Flicker Detection in Image Signals Using Motion Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
CMOS image sensors experience image quality degradation due to flicker caused by varying light sources, which existing methods struggle to accurately detect and remove, especially when motion, such as hand tremble, is confused with flicker.
Innovation Solution
A flicker detection method that performs motion compensation by calculating luminance differences between neighboring pixels, summing these differences in specific directions, estimating motion displacement, compensating current frame data, and then detecting flicker by analyzing differences between previous and compensated frame data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If image difference between previous frame and current frame is used to detect flicker, then flicker detection is simplified, but motion-induced distortions are misidentified as flicker
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image signal processing into distinct stages: motion estimation, motion compensation, and flicker detection. By dividing the detection process and applying motion compensation to separate motion-induced changes from actual flicker, the patent improves detection accuracy while maintaining manageable complexity through structured segmentation of the analysis workflow.
2Measurement precision
If motion compensation is performed to accurately detect flicker, then flicker detection accuracy is improved, but processing complexity and computational load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies motion compensation as a preliminary action before flicker detection. By pre-processing the image data to compensate for motion effects, the patent eliminates motion-induced distortions that would otherwise interfere with accurate flicker detection, thereby improving measurement precision while managing complexity through advance preparation of the data.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides an effective flicker detection method performing a motion compensation. The present invention includes the steps of: calculating a luminance difference between neighboring pixels; summing up the luminance difference in a specific direction if the difference is greater than a threshold value; performing a motion estimation by using a sum calculated through step (b) to thereby calculate a motion displacement; performing a motion compensation to a current frame data by using the motion displacement; calculating a difference between a previous frame data and the compensated current frame data; and detecting the flicker by using the difference calculated in step (e).