Imaging Device Line-Level Exposure for Local Flicker Suppression
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing imaging devices struggle to suppress flicker in images captured with light sources like traffic signals, often leading to unnatural blurs in areas without flicker.
Innovation Solution
An imaging device with a processor that detects flicker occurrences and adjusts the number of exposures in specific lines, increasing it in lines where flicker is detected to locally suppress flicker without affecting other areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the exposure time is adjusted to suppress flicker, then flicker suppression is improved, but image blur increases in areas without flicker
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the image into multiple lines and processes each line independently based on flicker detection results. This segmentation allows different exposure strategies to be applied to different lines, suppressing flicker in affected lines while maintaining normal exposure in unaffected lines, thus preventing blur in areas without flicker.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by adjusting exposure parameters specifically for lines where flicker is detected, rather than uniformly across the entire image. This localized approach ensures that flicker suppression is applied only where needed, preventing unnecessary blur in areas without flicker while effectively suppressing flicker in affected areas.
2Reliability
If image data is synthesized from multiple exposures to suppress flicker, then flicker suppression is improved, but processing load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image processing into two paths: lines with detected flicker undergo synthesis processing, while lines without flicker are processed normally. This segmentation reduces the overall processing load compared to synthesizing the entire image, as only affected lines require additional processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by performing flicker suppression processing only on the portion of the image (specific lines) where flicker is detected, rather than processing the entire image. This reduces the processing load while still achieving effective flicker suppression in the affected areas.
3Reliability
If the number of exposures is increased in lines with flicker, then flicker suppression is improved, but image blur risk increases in those lines
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic action by performing multiple exposures at different timings in lines where flicker is detected. By capturing images at different moments in the flicker cycle and synthesizing them, the system suppresses flicker effects while maintaining image sharpness through proper timing selection and synthesis.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by detecting flicker in each line and using this detection information to control the exposure and synthesis process. The flicker detection results feed back into the exposure control, allowing the system to adjust the number and timing of exposures based on actual flicker conditions, thereby suppressing flicker while minimizing blur.
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
This approach effectively suppresses flicker in affected areas while minimizing the risk of blur in areas without flicker, improving image quality and reducing processing load.
Implementation Method 1
an imaging element including a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged in a matrix
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging device includes: an imaging element including a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged in a matrix, and configured to be driven in units of a plurality of lines each including a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged in one direction; a memory; and a processor. The processor is configured to execute detecting an occurrence of a flicker, based on image data generated by the imaging element; and increasing a number of times of exposures in one-frame period of the photoelectric conversion elements included in a line in which the flicker is detected by the detecting, compared with a number of times of exposures in the one-frame period of the photoelectric conversion elements included in a line in which a flicker is not detected.