Image Acquisition Apparatus HDR Exposure Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional high dynamic range (HDR) image acquisition methods struggle to produce images with both high quality and a wide angle of view, as they often result in inconsistent brightness and visible boundaries when combining partial images captured under different exposures.
Innovation Solution
An image acquisition apparatus that includes an imaging unit, an HDR processing unit to combine partial images captured under different exposures, a pasting processing unit to integrate these HDR images, and an exposure setting unit that sets exposure conditions based on image information from a wider range than the single partial image, ensuring consistent brightness and seamless integration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional HDR processing combines multiple partial images captured under different exposures, then the dynamic range is enlarged, but the brightness becomes inconsistent and visible boundaries appear between images
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by setting the exposure condition based on image information from a wider range area before capturing the partial images. The exposure setting unit determines the exposure condition using image information acquired when the imaging unit captures a wider range than the single partial image, ensuring that all partial images are captured under a common exposure condition that prevents brightness inconsistency and boundary visibility in the final pasted image
2Reliability
If the imaging unit captures a wider range to set exposure condition, then the brightness consistency across pasted images is improved, but the angle of view of individual partial images is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the wide-range captured image into multiple partial images that will be pasted together. The exposure setting unit uses image information from the wider range area to set a common exposure condition for all partial images, while the pasting processing unit combines these segmented partial images into a final high-angle-of-view image, thus resolving the contradiction between using wide range for exposure setting and maintaining high angle of view
3Area of moving object
If multiple partial images are captured and combined, then the angle of view is enlarged, but visible boundaries and brightness changes appear at the boundaries
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies homogeneity by ensuring all partial images are captured under a common exposure condition determined from wider range image information. This homogeneous exposure condition across all partial images prevents brightness changes and visible boundaries at the boundaries when the images are pasted together, while still achieving an enlarged angle of view in the final composite image
Data Source
AI summary
To acquire a pasted image having an enlarged dynamic range and having a high quality and a high angle of view, an image acquisition apparatus includes an imaging unit that captures an object, to acquire an image, an imaging control unit that controls the imaging unit, an HDR processing unit that combines a plurality of partial images acquired by capturing the same region of the object under different exposures, to generate an HDR image having an enlarged dynamic range, a pasting processing unit that pastes the plurality of HDR images generated for different regions of the object, to acquire a pasted image having a higher angle of view, and an exposure setting unit that sets an exposure condition in capturing all the partial images based on image information acquired by capturing a wider range than the single partial image included in the pasted image.