Imaging Device Buffer Memory Duplicate Frame Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In digital cameras, the limited buffer memory is wastefully used when capturing stationary subjects, as all images are stored without distinguishing between identical and non-identical frames, leading to a higher likelihood of missing the best shot.
Innovation Solution
An imaging device with an image pickup sensor, a storage unit, and a detection unit that writes only non-identical frames to the storage unit, based on predetermined image characteristic quantities, preventing the storage of identical frames.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If all captured images are written to the buffer memory without distinction, then the buffer memory is fully utilized for storage, but the efficiency of buffer memory usage deteriorates due to redundant storage of identical images
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes duplicate image data from the buffer memory by comparing consecutive frames using image characteristic quantities. When identical images are detected, subsequent captures are discarded rather than stored, thereby eliminating redundant data occupation and improving buffer memory utilization efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces image characteristic quantities (such as luminance, chrominance, or other visual features) as parameters to identify and distinguish between identical and different images. By changing the storage criterion from unconditional storage to conditional storage based on parameter comparison, the system optimizes buffer memory usage while maintaining the quantity of unique images.
2Quantity of substance
If the buffer memory capacity is limited, then the cost is reduced, but the ability to capture the best shot deteriorates due to frequent overwriting of potentially important images
Solution Approach 1:
By extracting and removing duplicate frames from the buffer, the patent effectively increases the number of unique images that can be stored within the same limited buffer capacity. This prevents the premature overwriting of potentially important shots while maintaining cost-effective hardware specifications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the storage decision parameter from fixed-time intervals to dynamic image-content-based decisions. By evaluating image characteristic quantities and comparing consecutive frames, the system intelligently determines whether to store or discard each frame, thereby improving the reliability of capturing the best shot within limited buffer capacity.
3Quantity of substance
If consecutive identical images are stored in the buffer memory, then the buffer memory is wasted on redundant data, but the complexity of the storage system increases due to the need for image comparison
Solution Approach 1:
The patent simplifies the complexity burden by changing from full-image comparison to comparison of extracted image characteristic quantities. By selecting key parameters (such as average luminance, color histograms, or specific feature points) rather than comparing entire image data, the system achieves effective duplicate detection with reduced computational complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging device comprising an image pickup sensor that captures an image of a subject, a storage unit that temporarily stores a plurality of frames of image data captured by the image pickup sensor, a detection unit that detects identity or non-identity between at least two image data consecutively captured by the image pickup sensor adjacent in time based on a predetermined image characteristic quantity, and a control unit that controls the device to write the later captured image data in the storage unit when the detection unit detects the non-identity and to not write the later captured image data in the storage unit when it detects the identity.