Adaptive Illumination for Depth-Aware Scene Brightness Uniformity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing photography techniques face challenges in capturing images under varying conditions, particularly when there are significant brightness differences between close and distant objects due to insufficient ambient light, leading to overexposed close objects and underexposed far objects, which current solutions like special flash devices and HDR imaging do not adequately address.
Innovation Solution
An adaptive image capturing arrangement comprising a depth sensor, processor, and illuminating device that acquires depth information of the scene and adjusts illumination intensity and spectrum based on object distance and reflectivity to achieve uniform brightness, using a 3D sensor to provide depth data and a projector or LED array to control light distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a flash device illuminates the scene directly, then close objects are well illuminated, but close objects become overexposed and bright while far objects remain underexposed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using multiple independently controllable light sources (first and second flash devices) positioned at different locations. Each light source illuminates specific regions of the scene with different intensities, allowing close objects and far objects to receive appropriate illumination levels locally rather than uniform illumination across the entire scene.
Solution Approach 2:
The illumination system is segmented into multiple independent flash devices, each capable of being controlled separately. The scene is divided into different regions (close objects and far objects) that are illuminated by different light sources, enabling independent adjustment of illumination intensity for different spatial zones to achieve overall brightness uniformity.
2Illumination intensity
If special flash devices with reflectors are used to scatter light upwardly, then brightness distribution is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple simple flash devices into a coordinated illumination system rather than using a single complex flash device with reflectors and diffusers. By combining multiple independent light sources positioned at different locations, the system achieves improved brightness distribution through spatial arrangement and independent control rather than through complex optical components.
3Illumination intensity
If HDR imaging is used to capture greater dynamic range, then visibility of dark objects improves, but image processing complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by properly illuminating the scene before image capture using multiple flash devices. By pre-establishing appropriate brightness distribution across the scene through controlled illumination, the system prevents extreme dynamic range issues at the source, eliminating the need for complex post-capture HDR processing and reducing overall processing time.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution effectively compensates for distance and reflectivity variations, preventing camera dazzling and improving image quality by ensuring desired object brightness distribution, resulting in more balanced and detailed images.
Implementation Method 1
acquire a three-dimensional representation of the scene whose image is about to be taken, wherein the three-dimensional representation comprises retrievable information about depth
Implementation Method 2
the illuminating device is configured to non-uniformly illuminate the scene whose image is to be captured, based on the retrieved information
Data Source
AI summary
An image capturing arrangement is provided which comprises a depth (3D) sensor, a processor, an illuminating device and one or more image capturing devices. The depth sensor is configured to acquire at least a partial representation of the scene whose image is about to be taken, the processor retrieves required information from the acquired representation about distances of objects included in that scene from the sensor, and the illuminating device is configured to provide a non-uniform illumination of the scene whose image is to be captured, based on the retrieved information.