Image Sensor Light Field Data Bit Depth Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional image capture systems generate large amounts of data due to the division of the exit pupil into multiple pupil areas, resulting in increased data amounts for light field data, which can be cumbersome for devices that cannot handle parallax images.

Innovation Solution

An image processing apparatus and method that reduce the bit depth or number of tones in signal data based on the number of divided pupil areas, utilizing an image sensor with subpixels to generate combined image data and light field data with adjusted signal properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the exit pupil is divided into multiple pupil areas to generate light field data, then refocusing capabilities and spatial-angular light distribution information are improved, but the data amount increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverefocusing capabilityVSAvoiddata amount

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by reducing the bit depth or number of tones for light field data based on the number of divided pupil areas. Instead of maintaining full precision for all data, the system uses reduced precision where sufficient, thereby decreasing the overall data amount while preserving essential refocusing capabilities and spatial-angular light distribution information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Loss of information

If the exit pupil is divided into Np partial pupil areas, then light field data with spatial and angular distribution is obtained, but the data amount becomes Np times larger than normal images

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespatial and angular light distribution informationVSAvoiddata amount

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of bit depth or number of tones for light field data based on the number of divided pupil areas Np. By adjusting this parameter downward, the system reduces the data amount from Np times the normal image size to a more manageable size, while still preserving the essential spatial and angular light distribution information needed for light field processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If parallax images are combined with normal images for compatibility, then device compatibility is improved, but the data amount increases to Np+1 times the normal image

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice compatibilityVSAvoiddata amount

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by reducing the bit depth or number of tones for the light field data portion, allowing the system to maintain device compatibility through parallax image combination while keeping the total data amount manageable. The reduction in precision for light field data compensates for the additional data required for compatibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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

This approach efficiently reduces the data amount for spatial and angular light intensity distribution, allowing for more manageable data handling and enabling refocusing capabilities while maintaining image quality.

Implementation Method 1

data that is based on light beams that have passed through partial pupil areas obtained by dividing an exit pupil of an imaging optical system into a predetermined number Np

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPupil division:

Implementation Method 2

a reduction unit configured to reduce a bit depth or a number of tones of signals constituting the data based on the predetermined number Np

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBit depth reduction:

Data Source

PatentUS10992859B2Image capture apparatus and control method thereof capable of reducing an image data amount

Publication Date: 2021.04.27 CANON KK

AI summary

Disclosed are an image processing apparatus that can efficiently suppress the data amount of data indicating a spatial distribution and an angular distribution of light intensity and a control method of the same. The image processing apparatus obtains data indicating the spatial distribution and the angular distribution of the intensity of light beams that have passed through partial pupil areas obtained by dividing the exit pupil of an imaging optical system into a predetermined number. The image processing apparatus then reduces the bit depth or the number of tones of signals constituting the data based on the predetermined number.