Image Capturing Apparatus Exposure Control Compression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional techniques for generating moving images with wide dynamic range by compositing images of different exposures face challenges in timely signal transmission and increased power consumption, especially when capturing high-frame-rate images with many pixels, due to bandwidth limitations in the transmission channel.
Innovation Solution
An image capturing apparatus that acquires and compresses multiple images with different exposures, controls exposure based on luminance distribution information, and adjusts compression processing to optimize transmission and power usage, allowing for efficient generation of composite images with a wide dynamic range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If image compression is performed after acquiring multiple images with different exposures, then memory capacity and DRAM bandwidth are reduced, but signal transmission is not timely for high-frame-rate moving images
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing compression processing on individual images with different exposures immediately after acquisition, before composition. The compression unit compresses each image separately as it is captured, preparing the data in advance for timely transmission and composition, thus enabling high frame rates without memory bottlenecks
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the compression process by applying different compression rates to different images based on their exposure characteristics. The compression unit performs respective different compression processing on each image, dividing the overall compression task into manageable segments that can be processed independently and transmitted efficiently
2Reliability
If transmission channel is used at all times for image composition, then power consumption increases for moving image capturing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the transmission channel usage adaptive rather than static. The system dynamically adjusts whether to use the transmission channel based on whether compression processing is performed, reducing unnecessary transmissions and thereby lowering power consumption while maintaining reliable signal transmission when needed
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple images with different exposures are acquired for wide dynamic range, then image quality is improved, but bandwidth limitations prevent timely transmission for high-frame-rate images
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using different compression rates for different images based on their exposure characteristics and luminance distribution. Images with different exposure levels are compressed at different rates, preserving critical quality information while reducing overall data volume to enable timely transmission at high frame rates
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the compression parameter (compression rate) based on the exposure characteristics of each image. The compression unit adjusts compression parameters dynamically for each image with different exposures, allowing efficient bandwidth utilization while maintaining the quality needed for wide dynamic range composition
Data Source
AI summary
An image capturing apparatus comprises: an image capturing unit; an acquisition unit that acquires at least two images having different exposures; a compression unit that acquires at least two compressed images; a transmission unit that transmits the at least two compressed images; a composition unit that generates a composite image by compositing the transmitted at least two compressed images; and a luminance distribution acquisition unit that acquires luminance distribution information of the composite image, the acquisition unit controlling exposure of the at least two images based on the luminance distribution information acquired by the luminance distribution acquisition unit, and the compression unit performing the compression processing of the at least two images based on the luminance distribution information and the exposure of the at least two images.