Imaging Brightness Control With Mode-Based Gradation Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing imaging technologies struggle to accurately correct the gradation of high-brightness regions in images, leading to inconsistent brightness and contrast that may not align with user intentions, especially in highlight-weighted photometry modes.
Innovation Solution
An imaging device with a setting unit to define a target brightness level, an exposure control unit for photometry, and a gradation correction unit that adjusts exposure and gradation based on different photometry modes, including a first mode using the high-brightness region and a second mode with reduced gradation correction in highlight-weighted photometry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If gradation correction is applied to brighten high-brightness regions to increase contrast, then visual impression is improved, but brightness becomes different from user intention
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the gradation correction amount variable based on photometry mode. The correction strength is dynamically adjusted: stronger correction when using evaluation photometry mode, and suppressed correction when using highlight-weighted photometry mode. This allows the system to adapt the brightness adjustment to match user intentions across different shooting scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of gradation correction amount based on the photometry mode being used. By detecting which photometry mode is active (evaluation vs. highlight-weighted), the system modifies the correction parameter accordingly, applying different correction strengths to achieve brightness that aligns with user expectations for each mode.
2Illumination intensity
If exposure is controlled with priority on high-brightness region, then highlight brightness is improved, but overall image brightness may not match user intention
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses feedback by detecting the photometry mode that was used during exposure control and using this information to adjust the subsequent gradation correction. The system feeds back the photometry mode information to the gradation correction unit, which then adjusts its correction strength accordingly, ensuring the final brightness matches user intentions for the specific mode used.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by determining the appropriate gradation correction amount before final image output, based on the photometry mode detected during exposure. The system prepares the correction parameters in advance according to which photometry mode was used, ensuring that the brightness adjustment is already optimized before the image is presented to the user.
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging device includes a setting unit configured to set a target brightness level of a high-brightness region in an imaging scene; an exposure control unit configured to perform photometry to control exposure; and a gradation correction unit configured to perform predetermined gradation correction on an image obtained by imaging, wherein a mode for controlling the exposure includes a first photometry mode, in which photometry is performed using the high-brightness region as a photometry region and exposure is controlled on a basis of a target brightness level set by the setting unit, and a second photometry mode different from the first photometry mode, and the gradation correction unit suppresses the predetermined gradation correction more in a case in which the image is obtained by imaging using the first photometry mode than in a case in which the image is obtained by imaging using the second photometry mode.