Image Capture Device with Contemporaneous Reference Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing digital image processing technologies face challenges in efficiently correcting defects like red-eye, dust artifacts, and orientation issues in images, particularly in real-time and on portable devices, due to high computational requirements and limited resources.
Innovation Solution
A method that utilizes reference images to enhance and correct main images by analyzing defects and sub-optimal characteristics, such as red-eye, dust, and orientation, using supplemental data from flash and non-flash versions, face detection, and meta-data, allowing for real-time processing and enhancement on portable devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If complex image processing algorithms are used to correct defects like red-eye, dust artifacts, and orientation issues, then image quality improvement is achieved, but computational requirements and processing time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image processing task by dividing the image into multiple regions (e.g., face regions, eye regions, background regions) and applying different processing techniques to each region. This allows complex defect correction to be broken down into simpler, region-specific operations that reduce overall computational requirements while maintaining image quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by using reference images to identify specific defect locations (such as red-eye regions, dust artifacts) and applying targeted correction only to those local areas rather than processing the entire image uniformly. This selective approach improves image quality where needed while minimizing unnecessary computational overhead in defect-free regions.
2Speed
If real-time image correction is implemented on portable devices, then processing speed is improved, but device resources and power consumption are constrained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent captures reference images simultaneously with or immediately before the main image, preparing correction data in advance. This preliminary action allows the actual defect correction to be performed more efficiently during real-time processing, reducing both processing time and power consumption by having correction reference data ready before the main processing occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses reference images as simplified copies or proxies for the main image during processing. Instead of performing complex analysis on the full-resolution main image repeatedly, the system uses the reference images (which may be lower resolution or pre-processed) to identify defects and guide corrections, thereby reducing computational load and power consumption while maintaining real-time performance.
3Measurement precision
If multiple reference images are captured simultaneously with the main image, then defect detection accuracy is improved, but device complexity and processing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple reference images with the main image by aligning and integrating the defect information from each reference image. This combining approach improves defect detection accuracy by cross-validating defect locations across multiple images while using efficient alignment algorithms to minimize processing overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing step that creates a composite reference dataset from multiple reference images before applying it to the main image. This intermediary representation consolidates defect information from multiple sources into a single structured format, improving detection accuracy while reducing the complexity of processing multiple separate reference images individually.
Data Source
AI summary
A hand-held or otherwise portable or spatial or temporal performance-based image capture device includes one or more lenses, an aperture and a main sensor for capturing an original main image. A secondary sensor and optical system are for capturing a reference image that has temporal and spatial overlap with the original image. The device performs an image processing method including capturing the main image with the main sensor and the reference image with the secondary sensor, and utilizing information from the reference image to enhance the main image. The main and secondary sensors are contained together within a housing.