Image Capturing Method Using Dual Light Sources for White Balance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image capturing methods face difficulties in controlling light-emitting sources to achieve suitable White Balance adjustment, especially when dealing with varying ratios of flash light to ambient light across different subject areas, making it challenging to match the color of flash light to ambient light effectively.
Innovation Solution
An image capturing method using two light-emitting sources with different color temperatures, where the light volumes are adjusted based on intersection points in xy chromaticity coordinates to match the ambient light color, allowing for easier control and White Balance adjustment by calculating color component ratios and using correction values to align the flash light with ambient light.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If three light-emitting sources are used to control the color of combined flash light, then the adjustable range of flash light color is broader, but the control and adjustment difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and separates the control of light-emitting sources into distinct groups. Specifically, it separates one light-emitting source (third light-emitting source) from the other two (first and second light-emitting sources), allowing independent control of each group. This enables broader color adjustment range while maintaining ease of control by managing sources in separable units rather than controlling all three simultaneously.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the number of light-emitting sources is increased from two to three, then the adjustable range of flash light color extends in two dimensions, but the adjustment process becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the three light-emitting sources into two independent control groups: a first group containing the first and second light-emitting sources, and a second group containing the third light-emitting source. This segmentation allows the system to achieve two-dimensional color adjustment range while keeping the adjustment process manageable by treating each segment independently rather than as a single complex unit.
3Ease of operation
If two light-emitting sources are used, then the control and adjustment is easier, but the ability to match various ambient light colors is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functionality of multiple light-emitting sources into coordinated groups. The first and second light-emitting sources are combined in a first group to provide baseline color control, while the third light-emitting source in a second group extends the color adjustment capability. This merging approach maintains operational simplicity through grouped control while achieving broader adaptability to match various ambient light colors.
Data Source
AI summary
A first line passing through a coordinate point which represents the light-source color of ambient light is drawn so as to cross a line segment connecting two coordinate points which points respectively represent colors of light emitted from the two light-emitting sources. An image of a subject is captured while light is emitted from the two light-emitting sources toward the subject in such a manner that the volumes of light emitted from the two light-emitting sources respectively correspond to those represented by a predetermined point which is, or close to, the intersection point of the first line and the line segment on the basis of the intersection point and light volume information. A White Balance adjustment correction value is obtained on the basis of light volume information with respect to the two light-emitting sources, the predetermined point, and the point representing the light-source color.