2020, granted, now 11,196,916, issued on Dec. 7, 2021.
Application 16/935,931 is a continuation of application No. 16/199,998, filed on Nov. 26, 2018, granted, now 10,757,320, issued on Aug. 25, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/611,206, filed on Dec. 28, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2024/0223882 A1, Jul. 4, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H04N 5/335 (2011.01); H04N 23/45 (2023.01); H04N 23/61 (2023.01); H04N 23/73 (2023.01); H04N 23/741 (2023.01)
CPC H04N 23/61 (2023.01) [H04N 23/45 (2023.01); H04N 23/73 (2023.01); H04N 23/741 (2023.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A camera system, comprising:
a first image sensor having a first dynamic range corresponding to a first range of luminance levels in a scene;
a second image sensor having a second dynamic range corresponding to a second range of luminance levels in the scene, wherein the second range of luminance levels includes luminance levels that are higher than the first range of luminance levels;
a third image sensor having a third dynamic range corresponding to a third range of luminance levels in the scene, wherein the third range of luminance levels includes at least one luminance level that is lower than the first range of luminance levels; and
a processor coupled to the first image sensor, the second image sensor, and the third image sensor, wherein the processor is configured to execute instructions to identify an object based on a first image of the scene captured by the first image sensor, a second image of the scene captured by the second image sensor, and a third image of the scene captured by the third image sensor.