Deposit Detection Device Using Brightness Difference Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional deposit detection devices inaccurately detect deposits on imaging device lenses, especially in low-light conditions due to small variations in brightness information, leading to erroneous detection.
Innovation Solution
A deposit detection device comprising a detection module that identifies candidate regions based on brightness information and an identification module that confirms the deposit region by analyzing undulation changes in brightness distribution within a predetermined range, ensuring accurate detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If brightness information variation is used to detect deposit regions, then deposit detection can be performed, but detection accuracy deteriorates in low-light conditions where brightness variation is small
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing step that transforms the brightness information into a form suitable for deposit detection. Specifically, it calculates the difference between adjacent pixel brightness values to create a brightness difference image, which serves as an intermediary representation that enhances deposit visibility while being independent of overall brightness levels. This intermediary transformation allows accurate deposit detection regardless of lighting conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter used for deposit detection from absolute brightness information to brightness difference information. By calculating the difference between adjacent pixel values and using this difference as the detection parameter, the system makes the detection process insensitive to overall brightness levels, thereby maintaining high accuracy in both bright and dark conditions.
2Reliability
If small regions with brightness variation are extracted as deposit regions, then deposit detection is achieved, but false positive detection increases in uniformly dark regions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses brightness difference information as an intermediary to distinguish true deposits from false positive regions. By calculating and analyzing the difference between adjacent pixel brightness values, the system creates a representation where deposits appear as distinct patterns while uniformly dark regions show minimal variation, enabling accurate differentiation and reducing false positives.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality analysis by examining the spatial pattern of brightness differences within and around candidate regions. It evaluates whether the brightness variation pattern locally resembles typical deposit patterns (such as circular or irregular shapes with specific gradient characteristics) rather than simply detecting any region with brightness variation, thereby reducing false positive detections in uniformly dark areas.
Data Source
AI summary
A deposit detection device according to an embodiment includes a detection module and an identification module. The detection module detects a small region as a candidate region for a deposit region corresponding to a deposit adhering to an imaging device, based on brightness information for each of small regions into which a predetermined region in an image captured by the imaging device is divided. The identification module identifies the candidate region as the deposit region when undulation change in brightness distribution of pixels included in the candidate region detected by the detection module is within a predetermined range.