Dual-Sensor HDR Imaging via Wavelength-Selective Fusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing HDR imaging methods face challenges in capturing both bright and dark areas simultaneously due to motion artifacting caused by exposure changes, leading to overexposed or underexposed images.
Innovation Solution
A method involving two sensors with different wavelength ranges, where the first sensor captures color and brightness information and the second sensor captures detail information, with image alignment and weighting adjustments based on brightness differences to generate a final HDR image.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple short- and long-exposure images are captured with a single camera, then HDR image generation is achieved, but motion artifacting occurs due to motion areas varying in different exposure images
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the imaging function into two separate sensors: a first sensor for capturing color information and a second sensor for capturing detail information. This segmentation allows each sensor to specialize in its function, eliminating motion artifacting while maintaining HDR capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an image fusion process as an intermediary step that combines color information from the first sensor with detail information from the second sensor. This intermediary process resolves the contradiction by selectively integrating information from both sensors to produce a final HDR image without motion artifacting.
2Adaptability or versatility
If exposure changes are made to capture bright and dark areas, then dynamic range coverage is improved, but overexposure or underexposure occurs during exposure transitions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different functional characteristics to different sensors: the first sensor is optimized for color accuracy while the second sensor is optimized for detail capture. This allows each sensor to maintain high quality in its specific function while the system as a whole achieves broad dynamic range coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic adaptation through the image fusion process, which dynamically selects and weights information from both sensors based on their respective strengths. This dynamic approach allows the system to maintain exposure control accuracy across varying lighting conditions while covering a broad dynamic range.
3Reliability
If detail information from the second sensor is heavily weighted, then motion artifacting is reduced, but color information may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges color information from the first sensor with detail information from the second sensor in the image fusion process. This combination ensures that both color accuracy and detail information are preserved in the final HDR image, resolving the contradiction between prioritizing one over the other.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for high dynamic range imaging is provided. The method includes the following stages. A first image from a first sensor capable of sensing a first spectrum is received. A second image from a second sensor capable of sensing a second spectrum is received. The second spectrum has a higher wavelength range as compared to the first spectrum. A first image feature from the first image and a second image feature from the second image are retrieved. The first and second images are fused by referencing the first image feature and the second image feature to generate a final image.