Imaging Control Method for Dynamic Exposure Level Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing imaging methods struggle to adapt to varying lighting conditions, often resulting in insufficient face brightness during selfies, leading to overexposed backgrounds and suboptimal imaging quality in high dynamic range scenes.

Innovation Solution

An imaging control method that determines a target exposure level combination based on the shooting scene's brightness, using preset combinations with multiple exposure levels, and performs synthesis processing on images obtained at different exposure levels to achieve optimal imaging results.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If the exposure level is adjusted to improve face brightness, then the face illumination is improved, but the background area becomes overexposed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveface brightnessVSAvoidbackground overexposure
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the image into multiple regions (face region and background region) and applies different exposure levels to each region. By capturing images at multiple exposure levels and selectively combining them, the system ensures proper exposure for both the face and background, resolving the contradiction between improving face brightness and preventing background overexposure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the exposure level parameter by capturing images at multiple different exposure levels (e.g., -2, 0, +2 EV). This allows the system to select or combine images where the face is properly exposed without overexposing the background, thus resolving the contradiction through parameter variation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If a fixed exposure ratio is used for wide dynamic range imaging, then the imaging process is simplified, but the imaging quality deteriorates when the scene dynamic range is beyond or below the fixed ratio

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimaging process complexityVSAvoidimaging quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from a fixed exposure ratio to a dynamic exposure ratio that adapts to different shooting scenes. The system determines the scene type (backlighting, low light, or other scenes) and selects appropriate exposure level combinations accordingly. This dynamic adjustment maintains imaging quality across various scenarios while managing complexity through scene-based classification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the exposure level parameters based on scene characteristics. Different exposure level combinations are used for different scene types: for backlighting scenes, exposure levels of -2, 0, and +2 EV are used; for low light scenes, levels of -1, 0, and +1 EV are used. This parameter adaptation resolves the contradiction by optimizing imaging quality for each scenario.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If multiple exposure levels are captured and synthesized, then the imaging quality in high dynamic range scenes is improved, but the shooting time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimaging qualityVSAvoidshooting time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by selectively capturing and synthesizing only the necessary number of exposure levels based on scene requirements. Rather than always capturing all possible exposure levels, the system determines the appropriate combination based on scene type, reducing unnecessary shooting time while maintaining imaging quality where needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically adjusts the number and combination of exposure levels captured based on the scene type. For example, in backlighting scenes, three exposure levels are captured, while in other scenes, fewer levels may be sufficient. This dynamic approach balances imaging quality improvement with time efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3611916B1Imaging control method and electronic device
Publication Date: 2022.05.04 GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP LTD
  • EP3611916B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3611916B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3611916B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

An imaging control method and an electronic device are provided. The imaging control method includes: determining a target combination from a plurality of preset exposure level combinations according to a brightness of a shooting scene; performing shooting according to each exposure level comprised in the target combination to obtain a corresponding image of each exposure level; and performing synthesis processing on images of the plurality of exposure levels of the target combination.