Imaging Device Light Modulation Segment Gain Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Imaging devices face challenges in reproducing the dynamic range of subjects, particularly in low luminance regions, due to differences in light transmittance across segments, leading to noticeable level differences and reduced luminance in these areas.
Innovation Solution
An imaging device with a light modulation element, high luminance pixel calculation, low luminance pixel specification, and gain correction sections, which adjusts light transmittance and applies gain correction to pixel signals, ensuring consistent luminance across segments and eliminating level differences in low luminance regions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single segment is allocated to a plurality of pixels to decrease the number of segments, then device complexity is reduced, but luminance uniformity deteriorates in low luminance regions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the treatment of pixels within segments based on their luminance characteristics. High luminance pixels are processed differently from low luminance pixels, with specific gain correction applied only to low luminance pixels to maintain luminance uniformity while preserving the simplified segment structure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of signal gain for low luminance pixels to compensate for the luminance reduction caused by segment-level light modulation. By adjusting the gain parameter dynamically based on pixel luminance characteristics, the system maintains uniform luminance appearance across segments with different transmittance settings
2Adaptability or versatility
If transmittance is controlled for each segment to expand dynamic range, then dynamic range is improved, but luminance differences between segments increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the signal processing parameter (gain) for low luminance pixels to offset the luminance reduction caused by segment-level transmittance control. This allows the system to maintain both expanded dynamic range through transmittance modulation and luminance uniformity through compensatory gain correction
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback by detecting the luminance characteristics of pixels and adjusting the gain correction accordingly. The control unit identifies low luminance pixels and applies selective gain correction based on the actual luminance values, creating a closed-loop system that maintains luminance uniformity while preserving dynamic range extension
3Stability of the object's composition
If gain correction is applied to all pixels in a segment, then luminance uniformity is improved, but image quality deteriorates due to over-correction in high luminance regions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by selectively applying gain correction only to low luminance pixels rather than uniformly to all pixels in a segment. The control unit identifies pixels based on their luminance characteristics and applies the correction locally, preventing over-correction in high luminance regions while maintaining uniformity in low luminance regions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the gain parameter dynamically based on pixel-specific luminance characteristics. By adjusting the gain correction magnitude according to the actual luminance value of each pixel, the system achieves precise control that maintains image quality while ensuring luminance uniformity across different regions
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
The solution effectively expands the dynamic range of the imaging device by ensuring uniform luminance across segments, reducing level differences and enhancing image quality in low luminance regions.
Implementation Method 1
a light modulation element, of which a light transmittance is variable for each segment, is disposed on the front side of the imaging element
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an imaging device capable of expanding the dynamic range and eliminating differences in level occurring in low luminance regions between segments having different transmittances.A number of high luminance pixels calculation section calculates the number of high luminance pixels for each segment, on the basis of pre-image data obtained through pre-imaging while all the segments of a light modulation element have high transmittances. A main control section determines, as a dimming target segment, a segment having a number of high luminance pixels equal to or greater than a first number of pixels. A low luminance pixel specifying section specifies low luminance pixels among the pixels corresponding to the dimming target segment. A gain correction section performs gain correction on pixel signal values of the low luminance pixels, with a gain value corresponding to a ratio of the high transmittance to the low transmittance.