US-12626486-B2 - Star trails image processing

Abstract

An image signal processor accesses raw images from an image sensor. The image signal processor obtains adaptive acquisition control data for the raw images. The adaptive acquisition control data comprises at least one of a luminance value, a contrast value, a gain value, an exposure value, or a white balance value. The image signal processor obtains, in accordance with the adaptive acquisition control data, an indication of whether to use a star trails scene classification for the raw images. The image signal processor transmits, to buffers for storing data in accordance with the raw images, the indication of whether to use the star trails scene classification.

Inventors

• Anantha Keshava Belur Sowmya Keshava
• Ojas Gandhi
• Austin Whitfield-Hill

Assignees

• GOPRO, INC.

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20230503

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A method, comprising: accessing, by an image signal processor, raw images from an image sensor; obtaining, by the image signal processor, adaptive acquisition control data for the raw images, the adaptive acquisition control data comprising at least one of a luminance value, a contrast value, a gain value, an exposure value, or a white balance value; obtaining, in accordance with the adaptive acquisition control data, an indication of whether to use a star trails scene classification for the raw images; and transmitting, by the image signal processor to buffers for storing data in accordance with the raw images, the indication of whether to use the star trails scene classification.
2. 2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: obtaining image acquisition parameters in accordance with the indication of whether to use the star trails scene classification, wherein the image acquisition parameters comprise at least one of an aperture value, an exposure value, or a gain value.
3. 3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the image signal processor operates in conjunction with a sensor readout component, the sensor readout component converting the raw images to partially processed image data and sending the partially processed image data to the buffers.
4. 4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the buffers store the partially processed image data, wherein the partially processed image data comprises RGB images or YUV images.
5. 5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining the indication of whether to use the star trails scene classification comprises: determining an image luminance value of a processed image corresponding to a raw image; and determining to use the star trails scene classification if the image luminance value exceeds a threshold.
6. 6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the star trails scene classification comprises at least one of a wider aperture value, a longer exposure value, or a higher gain value relative to a daytime scene classification.
7. 7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining the indication of whether to use the star trails scene classification comprises obtaining the indication to use the star trails scene classification in response to a determination that a current time at a geographic location indicated by a global positioning system is after a sunset time on a given date and before a sunrise time on a date immediately following the given date.
8. 8 . An apparatus, comprising: a storage unit; an image sensor; and an image signal processor to: access an electrical signal representing images from the image sensor; obtain adaptive acquisition control data for the images represented by the electrical signal, the adaptive acquisition control data comprising at least one of a luminance value, a contrast value, a gain value, an exposure value, or a white balance value; obtain, in accordance with the adaptive acquisition control data, an indication of whether to use a star trails scene classification for the images; and transmit, to buffers of the image signal processor for storing data in accordance with the images, the indication of whether to use the star trails scene classification.
9. 9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , the image signal processor to: obtain image acquisition parameters in accordance with the indication of whether to use the star trails scene classification, wherein the image acquisition parameters comprise at least one of an aperture value, an exposure value, or a gain value.
10. 10 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the image signal processor operates in conjunction with a sensor readout component, the sensor readout component converting the electrical signal to partially processed image data and sending the partially processed image data to the buffers.
11. 11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the buffers store the partially processed image data, wherein the partially processed image data comprises RGB images or YUV images.
12. 12 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein, to obtain the indication of whether to use the star trails scene classification, the image signal processor is to: determine an image luminance value of a processed image corresponding to the electrical signal; and determine to use the star trails scene classification if the image luminance value exceeds a threshold.
13. 13 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the star trails scene classification comprises at least one of a wider aperture value, a longer exposure value, or a higher gain value relative to a daytime scene classification.
14. 14 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein, to obtain the indication of whether to use the star trails scene classification, the image signal processor is to obtain the indication to use the star trails scene classification in response to a determination that a current time at a geographic location indicated by a global positioning system is after a sunset time on a given date and before a sunrise time on a date immediately following the given date.
15. 15 . A non-transitory machine-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by an image signal processor, cause the image signal processor to: access raw images from an image sensor; obtain adaptive acquisition control data for the raw images; obtain, in accordance with the adaptive acquisition control data, an indication of whether to use a star trails scene classification or a daytime scene classification for the raw images; and transmit, to buffers for storing data in accordance with the raw images, the indication of whether to use the star trails scene classification or the daytime scene classification, the buffers receiving at least a portion of the data from a sensor readout component.
16. 16 . The machine-readable medium of claim 15 , storing instructions that, when executed by an image signal processor, cause the image signal processor to: obtain image acquisition parameters in accordance with the indication of whether to use the star trails scene classification or the daytime scene classification, wherein the image acquisition parameters comprise at least one of an aperture value, an exposure value, or a gain value.
17. 17 . The machine-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the image signal processor operates in conjunction with a sensor readout component, the sensor readout component converting the raw images to partially processed image data and sending the partially processed image data to the buffers.
18. 18 . The machine-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the buffers store the partially processed image data, wherein the partially processed image data comprises RGB images or YUV images.
19. 19 . The machine-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions to obtain the indication of whether to use the star trails scene classification or the daytime scene classification comprise instructions that, when executed by the image signal processor, cause the image signal processor to: determine an image luminance value of a processed image corresponding to a raw image; and determine to use the star trails scene classification if the image luminance value exceeds a threshold; or determine to use the daytime scene classification if the image luminance value does not exceed the threshold.
20. 20 . The machine-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the star trails scene classification comprises at least one of a wider aperture value, a longer exposure value, or a higher gain value relative to the daytime scene classification.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD This disclosure relates to image processing. Some implementations relate to image processing by an image signal processor to generate star trails imagery. BACKGROUND Star trails imagery includes an image file and a video file (e.g., a time lapse video file) depicting a circular path of stars in the night sky relative to a fixed observation point on or close (e.g., within 100 meters) to the Earth's surface. Generating star trials imagery may be desirable to capture the beauty of the night sky and the movement (relative to a point on or close to the Earth's surface) thereof. To generate star trails imagery, a user typically sets up a camera in the evening (e.g., within two hours before or after the sunset) and leaves the camera in place until the morning (e.g., within two hours before or after the sunrise). SUMMARY Disclosed herein are implementations of star trails image processing. A method includes accessing, by an image signal processor, raw images from an image sensor. The method includes obtaining, by the image signal processor, adaptive acquisition control data for the raw images, the adaptive acquisition control data comprising at least one of a luminance value, a contrast value, a gain value, an exposure value, or a white balance value. The method includes obtaining, in accordance with the adaptive acquisition control data, an indication of whether to use a star trails scene classification for the raw images. The method includes transmitting, by the image signal processor to buffers for storing data in accordance with the raw images, the indication of whether to use the star trails scene classification. An apparatus includes a storage unit, an image sensor, and an image signal processor. The image signal processor accesses raw images from the image sensor. The image signal processor obtains adaptive acquisition control data for the raw images, the adaptive acquisition control data comprising at least one of a luminance value, a contrast value, a gain value, an exposure value, or a white balance value. The image signal processor obtains, in accordance with the adaptive acquisition control data, an indication of whether to use a star trails scene classification for the raw images. The image signal processor transmits, to buffers for storing data in accordance with the raw images, the indication of whether to use the star trails scene classification. A machine readable medium stores instructions. The instructions, when executed by an image signal processor, cause the image signal processor to access raw images from an image sensor. The instructions, when executed by an image signal processor, cause the image signal processor to obtain adaptive acquisition control data for the raw images, the adaptive acquisition control data comprising at least one of a luminance value, a contrast value, a gain value, an exposure value, or a white balance value. The instructions, when executed by an image signal processor, cause the image signal processor to obtain, in accordance with the adaptive acquisition control data, an indication of whether to use a star trails scene classification for the raw images. The instructions, when executed by an image signal processor, cause the image signal processor to transmit, to buffers for storing data in accordance with the raw images, the indication of whether to use the star trails scene classification. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The disclosure is best understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is emphasized that, according to common practice, the various features of the drawings are not to-scale. On the contrary, the dimensions of the various features are arbitrarily expanded or reduced for clarity. FIGS. 1A-B are isometric views of an example of an image capture apparatus. FIGS. 2A-B are isometric views of another example of an image capture apparatus. FIG. 3 is a top view of another example of an image capture apparatus. FIGS. 4A-4B are isometric views of another example of an image capture apparatus. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of electronic components of an image capture apparatus. FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of an example of an image processing pipeline. FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an example image signal processor. FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of an example pipeline for star trails image processing. FIG. 9 is a flow chart of a technique for star trails image processing. DETAILED DESCRIPTION As described above, star trails imagery includes an image file and a video file (e.g., comprising a time lapse video) depicting a circular path of stars in the night sky relative to a fixed observation point on or close (e.g., within 100 meters) to the Earth's surface. To generate star trails imagery, a user typically sets up a camera in the evening (e.g., within two hours before or after the sunset) and leaves the camera in place until the morning (e.g., within two hours before or after the sunrise). T