Digital Image Stabilization Using Motion Vectors and Combination Ratio
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image stabilization systems in digital cameras are cumbersome and costly due to complex circuits and mechanisms, leading to increased volume and cost, and are not effective in completely eliminating hand-shake movements that cause image blur.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus comprising an image capture module, an image selection module, a motion vector generating module, and an image combination module, which captures multiple images, selects the sharpest and sharper images, generates motion vectors between them, and combines these images based on a predetermined ratio to stabilize the image.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If motion compensation device is used to stabilize image, then image quality is improved, but device complexity and volume are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical motion compensation system with a digital image processing system. Instead of using physical lenses and moving components to compensate for hand-shake, the invention captures multiple images, detects motion vectors between them, and synthesizes a stable image through digital processing. This substitution eliminates complex mechanical structures while achieving image stabilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates multiple copies of the image scene by capturing multiple frames, then uses these copies to synthesize a stabilized image. The motion vectors are calculated between these image copies, and the final stable image is constructed by combining information from multiple copies, effectively using redundancy to overcome hand-shake blur.
2Manufacturing precision
If motion detection device and compensation device are added, then image stabilization is achieved, but cost and volume are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the image capture function with the stabilization function by processing multiple captured images through motion vector calculation and synthesis. Instead of adding separate stabilization hardware, the invention combines multiple image sequences and processes them together to achieve stabilization, reducing the need for additional physical components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical stabilization components with digital signal processing operations. Motion vectors are calculated algorithmically from image data, and the stable image is synthesized through digital combination of multiple frames, eliminating the need for physical compensation mechanisms and reducing device volume.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple images are captured and combined, then hand-shake blur is reduced, but processing complexity is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image stabilization problem into distinct processing stages: capturing multiple images, calculating motion vectors between adjacent frames, and synthesizing the final stable image. By dividing the complex task into manageable segments with clear interfaces, the processing complexity is organized and made tractable despite handling multiple images.
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing apparatus and method is disclosed that is applied for image stabilization. The method comprises the following steps of: At least two images are captured by the image capture module. A sharpest image and a sharper image are selected from the at least two images. At least a motion vector is generated between the sharpest image and the sharper image. The sharpest image is combined with the sharper image based on the motion vector and a combination ratio so as to generate a combined image.