Image Pickup Apparatus Exposure Control via Edge Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Image pickup apparatuses face challenges in setting appropriate exposure when used in accessories with varying shapes and sizes, as parts of the accessory may enter the shooting range, leading to impediments in capturing images effectively.
Innovation Solution
An image pickup apparatus with an edge detection unit, calculation unit, and lens driving unit that adjusts the zooming position to match or contain the accessory's window frame within the shooting range, allowing for exposure adjustment at optimized positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If exposure control is performed using the entire image pickup element, then the exposure control is simple, but accessory parts may enter the shooting range and impede appropriate exposure setting
Solution Approach 1:
The image pickup element is divided into a shooting range area and a non-shooting range area based on detected edge information. Exposure control is then performed separately for each area, with the non-shooting range area excluded from exposure evaluation. This segmentation allows the system to maintain simple operation while achieving reliable exposure accuracy by focusing only on relevant areas.
Solution Approach 2:
Different processing approaches are applied to different areas of the image pickup element. The shooting range area undergoes normal exposure control, while the non-shooting range area is excluded from exposure evaluation. This local differentiation ensures that exposure settings are optimized for the actual shooting area without being influenced by accessory parts.
2Reliability
If the shooting range is adjusted to exclude accessory parts, then exposure accuracy is improved, but the lens unit requires additional adjustment operations
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary edge detection and calculates the central position of the non-shooting range area before adjusting the lens unit. By pre-processing the image data and determining the optimal adjustment target, the system minimizes the complexity of subsequent lens adjustments. The lens unit is then adjusted based on this pre-calculated information, streamlining the overall process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically detects edges, calculates central positions, and determines adjustment parameters without requiring manual intervention. The lens driving unit self-adjusts based on the calculated information, reducing the operational complexity for the user while maintaining high exposure accuracy.
3Productivity
If the zooming position is adjusted to match the accessory window frame, then the shooting range optimization is achieved, but the system requires edge detection and calculation operations
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts edge information from the image signal to identify the accessory window frame. By isolating and processing only the relevant edge information rather than analyzing the entire image, the system achieves shooting range optimization while minimizing the complexity of image processing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual adjustment of the shooting range with automated image processing. Edge detection algorithms and central position calculations substitute for mechanical trial-and-error adjustments, achieving optimal shooting range configuration through computational methods rather than physical experimentation.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes an image pickup unit that generates an image signal by shooting an object when light from the object is focused on an image pickup element by a lens unit, an image processing unit that generates an image from the image signal, an edge detection unit that detects an edge based on a window frame of an accessory accommodating the apparatus in the image, a calculation unit that determines an area on the basis of edge information and obtain a central position of the area, a lens driving unit including an adjustment unit that drives the lens unit and adjusts a zooming position such that the area is adjusted with respect to an image shooting range and a storage unit that stores the adjusted zooming position, and an exposure adjustment unit that performs an exposure adjustment in the image at the at least one adjusted zooming position.