Image Capture Noise Control via Automatic Parameter Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional image capturing methods require users to adjust parameters manually to achieve uniform noise levels, which is time-consuming and effort-intensive, especially when the scene or camera conditions change.

Innovation Solution

An information processing apparatus that allows users to set a desired noise level, automatically determining and adjusting image capturing conditions such as ISO speed, shutter speed, and aperture to achieve the target noise amount, using a control unit with a noise amount specifying unit and an image capturing parameter determination unit.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If users manually adjust image capturing parameters to achieve uniform noise levels, then image quality consistency is improved, but user time and effort increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise level uniformityVSAvoiduser time and effort
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The image capturing apparatus automatically determines and adjusts image capturing parameters (ISO speed, shutter speed, aperture) based on the captured image characteristics and user-specified noise amount, enabling the system to self-regulate noise levels without requiring manual user intervention for each scene change

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system calculates the noise amount from the captured image and compares it with the user-specified target noise amount, then automatically adjusts the image capturing parameters based on this feedback loop to achieve the desired noise level consistency across different scenes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Manufacturing precision

If image capturing parameters are changed to adapt to different scenes, then image quality is improved, but noise amount uniformity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage qualityVSAvoidnoise amount
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically changes image capturing parameters (ISO speed, shutter speed, aperture) based on the relationship between the calculated noise amount and the user-specified target noise amount, allowing the apparatus to adapt to different scenes while maintaining uniform noise levels across varying image quality requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If users adjust parameters for each scene change, then desired noise level is achieved, but operation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise level controlVSAvoidparameter adjustment
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The apparatus performs automatic noise amount calculation and parameter adjustment based on user-specified target noise levels, eliminating the need for users to manually adjust parameters for each scene while maintaining precise noise level control through the system's self-regulating mechanism

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2860964B1Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program
Publication Date: 2019.12.11 CANON KK
  • EP2860964B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2860964B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2860964B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention provides an image capturing apparatus capable of capturing an image with a desired perceived noise without requiring time and effort of a user. The present invention is an image capturing apparatus including a target noise amount specifying unit (201) configured to acquire a target noise amount as a noise amount that is targeted and an image capturing parameter determination unit (202) configured to determine image capturing conditions based on the target noise amount, wherein the image capturing conditions are specified by one or more image capturing parameters.