Image Signal Processor Selective Pixel Processing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image signal processing techniques require significant resources and time, leading to poor visual quality in high-resolution, high-frame-rate images, especially in extended-reality devices, resulting in a non-immersive user experience due to uniform processing that fails to meet visual quality requirements.

Innovation Solution

A system and method for selective image signal processing, where the image signal processor determines the position of each pixel on the image sensor and customizes the processing sequence and parameters based on the pixel's location, allowing for non-uniform processing to optimize resource usage and enhance visual quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If uniform image signal processing is applied to all pixels, then consistent color fidelity and denoising are achieved across the entire image, but processing resources and time are excessively consumed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecolor fidelityVSAvoidprocessing speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different processing sequences and parameters to different regions of the image sensor based on pixel position. Specifically, pixels at different locations (e.g., corner pixels vs. center pixels) receive customized processing tailored to their spatial characteristics, thereby achieving consistent quality metrics without uniformly processing all pixels at maximum intensity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Manufacturing precision

If uniform image signal processing is applied to all pixels, then consistent denoising is achieved across the entire image, but processing resources and time are excessively consumed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedenoising qualityVSAvoidprocessing speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements region-specific denoising processing where the processing sequence and parameters are customized according to pixel position. This allows effective noise removal in critical regions while using reduced processing in less critical areas, maintaining overall denoising quality while reducing total processing resource consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Manufacturing precision

If high-resolution processing is applied to all image signals, then visual quality requirements are met, but processing resources and computing power are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisual qualityVSAvoidprocessing resource requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies high-resolution processing selectively to specific pixel regions that require it for visual quality, while using reduced processing for other regions. This spatially differentiated approach ensures visual quality requirements are met in critical areas without requiring all pixels to undergo computationally intensive high-resolution processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent divides the image sensor output into multiple processing zones based on pixel position, with each zone receiving appropriate processing intensity. This segmentation allows the system to allocate processing resources efficiently across different image regions rather than applying uniform high-resolution processing everywhere.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Ease of operation

If uniform processing parameters are used for all pixels, then processing simplicity is maintained, but visual quality requirements for high-resolution displays are not met

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing simplicityVSAvoidvisual quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent automatically determines pixel positions and selects processing parameters based on spatial location, providing adaptive quality enhancement without requiring manual intervention. The system maintains ease of operation through automated parameter selection while achieving the visual quality needed for high-resolution displays through position-based processing differentiation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4327547B1Selective image signal processing
Publication Date: 2025.03.26 VARJO TECH OY
  • EP4327547B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4327547B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~4B
  • EP4327547B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

Disclosed is a system (100, 200) comprising image sensor(s) (102, 202, 204) comprising a plurality of pixels arranged on a photo-sensitive surface (300) thereof; and image signal processor(s) (104, 206) configured to: receive, from image sensor(s), a plurality of image signals captured by corresponding pixels of image sensor(s); and process the plurality of image signals to generate at least one image, wherein, when processing, image signal processor(s) is configured to: determine, for a given image signal to be processed, a position of a given pixel on the photo-sensitive surface that is employed to capture the given image signal; and selectively perform a sequence of image signal processes on the given image signal and control a plurality of parameters employed for performing the sequence of image signal processes, based on the position of the given pixel.