Fundus Image Stitching via Contrast Enhancement and Exposure Correction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fundus image capturing techniques face challenges in capturing complete and clear images due to limited pupil size, resulting in images with different exposure and white balance values, which complicates stitching and reduces image quality, making it difficult to identify capillary vessels and diagnose eye diseases effectively.
Innovation Solution
An image stitching method that captures partially overlapping fundus images, converts them into grayscale, enhances contrast, and uses stitching data from planar surface algorithms to correct and merge the images, improving accuracy and quality by accounting for optical lens parameters and distortions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If multiple fundus images are captured to cover the entire fundus, then the viewing angle is improved, but the image stitching accuracy deteriorates due to different exposure and white balance values
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing exposure and white balance correction on each individual fundus image before the stitching process. The correction unit corrects the exposure value and white balance of each image based on reference values, ensuring that all images have consistent parameters before being stitched together. This preliminary correction prevents the deterioration of stitching accuracy that would otherwise result from capturing multiple images with different exposure settings.
2Area of stationary object
If conventional image stitching is performed on captured fundus images, then the complete fundus view is obtained, but the image quality deteriorates due to complicated correction processes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary correction process that acts as a mediator between image capture and stitching. The correction unit serves as an intermediary component that standardizes exposure and white balance parameters across all captured images before they undergo stitching. This intermediary correction step simplifies the overall process by handling parameter normalization separately, thereby improving image quality while achieving the complete fundus view.
3Area of stationary object
If multiple fundus images are captured and stitched, then the coverage area is improved, but the diagnosis accuracy deteriorates due to reduced image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing exposure and white balance correction on each individual fundus image before the stitching process. The correction unit corrects the exposure value and white balance of each image based on reference values, ensuring that all images have consistent parameters before being stitched together. This preliminary correction prevents the deterioration of stitching accuracy that would otherwise result from capturing multiple images with different exposure settings.
Data Source
AI summary
An image stitching method adapted to stitch a plurality of fundus images of an animal is provided. The image stitching method includes following steps. A plurality of fundus images of the animal are captured, where the fundus images partially overlap. The fundus images are respectively converted into a plurality of grayscale images. The contrasts of the grayscale images are enhanced. The grayscale images with enhanced contrasts are compared to obtain a plurality of stitching data. The fundus images are stitched according to the stitching data. Additionally, a camera system is also provided.