Multi-Camera Exposure Control for Seam Signal Consistency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing imaging devices that combine images from multiple cameras often face issues with signal level differences at seams, leading to unnatural images and reduced positioning accuracy, especially when exposure conditions are not uniformly set across cameras, resulting in low-grade combined images with visibility issues in bright or dark regions.
Innovation Solution
An imaging device with a first imaging unit that captures a wide-angle image and a second imaging unit capturing a part of the first unit's range, along with a control unit that adjusts exposure levels based on the second unit's state and image information to minimize signal level differences and enhance visibility in combined images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If each camera individually sets exposure condition based on detected subject brightness, then visibility of subject in each capturing region is improved, but signal level difference at seam increases causing unnatural combined image
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating exposure control strategies for different regions: the first imaging units use individual AE control for regions with sufficient overlap, while the second imaging unit (with non-overlapping or small overlap regions) uses control based on the third imaging unit's image information. This localized approach allows each region to optimize visibility while maintaining overall seam consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The third imaging unit serves as an intermediary to provide reference image information for controlling exposure levels in the second imaging unit. This intermediary mechanism enables indirect exposure control that maintains signal level consistency across seams without requiring direct communication between all imaging units.
2Manufacturing precision
If same exposure condition is set to all cameras, then seam naturalness and positioning accuracy are improved, but visibility of subject in bright or dark regions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by allowing different exposure control strategies for different imaging units based on their specific operational contexts. First imaging units with sufficient overlap use individual AE control to optimize local visibility, while second imaging units use reference-based control to maintain seam consistency, achieving both visibility and seam quality simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The exposure control system is made dynamic by allowing the control unit to select between different control strategies (individual AE control or reference-based control) depending on the imaging unit's configuration and overlap conditions. This dynamic adaptation enables the system to optimize for either visibility or seam consistency as needed.
3Illumination intensity
If large signal level difference exists between images to be connected, then positioning accuracy in combining process decreases, but individual camera exposure optimization is maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The third imaging unit acts as an intermediary reference source that enables the second imaging unit to maintain signal level consistency with the first imaging units. This intermediary mechanism prevents large signal level differences that would otherwise degrade positioning accuracy, while still allowing individual cameras to optimize their exposure based on local conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
A first imaging unit according to the present embodiment has a plurality of imaging units arranged such that capturing ranges partially overlap with each other and generates a combined image in which images captured by the plurality of imaging units are connected and combined to each other by a combining processing unit. A second imaging unit according to the present embodiment captures a part of a capturing range of the first imaging unit. A control unit according to the present embodiment controls exposure levels of the plurality of imaging units based on at least one of a state of the second imaging unit and information included in an image captured by the second imaging unit.