Image Pickup Boundary Identifier for Multi-Area Readout
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image pickup apparatuses struggle with setting and identifying multiple interest areas within a large pixel array, leading to difficulties in adjusting the angle of view and reducing frame rates when multiple interest areas are present.
Innovation Solution
An image pickup apparatus is designed with an interest area setter, readout area setter, sensor readout controller, output signal generator, and boundary identifier to rapidly set and identify multiple interest areas, allowing for efficient partial readout and clear boundary display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple interest areas are set in a large pixel array, then the inspection accuracy is improved, but the readout time increases and frame rate decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the large pixel array into multiple interest areas that can be independently defined and read out. By segmenting the image pickup area into specific regions of interest, the system can focus readout operations on these segmented areas rather than processing the entire large pixel array, thereby maintaining high inspection accuracy for multiple areas while reducing overall readout time and improving frame rate.
2Area of stationary object
If multiple interest areas are set, then the coverage of inspection areas is improved, but the relative positional relationship becomes unclear and setting becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a boundary identifier that displays boundary lines overlaid on the image signal to indicate the positions and extents of multiple interest areas. This intermediary visual aid mediates between the complex multi-area configuration and the user, making the relative positional relationships clear and facilitating easier setting and adjustment of multiple interest areas while maintaining comprehensive inspection coverage.
3Reliability
If all pixels are read out to maintain complete image information, then the image quality is preserved, but the readout time increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and reads out only the pixel signals corresponding to the defined interest areas rather than reading out signals from all pixels in the large array. This extraction approach maintains the complete image information within each interest area while significantly reducing the total number of pixels that need to be read out, thereby preserving image quality for inspected areas while improving readout speed and productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
An image pickup apparatus includes: an interest area setter configured to input a signal for setting multiple interest areas inside an image pickup area of an image sensor; a readout area setter configured to set a readout area from which an image signal is read out from the image sensor; a sensor readout controller configured to control readout of a pixel signal of the readout area from the image sensor; an output signal generator configured to generate an image signal to be output based on the pixel signal read out by the sensor readout controller; and a boundary identifier configured to make identifiable a boundary of each of the multiple interest areas in an image formed by the image signal to be output.