HDR Moving Image Synthesis via Multi-Exposure Capture
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image sensors struggle to capture high dynamic range moving images with rapid scene changes, often resulting in image saturation or weak signals, especially in high-contrast environments, which damages the details of captured images.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that captures multiple images with different exposure times at each time slot, synthesizes these images to generate high dynamic range (HDR) moving images, and adaptively adjusts exposure times based on captured image information to respond to scene changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a conventional image sensor captures an image in a natural environment, then the image can be captured, but the image sensor becomes saturated (excessively bright image) or obtains a weak signal (excessively dark image)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the dynamic range capture into multiple segments by capturing multiple images with different exposure times (short exposure time image and long exposure time image) and then synthesizing them. This segmentation allows the system to capture both bright and dark regions without saturation or weak signals, resolving the contradiction between illumination intensity and image quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the exposure time parameter to capture images with different dynamic ranges. By adjusting the exposure time parameter between short and long exposures, the system can adapt to varying lighting conditions and maintain image quality across the full dynamic range, overcoming the limitations of conventional single-exposure sensors.
2Illumination intensity
If a conventional image sensor captures a high-contrast image, then the image can be captured, but the details of the captured high-contrast image are severely damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the high-contrast image capture by taking multiple images with different exposure times. The short exposure time image captures bright regions without saturation while the long exposure time image captures dark regions with detail. By synthesizing these segmented captures, the system preserves details across the full contrast range that cannot be achieved with a single exposure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an image synthesis unit as an intermediary that combines multiple exposed images. This intermediary process mediates between the different exposure conditions, blending the advantages of short and long exposure images to produce a final high-contrast image with preserved details that neither single exposure could achieve alone.
3Illumination intensity
If multiple images with different exposure times are captured and synthesized to increase dynamic range, then image quality improves, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal image sensor that can perform multiple functions: capturing short exposure images, capturing long exposure images, and synthesizing them into HDR images. By making the sensor system multi-functional, the patent avoids needing separate hardware for each function, thereby reducing the overall system complexity while achieving enhanced dynamic range.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical adjustments (such as physical aperture changes or multiple camera sensors) with electronic control of exposure time and digital image synthesis. This substitution of mechanical systems with electronic and computational methods simplifies the overall system architecture while achieving the same or better dynamic range performance.
4Illumination intensity
If exposure times are adaptively adjusted to respond to scene changes, then HDR moving image quality improves, but processing time and computational load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by using the exposure time calculating unit to analyze captured images and automatically adjust exposure times for subsequent frames. This feedback loop adapts to scene changes in real-time, optimizing the balance between capturing sufficient light and minimizing processing time. The system learns from previous frames to make intelligent exposure decisions without requiring excessive computational overhead.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and a method for acquiring a moving image are provided. The system includes an image capturing unit capturing two images having different exposure times at a predetermined time slot, an image storing unit storing at least one of two images which were captured at a time slot previous to the predetermined time slot and which have different exposure times, an output image generating unit generating an output image by synthesizing the two images captured at the predetermined time slot or by synthesizing any one of the two images captured at the predetermined time slot and any one of the two images captured and stored at the previous time slot, an exposure time calculating unit receiving the images captured at the predetermined time slot and setting exposure times for a next time slot, and an exposure time storing unit storing the exposure times for the next time slot.