Image Processing Apparatus Brightness Range Extension

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image adjustment technologies struggle to maintain appropriate luminosity and color reproduction when dealing with scenes that have significantly different brightness levels, leading to reduced visibility in monitoring systems using network cameras.

Innovation Solution

An image processing apparatus and method that extends the output range of brightness values for selected images to combine them with unselected images, allowing for improved visibility by adjusting gamma values and dynamic range extension, enabling better luminosity and color reproduction across varying exposure levels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If gamma correction and gain correction are performed for a scene, then luminosity and color reproduction are improved, but visibility is reduced when brightness varies significantly across different areas

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveluminosityVSAvoidvisibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The image is divided into multiple regions based on brightness characteristics. The image processing apparatus segments the scene into areas with different brightness levels and applies different correction parameters to each segment, allowing optimal visibility in both bright and dark regions simultaneously

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different gamma and gain correction parameters are applied to different regions of the image based on their local brightness characteristics. This local quality approach ensures that each area receives customized processing to maintain both luminosity and visibility appropriate for its specific conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Device complexity

If a single exposure setting is used for the entire scene, then device complexity is reduced, but image quality deteriorates when illuminance varies significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing complexityVSAvoidimage quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts correction parameters for different regions based on detected brightness variations. By implementing adaptive, region-specific processing, the system achieves high image quality across varying illuminance conditions without requiring multiple physical cameras or complex hardware configurations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11184594B2Image processing apparatus, information display apparatus, control method, and computer-readable storage medium for improving image visibility

Publication Date: 2021.11.23 CANON KK

AI summary

An image processing apparatus is provided. The image processing apparatus accepts selection of an image that is to be processed, from among a plurality of images in which one scene is captured respectively at exposures that are different from each other, extends a first output range corresponding to an input range of brightness values of the selected image so as to be wider than a second output range that is the output range when the image is not selected, and outputs a combined image generated by combining the selected image for which the output range of brightness values has been extended to the first output range, and the unselected image.