Dual-Sensor Camera Exposure Modes for Wider Dynamic Range
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing camera systems struggle to capture images with a wide dynamic range, especially in autonomous vehicle applications where motion and exposure duration limitations hinder the capture of both bright and dark objects effectively.
Innovation Solution
The use of multiple image sensors with different exposure settings, where one sensor has a fixed exposure and the other has a variable exposure based on ambient light, allows for a larger dynamic range by capturing images that span a wider luminance range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single image sensor with fixed exposure setting is used, then the device complexity is low, but the dynamic range is limited and cannot capture both bright and dark objects effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The camera system is segmented into multiple image sensors (first image sensor and second image sensor), each with different exposure settings. The first image sensor captures images at a first exposure level while the second image sensor captures images at a second exposure level, allowing the system to cover a wider dynamic range by dividing the capture function across multiple sensors with specialized exposure configurations.
2Reliability
If multiple image sensors with different exposure settings are used, then the dynamic range is expanded, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple image sensors with different exposure settings are merged into a single camera system that operates together. The first image sensor and second image sensor are combined such that their respective images can be processed and fused to achieve a final image with extended dynamic range, effectively merging their complementary strengths.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera system is designed with multi-functionality by incorporating image sensors that can operate at different exposure levels. This universal design allows the same camera system to adapt to varying lighting conditions and capture both bright and dark objects effectively, making the system versatile across different environmental conditions.
Data Source
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AI summary
Example embodiments relate to multiple operating modes to expand dynamic range. An example embodiment includes a camera system. The camera system may include a first image sensor having a first dynamic range corresponding to a first range of luminance levels in a scene. The system may also include a second image sensor having a second dynamic range corresponding to a second range of luminance levels in the scene. The camera system may further include a processor coupled to the first image sensor and the second image sensor. The processor may be configured to execute instructions to identify objects of a first type in a first image of the scene captured by the first image sensor and identify objects of a second object type in a second image of the scene captured by the second image sensor.