Image capturing device

Abstract

An image capturing device employing as illumination source(s) (flash apparatus(es)) a plurality of light emitting diodes emitting light of different colors; wherein such light emitting diodes are respectively made to emit light in pulsed fashion in turn by emitted color during exposure time(s). Furthermore, during exposure time(s), such light emitting diodes may be made to sequentially emit light in pulsed fashion in turn by emitted color, and/or such light emitting diodes may be made to sequentially emit light in pulsed fashion in turn by emitted color over multiple iterations.

1 . An image capturing device comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes used as one or more illumination sources and respectively emitting light of different colors; 
 wherein the plurality of light emitting diodes are respectively made to emit light in pulsed fashion in turn by emitted color during one or more exposure times.    
   
   
       2 . An image capturing device according to  claim 1  wherein: 
 the plurality of light emitting diodes are made to sequentially emit light in pulsed fashion in turn by emitted color during at least one of the exposure time or times.    
   
   
       3 . An image capturing device according to  claim 2  wherein: 
 the plurality of light emitting diodes are made to sequentially emit light in pulsed fashion in turn by emitted color over multiple iterations during at least one of the exposure time or times.    
   
   
       4 . An image capturing device according to any of claims  1  through  3  wherein: 
 one or more image capturing elements in the image capturing device is or are electronic;    in correspondence to at least one timing with which the plurality of light emitting diodes are made to emit light in turn by emitted color, one or more monochromatic images corresponding to at least one of the emitted color or colors is or are respectively acquired by at least a portion of the image capturing element or elements; and    one or more color images is or are formed by combining at least a portion of the respective acquired monochromatic image or images.    
   
   
       5 . An image capturing device according to any of claims  1  through  3  wherein: 
 at least one luminous intensity and at least one total illumination time for each of the plurality of light emitting diodes during at least one of the exposure time or times are respectively made variable.    
   
   
       6 . An image capturing device according to  claim 5  wherein: 
 at least one luminous intensity and at least one total illumination time for each of the plurality of light emitting diodes during at least one of the exposure time or times are varied, altering at least one ratio between or among luminous intensity time integrals of at least a portion of the respective colors.    
   
   
       7 . An image capturing device according to  claim 5  wherein: 
 at least one luminous intensity and at least one total illumination time for each of the plurality of light emitting diodes during at least one of the exposure time or times are varied by at least one substantially identical ratio.    
   
   
       8 . An image capturing device according to any of claims  1  through  3  further comprising: 
 one or more luminous energy detection means for detecting light incident thereon after passing through one or more photographic lenses of the image capturing device;    wherein at least one of the illumination source or sources is made to emit light prior to at least one of the exposure or exposures; and    one or more exposure conditions is or are set based on at least one result of detection carried out by at least one of the luminous energy detection means at at least one time when at least one of the illumination source or sources is made to emit light prior to at least one of the exposure or exposures.    
   
   
       9 . An image capturing device according to  claim 8  wherein: 
 the exposure condition or conditions set based on at least one result of detection carried out by at least one of the luminous energy detection means include at least one shutter speed.    
   
   
       10 . An image capturing device according to any of claims  1  through  3  wherein: 
 at least one illuminative locus of at least one of the illumination source or sources is varied in correspondence to at least one photographic field angle of the image capturing device.    
   
   
       11 . An illumination source for an image capturing device, the illumination source comprising: 
 a first light emitting diode for emitting a first color of light; and    a second light emitting diode for emitting a second color of light;    wherein the first and second light emitting diodes are driven to emit light in pulsed fashion during an exposure time of the image capturing device.    
   
   
       12 . The illumination source of  claim 11  further including a third light emitting diode for emitting a third color of light, wherein said third light emitting diode is driven to emit light in pulsed fashion during the exposure time of the image capturing device.  
   
   
       13 . The illumination source of  claim 12  wherein the first, second and third light emitting diodes are driven to emit light sequentially in pulsed fashion during an exposure time of the image capturing device.  
   
   
       14 . The illumination source of  claim 13  wherein the first, second and third light emitting diodes are driven to emit light sequentially in pulsed fashion a plurality of times during an exposure time of the image capturing device.  
   
   
       15 . A method of providing illumination for an image capturing device comprising the steps of: 
 providing a first light emitting diode for emitting a first color of light;    providing a second light emitting diode for emitting a second color of light; and    driving the first and second light emitting diodes to emit light in pulsed fashion during an exposure time of the image capturing device.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  including the additional steps of: 
 providing a third light emitting diode for emitting a third color of light; and    driving the third light emitting diode to emit light in pulsed fashion during the exposure time of the image capturing device.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said step of driving the first, second and third light emitting diodes comprises the step of driving the first, second and third light emitting diodes so that the first, second and third light emitting diodes emit light sequentially in pulsed fashion during an exposure time of the image capturing device.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said step of driving the first, second and third light emitting diodes comprises the step of driving the first, second and third light emitting diodes so that the first, second and third light emitting diodes emit light sequentially in pulsed fashion a plurality of times during an exposure time of the image capturing device.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15  including the additional steps of: 
 acquiring a first monochromatic image during a time when the first light emitting diode is emitting light;    acquiring a second monochromatic image during a time when the second light emitting diode is emitting light; and    forming a color image by combining at least a portion of the first monochromatic image and the second monochromatic image.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 15  including the additional step of varying a luminous intensity of the first light emitting diode independently of the luminous intensity of the second light emitting diode.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 15  including the additional steps of: 
 emitting light from at least one of the first, second and third light emitting diodes prior to the exposure time;    detecting light at a luminous energy detector; and    setting an exposure condition of the image capturing device based on the light detected by the luminous energy detector.    
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 15  including the additional step of varying an illuminative locus of the illumination source in based on a photographic field angle of the image capturing device.