Imaging Device Selective Pixel Combination for Bulb Exposure Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bulb shooting methods for capturing dark subjects, such as celestial bodies, often result in incorrect exposure due to large contrast in subject brightness, leading to overexposure of background elements like buildings during star trail photography.
Innovation Solution
An imaging device and method that adjust exposure time and pixel combination based on user-defined brightness thresholds, allowing for selective image combination processing to achieve desired exposure levels, enabling the photographer to control the starting point and length of trails in the image.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple combination processing is performed on main subject (celestial bodies) to achieve correct exposure, then exposure accuracy of the main subject is improved, but overexposure of background elements (buildings) occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by performing different combination processing on different regions of the image. Specifically, it identifies a main subject region (containing celestial bodies) and a background region (containing buildings), then applies appropriate combination methods to each region separately to achieve optimal exposure for each area without the harmful effect of overexposure in the background
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the combination processing parameters based on the region being processed. For the main subject region, it uses combination processing optimized for celestial bodies, while for the background region, it uses different parameters to prevent overexposure of buildings. This dynamic parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction between achieving correct exposure for the main subject and preventing overexposure of background elements
2Reliability
If additive combination processing is performed on divided exposure image data, then star trails are captured, but buildings in the background become blown out (overexposed)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image into different regions (main subject region containing stars, and background region containing buildings) and applies different combination processing strategies to each region. This local differentiation allows star trails to be captured in the main subject region while preventing buildings in the background from becoming blown out
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the image processing into separate segments: one for the main subject region (celestial bodies) and another for the background region (buildings). By segmenting the processing, it can apply additive combination for star trails in the main subject region while using controlled combination in the background region to avoid overexposure of buildings
3Manufacturing precision
If comparatively bright combination processing is performed, then buildings maintain fixed brightness, but it becomes difficult to adjust trail length and starting point according to photographer's intentions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic control over the combination processing parameters, allowing the photographer to adjust trail length and starting point according to their intentions. The system dynamically adapts the combination processing based on user input while maintaining proper building brightness control, thus resolving the contradiction between precision and operational flexibility
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate exposure control and flexible image combination, allowing photographers to capture images with correct exposure for both bright and dark areas, effectively reducing overexposure of background elements during bulb shooting.
Implementation Method 1
an exposure control section for subjecting a subject image that has been formed on an imaging surface to photoelectric conversion and acquiring divided image data for each of a plurality of exposures
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging device, comprising a shooting control section for acquiring divided image data for each of a plurality of exposures, a determination section for determining, for every pixel data of the divided image data, whether or not a pixel value is within a specified determination threshold value, an image combination section for carrying out first image combination or second image combination for every pixel data of the divided image data, an image combination control section for selecting either the first image combination or the second image combination based on a determination result by the determination section, carrying out image combination for every pixel data in the image combination section in accordance with this selection, and generating combined image data, and a first storage section for storing the combined image data that has been generated as a result of controlled by the image combination control section.