Flicker Detection via Sensor Image Shifting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image capturing apparatuses face challenges in accurately detecting flicker under fluorescent and LED lighting due to exposure and color unevenness caused by high shutter speeds, and existing methods impair responsiveness and real-time performance when trying to control calibration and flicker detection simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
An image capturing apparatus with a sensor and a shift unit that shifts the image position on the sensor, allowing for flicker detection in a selected partial region with minimal change between images, thereby reducing the impact of ambient light changes during calibration operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If calibration operation and flicker detection are exclusively controlled, then measurement precision is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to impaired responsiveness and real-time performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the image sensor area into multiple sub-regions and performs flicker detection in specific sub-regions rather than the entire image area. This segmentation allows parallel processing of calibration operations and flicker detection, improving real-time performance while maintaining detection accuracy through selective region analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs flicker detection using only a partial region of the image sensor during calibration operations, rather than requiring exclusive control of the entire sensor. This partial action enables concurrent calibration and flicker detection, maintaining responsiveness while achieving sufficient measurement precision for the application.
2Measurement precision
If the entire image sensor is used for flicker detection, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to interference from ambient light changes during calibration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the flicker detection function from the entire image sensor and implements it in specific sub-regions. This extraction reduces the complexity of controlling the entire sensor for dual purposes, while still capturing sufficient flicker signal for accurate detection by focusing on regions least affected by calibration-induced ambient light changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different quality requirements to different regions of the image sensor during calibration. Specific sub-regions are selected for flicker detection where ambient light changes have minimal impact, while other regions can undergo calibration operations. This local differentiation simplifies overall system control while maintaining detection precision.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus comprises: a sensor that shoots a subject and outputs an image; a shift unit that shifts a position on the sensor of an image of the subject incident on the sensor; and a detection unit that detects flicker based on partial images in a same partial region of a plurality of images consecutively obtained from the sensor. In a case where the sensor shoots the plurality of images while the shift unit is shifting the position of the image of the subject, the detection unit selects the partial region so that a change of the image of the subject in the partial region caused by the shift becomes small between the plurality of images.