HDR Imaging Device Synthesizing Image Data Without Position Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
High dynamic range (HDR) imaging techniques require position corrections of images captured under different exposures, which are time-consuming due to difficulties in extracting consistent contours, leading to increased processing time.
Innovation Solution
An imaging device and image synthesis program that synthesize images by reducing positional differences by generating low-brightness and high-brightness side image data using a smaller number of image data pieces, especially when brightness levels are high, and outputting HDR image data in predetermined intervals, eliminating the need for position corrections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If position corrections are performed by extracting contours from images captured under different exposures, then accurate alignment can be achieved, but processing time increases significantly due to difficulty in extracting consistent contours
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary information (brightness distribution and contour information) from the captured images, rather than performing full contour extraction and comparison. This selective extraction reduces processing complexity while maintaining alignment accuracy, directly resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and processing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a simplified representation (copy) of the image data by generating brightness distribution information and contour information that can be used for alignment without requiring full contour extraction. This copying approach maintains the essential alignment information while reducing processing time significantly.
2Reliability
If multiple pieces of image data are synthesized to generate HDR image data, then image quality improves, but positional differences between images increase requiring more complex position corrections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary alignment by comparing brightness distribution and contour information before synthesizing multiple image data pieces. This preliminary action reduces positional differences between images, making the subsequent HDR synthesis process simpler and more effective, thus resolving the contradiction between image quality and position correction complexity.
3Reliability
If a large number of image data pieces are used for synthesis, then HDR image quality improves, but processing time increases and risk of blown-out highlights increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a predetermined number of image data pieces for synthesis, which may be fewer than the total available images. This partial action approach maintains HDR image quality while reducing processing time and minimizing the risk of blown-out highlights by limiting the number of images synthesized.
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging device includes an imaging element, a RAM, an adding synthesizing unit, and a high dynamic range synthesizing means. The imaging element captures an image of a subject and generates image data. The RAM temporarily stores plural pieces of image data that have been consecutively captured by the imaging element. The adding synthesizing means adds and synthesizes the plural pieces of image data stored in the RAM to generate synthesized image data. The high dynamic range synthesizing means synthesizes one of the plural pieces of image data with the synthesized image data to generate high dynamic range image data and outputs the generated high dynamic range image data.