Imaging Apparatus Flash Correction via Segmented CMOS Readout
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional imaging apparatuses fail to produce continuous moving images when dealing with external flash, leading to unnatural bright bands and the inability to accurately represent scenes with flash in captured videos.
Innovation Solution
An imaging apparatus equipped with a flash detection unit and a flash correction unit that detects and corrects for external flash effects, ensuring continuity and accurate representation of scenes by generating and outputting corrected video signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the imaging apparatus uses a CMOS-type imaging element to capture moving images, then the imaging speed and continuity are improved, but bright bands appear on the screen due to flash effects
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging element is divided into multiple imaging regions (first imaging region and second imaging region) that are read out at different times. This segmentation allows the system to capture flash-affected and flash-free regions separately, then combine them to eliminate bright bands while maintaining imaging continuity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary reading of charges from the first imaging region before the flash occurs, and preliminarily stores this data. When flash occurs, the second imaging region captures the flash-affected area, and the system combines the preliminarily stored first region data with the second region data to produce a corrected image without bright bands.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the imaging apparatus replaces images affected by flash with prior or following video to eliminate bright bands, then the bright band effect is reduced, but the video continuity becomes unnatural and flash presence cannot be detected
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the charge data from the first imaging region (read before flash) with the charge data from the second imaging region (read after flash). By combining these two regions' data in a specific sequence, the system produces a continuous video output that maintains natural motion while eliminating bright bands, and preserves flash detection capability through the read-out timing information.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively eliminates unnatural bright bands caused by external flash, allowing for continuous and accurate representation of scenes with flash in captured videos, ensuring that the presence of flash is correctly indicated.
Implementation Method 1
an imaging element operable to convert an optical signal incident from an object into an electrical signal to acquire and output a video signal
Data Source
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AI summary
In an imaging apparatus, unevenness in brightness in screen due to flash is eliminated and video with secured continuity as a moving image can be obtained. In the imaging apparatus (1), signals of fields affected by flash among video signals acquired by imaging are treated with adding or adding and averaging to equalize effects of flash which appear unevenly on a screen.