Image Processing Apparatus White Balance Gain Clamping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional imaging apparatuses face issues with false color production due to varying light sensitivity, particularly in color cameras, where high sensitivity to green light leads to inaccurate light detection and restoration problems, especially when light exceeds maximum detectable values, resulting in improper restoration of images.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus comprising a white-balance processing unit that adjusts pixel gains based on color, a value adjusting unit that maintains or replaces pixels within a predetermined value range, and a restoration processing unit that uses a restoration filter to restore reduced resolution, effectively addressing the false color issue by ensuring accurate light detection and correction across all color channels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If white balance processing is performed by multiplying pixel values by gain values for each color channel, then color accuracy is improved, but pixels exceeding maximum detectable values cause false color production
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing value clamping before restoration processing. The value adjusting unit limits pixel values to the maximum detectable range before the restoration filter is applied, preventing saturation artifacts from propagating through subsequent processing stages. This anticipatory correction ensures that even if original pixels exceeded the maximum value, the processed image maintains color accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary anti-action by preemptively correcting the saturation problem before it causes harmful effects. The value adjusting unit applies gain control to prevent pixels from exceeding maximum detectable values in the first place, counteracting the tendency toward false color production before it occurs during white balance processing.
2Manufacturing precision
If restoration processing is performed on pixels that have exceeded maximum detectable values, then resolution restoration is attempted, but accurate light amount cannot be detected leading to improper restoration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing value clamping before restoration processing. The value adjusting unit limits pixel values to the maximum detectable range before the restoration filter is applied, preventing saturation artifacts from propagating through subsequent processing stages. This anticipatory correction ensures that even if original pixels exceeded the maximum value, the processed image maintains color accuracy.
3Measurement precision
If high sensitivity is used for green light detection in color cameras, then green channel detection capability is improved, but pixels easily exceed maximum detectable values causing restoration problems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by applying different processing strategies to different color channels based on their specific characteristics. The value adjusting unit applies gain control specifically to the green channel, which has higher sensitivity and is more prone to saturation. This targeted approach maintains the high sensitivity advantage for green detection while preventing reliability issues through channel-specific value clamping.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution suppresses false color production by ensuring accurate light detection and restoration across all color channels, maintaining image quality and reducing recognition accuracy issues in image processing.
Implementation Method 1
an imaging apparatus using an image pickup device captures and extracts light from a subject by an optical system by converting the light into electric signals by a solid image pickup device
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing apparatus comprises: a white-balance processing unit that multiplies a first pixel that includes a plurality of colors constituting a pickup image that is picked up by an imaging unit by a gain value according to the colors and thereby generates a second pixel; a value adjusting unit that generates a third pixel by maintaining the second pixel that is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value out of the second pixel as it is, and by replacing, with the predetermined value, the second value that is larger than the predetermined value out of the second pixel; and a restoration processing unit that restores, by a restoration filter, resolution that has been reduced due to an optical system, on the third pixel.