Image Illumination Variation Removal via Pattern Copying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Digital images often suffer from uneven ambient illumination, leading to undesirable quality due to variations in color intensity, especially in map applications where images from multiple sources with varying capture times and locations result in inconsistent lighting effects.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method that selects images with varying illumination, determines instances of repeating patterns, calculates illumination values based on non-illuminated pixels, and removes illumination variation to produce enhanced pixels with uniform intensity, while propagating color and texture information from non-illuminated areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If images are captured from multiple sources and locations, then image coverage and availability are improved, but illumination uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent copies color information from non-illuminated pixels at corresponding locations in other instances of the repeating pattern to the enhanced pixels where illumination was removed. This copying approach allows the system to restore color data that would otherwise be lost during illumination removal, resolving the contradiction by preserving color integrity while achieving illumination uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different processing approaches to different regions: illuminated pixels have their illumination removed and color propagated, while non-illuminated pixels serve as reference sources. This local differentiation allows the system to handle varying illumination conditions across different parts of the image while maintaining overall consistency.
2Illumination intensity
If illumination values are removed from illuminated pixels, then illumination uniformity is improved, but color information is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent explicitly copies color information from non-illuminated pixels at corresponding locations in other instances of the repeating pattern to the enhanced pixels. This copying mechanism ensures that color information is preserved and transferred to regions where illumination was removed, directly resolving the contradiction between achieving illumination uniformity and preserving color data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the temporal or spatial dimension by leveraging other instances of the repeating pattern to source color information. Instead of losing color when removing illumination from a specific pixel, the system retrieves color data from corresponding pixels in other instances, effectively using an additional dimension (different instances) to preserve information.
3Measurement precision
If repeating pattern instances are used to calculate illumination values, then illumination estimation accuracy is improved, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image into multiple instances of a repeating pattern, allowing independent analysis of each instance. By dividing the image into discrete, manageable pattern instances, the system can calculate illumination values for each segment separately and then combine them, improving accuracy while keeping the processing of each individual segment relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent copies data structures and processing logic across multiple pattern instances, allowing the system to leverage previously computed information from one instance when processing another. This copying approach reduces redundant calculations and manages complexity by reusing proven processing templates across different segments of the image.
Data Source
AI summary
An image comprising color pixels with varying illumination is selected. Instances of a repeating pattern in the image are determined. Illumination values for illuminated pixels at locations within instances of the repeating pattern are calculated based on pixel intensities of non-illuminated pixels at corresponding locations in other instances of the repeating pattern. The illumination variation is removed from the illuminated pixels based on the calculated illumination values to produce enhanced pixels. Color from the non-illuminated pixels at the corresponding locations in other instances of the repeating pattern is propagated to the enhanced pixels.