1. A method for generating a combined image, comprising:
while capturing a sequence comprising a plurality of initial images,
a) detecting a subset of said plurality of images having no substantial motion thereamong;
b) combining data from said subset to produce a combined image; and
c) outputting said combined image.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein each said plurality of images has a first quality according to a first exposure, said combined image having a second quality according to a second exposure, said second quality being higher than said first quality.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein said combining comprises adding an image from said subset to an interim combined image having a quality, said adding being repeated as long as said adding increasing said quality.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein said combined image having a higher effective exposure time than the actual exposure time of each member of said subset.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising repeatedly performing a) and b), thereby generating a number of different combined images, said outputting comprising outputting said number of different combined images.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein said detecting comprises calculating a local motion of an object in at least one of said plurality of initial images.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein said detecting comprises calculating a global motion.
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing said subset after detecting the first of said plurality of images having no substantial motion thereamong.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein said detecting comprises detecting substantial motionlessness in at least one of said plurality of initial images, further comprising identifying an image combining trigger before said combining, said subset comprising initial images captured between said substantial motionlessness and said identification.
10. The method of claim 1, further comprising repeatedly performing c) as long as the effective exposure time of said combined image increases.
11. The method of claim 9, wherein said image combining trigger is a member of the group consisting of: a time when a self-timer command is received, a time when a effective exposure time of a combination of members of said subset is higher than a predefined threshold, and a time when a motion is detected in said sequence.
12. The method of claim 1, further comprising encoding said plurality of images, said combining comprising combining encoded image data from said subset.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein said encoding comprises generating a plurality of joint photographic experts group (JPEG) images.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein for each said image said encoding comprises splitting said image into blocks and transforming each block using a discrete cosine transform (DCT), said encoded data being a plurality of coefficients from said plurality of JPEG images, further comprising quantizing and entropy encoding said combined image after said combining.
15. An apparatus for generating a combined image, comprising:
an image sensor adapted for capturing a sequence comprising a plurality of images;
a motionlessness detection module, electronically connected to said image sensor, adapted for detecting a subset of said plurality of images having substantially no motion thereamong; and
an image combining module, electronically connected to said motionlessness detection module, configured for combining data from said subset to produce a combined image.
16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein each said plurality of images having a first quality according to a first exposure, said combined image having a second quality according to a second exposure, said second quality being higher than said first quality.
17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said combined image having a higher effective exposure time than the actual exposure time of each member of said subset.
18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said motionlessness detection module is configured for identifying an image combining trigger, said subset comprising initial images captured between said substantial motionlessness and said identification.
19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a quality identification module configured for estimating an effective exposure time of a combination of said initial images and producing said image combining trigger according to said estimated effective exposure time.
20. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a self-timer mechanism configured for generating said image combining trigger after a predefined delay from said detection.
21. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a motion detection module configured for detecting a motion in said sequence and generating said image combining trigger according to said detected motion.
22. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said motionlessness detection module is adapted to detect a plurality of subsets in said plurality of images, each said subset having substantially no motion thereamong, said image combining module being configured for combining data from said subsets to produce said combined image.
23. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said motionlessness detection module is adapted to detect a plurality of subsets of said plurality of images, each said subset having substantially no motion thereamong, said image combining module being configured for generating a cluster of combined images, each said combined image being produced by combining data from respective said subset.
24. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the apparatus is a member of the group consisting of: a handheld imaging device, a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and a laptop.
25. An apparatus for generating a combined joint photographic experts group (JPEG) image, comprising:
an image sensor adapted for capturing a sequence comprising a plurality of JPEG images;
a motionlessness detection module, electronically connected to said image sensor, adapted to detect a subset of said plurality of JPEG images having substantially no motion thereamong; and
an image combining module, electronically connected to said motionlessness detection module, configured for combining a plurality DCT coefficients from images of said subset to produce a combined image.
26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said image combining module is configured for receiving an image combining trigger and limiting said combining in accordance with said received image combining trigger.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed is:
1. A clamping device having a clamping section for clamping a workpiece movably provided on a guide shaft in the axial direction, characterized in that a locking section for fixedly securing the clamping section in position on the guide shaft is provided to move in a locking direction and in an unlocking direction on the guide shaft and forms a one way mechanism whereby when the locking section is moved in the locking direction, it prevents only the movement of the clamping section in an unclamping direction relative to the workpiece and when the locking section is moved in the unlocking direction, it makes the movement of the clamping section free.
2. The clamping device according to claim 1, wherein the one way mechanism comprises an inclined plane formed on one side of fitting sections in which each part of the clamping section and the locking section is fitted into one another in a relatively slidable manner, a supporting recession long in the axial direction of the guide shaft formed on the other side facing the inclined plane, a lock ball housed in the supporting recession to be axially movable between the inclined plane and the guide shaft, a first spring adapted to bias the lock ball in the locking direction, and a second spring adapted to bias the locking section in the locking direction.