Dual Camera White Balance Parameter Sharing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile electronic devices with dual cameras face challenges in performing accurate Automatic White Balance (AWB) due to insufficient color information from the front camera, which captures user faces with limited color elements, leading to errors in image processing.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for determining image processing parameters, including AWB values, by considering the monochrome ratio of images from both front and rear cameras, allowing for effective AWB across dual cameras by sharing and applying image processing parameters to ensure accurate color correction and display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the front camera is used to capture user faces, then self-portrait functionality is improved, but AWB accuracy deteriorates due to insufficient color information distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges AWB processing across multiple cameras by combining color information from both front and rear cameras. The image processing unit integrates color data from different sources to calculate a more accurate white balance parameter, resolving the contradiction between self-portrait functionality and AWB accuracy by pooling color information from multiple sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a universal AWB processing system that handles images from multiple camera types (front and rear) using a unified approach. The image processing unit applies the same AWB algorithm to images from different cameras, allowing the system to leverage color information from any available camera to achieve accurate white balance regardless of which camera captured the image.
2Productivity
If AWB is performed using only front camera images, then processing speed is improved, but AWB accuracy deteriorates due to narrow color information distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary AWB processing on images from cameras with better color information distribution (rear cameras) and uses these results to guide or correct AWB processing for images from cameras with limited color information (front cameras). This preliminary action allows the system to maintain high processing speed while improving accuracy by pre-calculating reference white balance data from superior sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing step where AWB parameters calculated from rear camera images serve as reference data for correcting front camera images. This intermediary approach allows the system to maintain the speed benefits of dedicated front camera processing while achieving accuracy comparable to rear camera processing by using the rear camera AWB results as a reference mediator.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate AWB processing is performed for each camera, then camera independence is improved, but overall image quality consistency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies homogeneous AWB processing rules to images from different cameras, ensuring that the same processing algorithm and criteria are used regardless of which camera captured the image. This homogenization approach maintains camera independence in terms of processing flexibility while ensuring consistent image quality output by applying uniform white balance standards across all camera sources.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and an apparatus for image processing in an electronic device are provided. The method for image processing in the electronic device includes obtaining a first image and a second image respectively from a first image sensor and a second image sensor, determining at least one of a first image processing parameter for the first image and a second image processing parameter for the second image as an image processing parameter for the first image and the second image, and displaying at least one of the first image and the second image by considering the image processing parameter for the first image and a second image.