To obtain an extended dynamic range image of a scene from a plurality of limited dynamic range images captured by an image sensor in a digital camera.
A plurality of digital images comprising image pixels of the scene are captured by exposing the image sensor to light transmitted from the scene, and each image is evaluated after it is captured for an illumination level exceeding the limited dynamic range of the image for at least some of the image pixels. Based on the evaluation of each image exceeding the limited dynamic range, the light transmittance upon the image sensor is adjusted in order to obtain a subsequent digital image having a different scene brightness range. The plurality of digital images are stored, and subsequently the stored digital images are processed to generate a composite image having an extended dynamic range greater than any of the digital images by themselves.
REVELLI JOSEPH F JR
CAHILL NATHAN D
RAY LAWRENCE A
Shinsuke Onuki
Tadashige Ito