Glare Reduction via Movable Camera and Light Dynamics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image capture systems face challenges in reducing glare from highly reflective surfaces, leading to overexposure and obscured details, particularly in retail and warehouse inventory monitoring where human intervention is often required.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize movable cameras and lights with adjustable intensity and orientation to estimate and optimize illumination based on target reflectance characteristics, reducing glare by varying light intensity and creating panoramas from multiple viewpoints, with the ability to detect and de-emphasize glare pixels in images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If fixed position cameras and lights are used to monitor inventory, then the system structure is simple, but glare occurs on reflective surfaces causing overexposure and obscured details
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs movable cameras and lights mounted on a movable base instead of fixed position devices. The cameras and lights can be dynamically repositioned to capture images from multiple viewpoints and adjust illumination angles to minimize glare on reflective product surfaces while maintaining simple individual component structures
Solution Approach 2:
The system varies light intensity and illumination levels dynamically to prevent both overexposure and underexposure. The position, orientation, and intensity of lights are adjusted based on target reflectance characteristics to reduce glare while maintaining adequate illumination for image capture
2Illumination intensity
If light intensity is increased to improve image brightness, then underexposure is prevented, but glare and overexposure occur on highly reflective surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different illumination strategies to different regions and surfaces based on their reflectance characteristics. Light intensity and illumination levels are selectively varied for different target areas, with reduced intensity for highly reflective surfaces and higher intensity for matte surfaces, preventing both overexposure and underexposure in different parts of the scene
Solution Approach 2:
The system determines the position, orientation, intensity, and intensity distribution of lights before capturing images. Based on target reflectance characteristics, the optimal illumination parameters are pre-calculated and applied to prevent glare before image capture occurs
3Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple cameras are used to capture images from various viewpoints for panorama creation, then glare can be reduced through viewpoint diversity, but the system complexity and data processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using multiple fixed cameras simultaneously, the patent employs a single movable camera that captures images from various viewpoints by moving to different positions. This dynamic approach achieves glare reduction through viewpoint diversity while maintaining a simpler camera system compared to multiple fixed cameras
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple images captured from different viewpoints into a single panorama. By merging the information from multiple viewpoints, the system achieves comprehensive coverage and glare reduction while using a single movable camera system rather than multiple simultaneous cameras
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
This approach effectively reduces glare, enabling accurate product identification and inventory management by creating detailed, glare-free images that can be stitched into real-time inventory maps, reducing the need for human intervention and improving image quality.
Implementation Method 1
estimating illumination received by the camera(s) based in part on target reflectance characteristics
Data Source
AI summary
A method for decreasing glare in images begins with providing cameras and lights mounted on a movable base and directable at a target. The position, orientation, intensity, and intensity distribution of lights directed at the target is then determined. This information is used to estimate illumination received by cameras based in part on target reflectance characteristics. The light intensity and selected illumination levels necessary to prevent glare creation in images captured by cameras can be selectively varied, being decreased to prevent overexposure and increased to prevent underexposure.