Smart Camera Exposure Convergence With a Secondary Processor
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Smart cameras in electronic monitoring systems face challenges in quickly adjusting exposure and contrast settings upon triggering, leading to unusable initial video frames and rapid battery drain due to increased processing demands.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a secondary processor to manage exposure and contrast adjustments independently, reducing the load on the main processor and minimizing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the smart camera uses a single processor to perform both image convergence and main processing operations, then the processor must have high computing capacity to quickly adjust exposure settings, but this results in rapid battery drain and reduced battery life
Solution Approach 1:
The processing functions are segmented into two separate processors: a secondary processor dedicated to image convergence operations (exposure adjustment) and a main processor for general camera operations. This segmentation allows the secondary processor to handle convergence tasks with sufficient speed while the main processor can remain in low-power mode, thereby resolving the contradiction between fast convergence and battery life extension
Solution Approach 2:
The secondary processor acts as an intermediary component that performs the computationally intensive image convergence tasks before transferring the processed video feed to the main processor. This intermediary approach enables fast exposure adjustment without requiring the main processor to be constantly active, thus preserving battery life while maintaining convergence speed
2Manufacturing precision
If the smart camera discards initial video frames during convergence to avoid over/under-exposure, then image quality is maintained, but this results in loss of time and potential loss of important events in the discarded frames
Solution Approach 1:
The secondary processor performs preliminary exposure adjustment actions before the main processor begins capturing and transmitting video frames. By pre-adjusting the imaging device settings based on ambient light analysis, the system ensures that the first video frames are properly exposed from the start, eliminating the need to discard any frames and thus preventing time loss while maintaining image quality
Data Source
AI summary
A smart camera for an electronic monitoring system is provided. The smart camera includes an imaging device having a field of view and being configured to capture an image. The imaging device has a variable exposure. A detector is operatively connected to the imaging device and configured to generate a trigger signal in response to activity within the field of view. A first processor is operatively connected to the detector and the imaging device, and a second processor is operatively connected to the detector and the imaging device. A computer-readable memory is operatively connected to the first processor and the secondary processor. The computer-readable memory is configured to store a map of ambient light levels in the field of view at selected times of day. The second processor varies the exposure of the imaging device in response to the trigger signal.