Imaging Apparatus Exposure Control via Distance-Based Area Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing imaging technologies face challenges in setting optimal exposure conditions across different areas of an image, leading to issues with dynamic range and contrast, particularly in scenes with varying distances and brightness gradients, which can result in inaccurate object recognition.

Innovation Solution

An imaging apparatus that acquires distance information for each divided area of the imaging area, creates combined distance blocks based on this information, and sets exposure conditions for each block to ensure uniform exposure within the block, thereby maintaining contrast and improving dynamic range.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single exposure condition is applied to the entire imaging area, then the device complexity is reduced, but the manufacturing precision of exposure uniformity across different areas deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexposure control complexityVSAvoidexposure uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The imaging area is divided into multiple divided areas, and exposure conditions are determined separately for each divided area based on its specific brightness characteristics, rather than applying a single exposure condition to the entire image

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different exposure conditions are applied to different divided areas of the imaging area according to their local brightness characteristics, allowing each region to have optimized exposure settings suited to its specific conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Illumination intensity

If exposure conditions are optimized for bright areas, then the illumination intensity coverage is improved, but the measurement precision of dark areas deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebright area coverageVSAvoiddark area accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The imaging area is segmented into divided areas with different brightness characteristics, allowing separate exposure optimization for bright and dark regions without one compromising the other

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Exposure conditions such as exposure time and gain are varied across different divided areas to match their respective brightness levels, enabling both bright and dark areas to be captured with appropriate precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If the imaging area is divided into multiple small areas for separate exposure control, then the manufacturing precision of exposure uniformity is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexposure uniformityVSAvoidexposure control system

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The imaging area is divided into multiple divided areas that can be processed independently, allowing precise exposure control for each region while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular processing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each divided area determines its own exposure condition based on its local brightness characteristics, reducing the need for complex centralized control while achieving precise exposure uniformity across the entire imaging area

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11838646B2Apparatus, method, and storage medium for deciding an exposure condition based on brightness of a combined area of a captured image

Publication Date: 2023.12.05 CANON KK

AI summary

An apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire distance information indicating a distance to an object included in each of divided areas of an imaging area, a creation unit configured to create a combined area that is obtained by combining divided areas based on the acquired distance information and positions of the divided areas in the imaging area, and a decision unit configured to decide an exposure condition of the created combined area.