Dynamic Range Expansion Using User White Balance Priority
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image processing technologies fail to reflect user intentions in dynamic range expansion processes, as they automatically determine the dynamic range without considering user-set information, leading to inconsistent results in highlighting and shadowing regions.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus that divides captured images into regions based on brightness, calculates user-set white balance information, and decides priority regions for dynamic range expansion, allowing for user-intentional control of the process by adjusting exposure and tone curves accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If automatic determination control is used to decide dynamic range, then processing efficiency is improved, but user intention is not reflected in the result
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces feedback by acquiring user-set white balance information and using it to determine the priority region for dynamic range expansion. The processor compares automatic white balance calculation results with user-set information and adjusts the processing priority accordingly, ensuring user intentions are reflected while maintaining efficient automatic processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by making the dynamic range expansion process adaptable based on user input. The priority region determination is not fixed but dynamically adjusts according to user-set white balance information, allowing the system to switch between automatic and user-guided modes as needed.
2Measurement precision
If user-set information is considered for priority region decision, then imaging intention accuracy is improved, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image processing into distinct modules: automatic white balance calculation, user information acquisition, priority region determination, and dynamic range expansion. This segmentation allows complex processing to be broken down into manageable steps, improving accuracy while maintaining organizational clarity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by focusing user-set white balance information on specific priority regions rather than applying it uniformly across the entire image. The processor determines which region (highlight or shadow) should have higher processing priority based on user intentions, applying enhanced processing only where needed.
3Manufacturing precision
If exposure is decreased to reduce saturated pixels, then highlight region quality is improved, but shadow region brightness may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by determining the priority region based on user-set white balance information and applying different exposure strategies to different regions. If the shadow region is identified as priority, exposure is adjusted to preserve shadow details; if highlight region is priority, exposure is decreased to reduce saturation while maintaining highlight quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses dynamic adjustment of exposure parameters based on the determined priority region. The exposure setting is not fixed but adapts according to which region (highlight or shadow) the user wants to prioritize, allowing flexible balance between highlight quality and shadow brightness.
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing apparatus includes a processor configured to divide a captured image into a plurality of regions, calculate first white balance related information based on a pixel value of each of the plurality of regions, acquire second white balance related information set by a user for the captured image, and decide a priority region for which a condition of a dynamic range expansion process to be performed on the captured image is set based on brightness of the priority region.