Flicker Band Detection Using Motion Mitigation and Frequency Correlation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing digital camera systems face challenges in accurately detecting and mitigating flicker bands caused by varying illumination sources, particularly those driven by AC power, due to resource-intensive computation and susceptibility to image content and camera movement, leading to low confidence levels and inaccuracies in determining illumination frequency.
Innovation Solution
An automated flicker band detection system that receives image input, performs motion mitigating processes to minimize incidental motion impacts, binarizes illumination intensity indications, and correlates them with a reference frequency to adjust exposure settings, using down-sampling and averaging to reduce the influence of camera jitter and content effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a straightforward frequency transform (e.g., FFT) is used to detect illumination frequency, then frequency detection capability is improved, but computation resource consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential frequency information needed for flicker detection by analyzing specific image regions and using simplified correlation methods, rather than performing a complete FFT on the entire image frame. This selective extraction approach maintains frequency detection accuracy while significantly reducing computational resources required.
2Measurement precision
If traditional sine image fluctuation detection is used, then flicker detection capability is improved, but susceptibility to image content and camera movement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image frame into multiple regions and performs detection on specific segments rather than the entire frame. This segmentation approach isolates the flicker detection from other image content variations and camera movements, improving reliability by focusing on regions least affected by incidental motion and content changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary correlation process that compares detected flicker patterns against reference patterns. This intermediary step filters out false detections caused by image content and camera movement, increasing confidence levels by validating detections against expected flicker characteristics rather than relying solely on raw signal analysis.
3Ease of operation
If zero crossing point estimation is used to determine flicker wave periods, then detection simplicity is improved, but measurement accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical zero-crossing detection method with a correlation-based frequency estimation approach. Instead of relying on simple threshold crossings that are sensitive to noise and amplitude variations, the correlation method compares the entire flicker waveform pattern against reference patterns, providing more accurate frequency and period measurements while maintaining computational efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A flicker band automated detection system and method are presented. In one embodiment an incidental motion mitigation exposure setting method includes receiving image input information; performing a motion mitigating flicker band automatic detection process; and implementing exposure settings based upon results of the motion mitigating flicker band automatic detection process. The auto flicker band detection process includes performing a motion mitigating process on an illumination intensity indication. Content impacts on an the motion mitigated illumination intensity indication are minimized. The motion mitigated illumination intensity indication is binarized. A correlation of the motion mitigated illumination intensity and a reference illumination intensity frequency is established.