Camera Module Spatial Color Uniformity Correction via Anchor Profiles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional imaging systems face challenges in efficiently and precisely correcting spatial non-uniformity across a population of camera modules, particularly due to variations in manufacturing and responses to different correlated color temperatures (CCTs) and lux levels, requiring extensive and resource-intensive creation of correction profiles.
Innovation Solution
The method involves selecting a golden sample camera module and two sample modules from a population, measuring their non-uniformity profiles at various CCTs, calculating a weighted average to create anchor profiles, and storing these in a hardware storage device for the imaging system, allowing for interpolation of correction profiles for any camera module, thereby reducing the need for extensive calibration and resource usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional methods are used to create correction profiles for each camera module at multiple CCTs and lux levels, then manufacturing precision of color uniformity is improved, but device complexity and resource consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a master correction profile from a reference camera module that serves as a template for the entire production run. Individual camera modules copy this master profile rather than having unique correction profiles, significantly reducing complexity while maintaining color uniformity precision across the production run.
Solution Approach 2:
The master correction profile serves multiple functions: it corrects spatial non-uniformity, adapts to different CCTs through white balance processing, and applies to all camera modules in the production run. This universal approach eliminates the need for separate correction profiles for each module and condition.
2Manufacturing precision
If individual calibration is performed for each camera module across multiple CCTs and lux levels, then manufacturing precision is improved, but loss of time and productivity decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calibration on a single reference camera module to create the master correction profile before production begins. This preliminary action establishes a template that can be rapidly replicated across all modules, eliminating the need for time-consuming individual calibration of each module.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the calibration process from multiple individual module calibrations into a single reference module calibration. By combining the correction data from one comprehensive calibration event, the system achieves the same precision outcome that would otherwise require many separate calibration events.
3Manufacturing precision
If extensive correction profiles are created for each camera module, then manufacturing precision is improved, but loss of substance and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of storing unique correction profiles for each camera module, the system stores a single master correction profile that is copied and applied to all modules. This copying approach maintains color correction accuracy while dramatically reducing the storage resources required for correction data.
Solution Approach 2:
The master correction profile is designed to be universally applicable across all camera modules in the production run and across different lighting conditions. This universality eliminates the need to store multiple specialized profiles, reducing storage resource consumption while maintaining correction accuracy.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of manufacturing an imaging system includes selecting a golden sample camera module, an upper sample camera module, and a lower sample camera module from a population of camera modules; measuring a golden sample non-uniformity profile at a plurality of CCTs for the golden sample camera module; measuring an upper sample non-uniformity profile at the plurality of CCTs for the upper sample camera module; measuring a lower sample non-uniformity profile at the plurality of CCTs for the lower sample camera module; calculating an anchor non-uniformity profile at each CCT for the population of camera modules by a weighted average of the golden sample non-uniformity profile, the upper sample non-uniformity profile, and the lower sample non-uniformity profile at each CCT; and storing a plurality of anchor non-uniformity profiles in a hardware storage device of the imaging system including a first camera module of the population of camera modules.