Imaging Device Separate Motion Still Image Processing Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing imaging devices and image processing apparatuses face challenges in capturing both high-quality motion images and still images simultaneously, as they struggle to accurately apply camera shake correction and noise reduction without increasing memory usage and power consumption.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an imaging device with a movement detector and clipper for each type of image, adjusting exposure settings and performing clipping and adding processes to suppress camera shake and noise, while also incorporating an FPN corrector and weighted adder to optimize image processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If camera shake correction is applied to both motion images and still images using the same method, then image quality may be maintained, but it is impossible to shoot both types of images with proper exposure amount and high quality simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the image processing system into separate processing paths for motion images and still images. Each path has its own camera shake correction method: motion images use a first correction method that maintains temporal continuity, while still images use a second correction method that optimizes for static quality. This segmentation allows both types of images to be processed with appropriate techniques simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between different camera shake correction methods based on the image type being captured. The control unit determines whether to apply the first correction method (for motion images) or the second correction method (for still images) in real-time, allowing the system to adapt its processing approach according to the specific requirements of each image type.
2Reliability
If multiple image processing functions (camera shake correction, noise reduction, FPN correction) are combined, then comprehensive image quality improvement is achieved, but memory usage and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different processing intensities and methods to different parts of the image processing pipeline. For example, camera shake correction is applied selectively based on detected shake magnitude, noise reduction is applied differently to moving versus still images, and FPN correction is performed only when necessary. This local quality approach ensures comprehensive image quality improvement while avoiding unnecessary processing that would increase power consumption.
3Reliability
If FPN correction is always applied to all images, then FPN is suppressed, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs FPN correction periodically or selectively rather than continuously for all images. The control unit determines when FPN correction is necessary based on image type and processing conditions, applying the correction only when beneficial. This periodic application of FPN correction maintains its effectiveness in suppressing fixed pattern noise while significantly reducing the associated power consumption compared to continuous correction.
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging device includes an imager, with which an optical image of an object scene is repetitively captured. A first movement detector detects, as to each of a plurality of object scene images according to a time series output from the imager, a movement of a first feature point between the object scene image and the object scene images immediately before, and a clipper performs clipping processing on each of the plurality of object scene images on the basis of the detection result. When a still image recording operation is performed, a CPU changes an exposure time of the imager in such a direction as to shorten the time, and a second movement detector detects a movement of a second feature point between the object scene image immediately after the recording operation (reference object scene image) and the three object scene images being successive thereto out of a plurality of object scene images, and an adder adds the respective three object scene images to the reference object scene image while displacing the same on the basis of the detection result.