Method, apparatus and device for realizing shutter synchronization of camera

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12445566-B2
Application number	US-202118559188-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 23, 2021
Priority date	May 6, 2021
Publication date	Oct 14, 2025
Grant date	Oct 14, 2025

Abstract

Provided are a method, apparatus and device for realizing shutter synchronization of a camera. The camera may include a plurality of sensors; the shutter types of the plurality of sensors are different; the method may include: acquiring a periodic synchronization reference signal and a synchronization signal corresponding to each sensor; and adjusting, with the synchronization reference signal as a reference, synchronization signal delays and/or exposure delays of the plurality of sensors to align the exposure areas corresponding to the plurality of sensors.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for realizing shutter synchronization of a camera, wherein the camera comprises a plurality of sensors; shutter types of the plurality of sensors are different; the method comprises:
acquiring a periodic synchronization reference signal and a synchronization signal corresponding to each of the plurality of sensors; and
adjusting, with the synchronization reference signal as a reference, at least one of synchronization signal delays or exposure delays of the plurality of sensors to align exposure areas corresponding to the plurality of sensors;
wherein the plurality of sensors comprise a first sensor and a second sensor; the synchronization signal comprises: a first synchronization signal corresponding to the first sensor and a second synchronization signal corresponding to the second sensor; and
wherein a frame period and an exposure duration of a first synchronization signal of an i-th frame are same as a frame period and an exposure duration of a second synchronization signal of an i-th frame, wherein i is a positive integer; an exposure starts from a rising edge of a first synchronization signal of each frame, and an exposure starts after a preset exposure delay is executed on a second synchronization signal of each frame.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein in a case where an exposure time period corresponding to a second synchronization signal of a j-th frame is to be aligned with an exposure time period corresponding to a first synchronization signal of a j-th frame, adjusting, with the synchronization reference signal as the reference, at least one of the synchronization signal delays or the exposure delays of the plurality of sensors comprises:
aligning a rising edge of the second synchronization signal of the j-th frame with a rising edge of a synchronization reference signal of a j-th frame, wherein j is a positive integer; and
performing, with a duration of an exposure delay of the second synchronization signal of the j-th frame as a duration of a synchronization signal delay of the first synchronization signal of the j-th frame and the rising edge of the synchronization reference signal of the j-th frame as a starting point, a delay on the first synchronization signal of the j-th frame.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
in a case where an exposure time period corresponding to a second synchronization signal of an m-th frame is to be aligned with an exposure time period corresponding to a first synchronization signal of an m-th frame and in a case where at least one of frame periods or exposure durations of the first synchronization signal of the m-th frame and the second synchronization signal of the m-th frame change, calculating, according to at least one of a change in the frame periods or a change in the exposure durations of the first synchronization signal of the m-th frame and the second synchronization signal of the m-th frame, an exposure delay corresponding to the second synchronization signal of the m-th frame, wherein m is a positive integer; and
wherein adjusting, with the synchronization reference signal as the reference, at least one of the synchronization signal delays or the exposure delays of the plurality of sensors comprises: aligning, according to the exposure delay of the second synchronization signal of the m-th frame, the exposure time period of the first synchronization signal of the m-th frame with the exposure time period of the second synchronization signal of the m-th frame.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising: completing calculation of the exposure delay corresponding to the second synchronization signal of the m-th frame before an arrival of a rising edge of a synchronization reference signal of an m-th frame.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein aligning, according to the exposure delay of the second synchronization signal of the m-th frame, the exposure time period of the first synchronization signal of the m-th frame with the exposure time period of the second synchronization signal of the m-th frame comprises:
aligning a rising edge of the second synchronization signal of the m-th frame with the rising edge of the synchronization reference signal of the m-th frame;
adjusting, according to the exposure delay of the second synchronization signal of the m-th frame, a delay of a rising edge of the exposure time period corresponding to the first synchronization signal of the m-th frame with respect to the rising edge of the synchronization reference signal of the m-th frame; and
performing, with a duration of the exposure delay of the second synchronization signal of the m-th frame as a duration of a synchronization signal delay of the first synchronization signal of the m-th frame and the rising edge of the synchronization reference signal of the m-th frame as a starting point, a delay on the first synchronization signal of the m-th frame.

6. A device for realizing shutter synchronization of a camera, comprising a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, wherein the computer-readable storage medium is configured to store instructions, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to implement:
acquiring a periodic synchronization reference signal and a synchronization signal corresponding to each of the plurality of sensors; and
adjusting, with the synchronization reference signal as a reference, at least one of synchronization signal delays or exposure delays of the plurality of sensors to align exposure areas corresponding to the plurality of sensors;
wherein the plurality of sensors comprise a first sensor and a second sensor; the synchronization signal comprises: a first synchronization signal corresponding to the first sensor and a second synchronization signal corresponding to the second sensor; and
wherein a frame period and an exposure duration of a first synchronization signal of an i-th frame are same as a frame period and an exposure duration of a second synchronization signal of an i-th frame, wherein i is a positive integer; an exposure starts from a rising edge of a first synchronization signal of each frame, and an exposure starts after a preset exposure delay is executed on a second synchronization signal of each frame.

7. The method of claim 4 , wherein aligning, according to the exposure delay of the second synchronization signal of the m-th frame, the exposure time period of the first synchronization signal of the m-th frame with the exposure time period of the second synchronization signal of the m-th frame comprises:
aligning a rising edge of the second synchronization signal of the m-th frame with the rising edge of the synchronization reference signal of the m-th frame;
adjusting, according to the exposure delay of the second synchronization signal of the m-th frame, a delay of a rising edge of the exposure time period corresponding to the first synchronization signal of the m-th frame with respect to the rising edge of the synchronization reference signal of the m-th frame; and
performing, with a duration of the exposure delay of the second synchronization signal of the m-th frame as a duration of a synchronization signal delay of the first synchronization signal of the m-th frame and the rising edge of the synchronization reference signal of the m-th frame as a starting point, a delay on the first synchronization signal of the m-th frame.

8. The device of claim 6 , wherein in a case where an exposure time period corresponding to a second synchronization signal of a j-th frame is to be aligned with an exposure time period corresponding to a first synchronization signal of a j-th frame, the processor is caused to adjust, with the synchronization reference signal as the reference,

Assignees

• Zhejiang Uniview Tech Co Ltd

Inventors

• Sun Mingming

Classifications

• H04N23/45 Primary

  for generating image signals from two or more image sensors being of different type or operating in different modes, e.g. with a CMOS sensor for moving images in combination with a charge-coupled device [CCD] for still images · CPC title

• H04N23/633

  for displaying additional information relating to control or operation of the camera · CPC title

• H04N23/741

  by increasing the dynamic range of the image compared to the dynamic range of the electronic image sensors · CPC title

• H04N23/90

  Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums · CPC title

• H04N21/242

  Synchronisation processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Programme Clock References] {(arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/18)} · CPC title