Infrared Image Sensor Wavelength Allocation for Color Gamut Utilization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image-capturing systems fail to utilize the color gamut in the visible color space effectively due to arbitrary conversion from invisible to visible wavelength bands, limiting color discrimination and representation.

Innovation Solution

An image-capturing device with an infrared image sensor and bandpass filters that generate and process invisible wavelength information to convert image data into visible color space data, allowing for improved color discrimination and representation by allocating different visible bands to each wavelength band.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If arbitrary conversion from invisible wavelength band to visible wavelength band is performed on a device-by-device basis, then device implementation flexibility is improved, but color gamut utilization in visible color space deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice implementation flexibilityVSAvoidcolor gamut utilization

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of wavelength band allocation from arbitrary device-specific conversion to standardized allocation based on sensitivity characteristics. By defining allocation rules according to the image-capturing unit's sensitivity profile, the system achieves both device adaptability and consistent color gamut utilization across different devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a feedback mechanism where the allocation of visible wavelength bands to invisible wavelength bands is determined based on measured sensitivity characteristics of the image-capturing unit. This feedback loop ensures that each device can be adapted to its specific characteristics while maintaining standardized color space conversion, resolving the contradiction between flexibility and precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Device complexity

If invisible wavelength information is not related to image-capturing data, then data processing simplicity is improved, but color discrimination capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata processing simplicityVSAvoidcolor discrimination capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the processing by clearly separating the generation of invisible wavelength information from the image-capturing data, then systematically relating them through defined allocation rules. This segmentation maintains processing simplicity while enabling enhanced color discrimination through the structured relationship between wavelength information and image data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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

Enhances color discrimination and representation by effectively utilizing the visible color space, enabling better differentiation of objects like water and oil, and ensuring compatibility across different display devices.

Implementation Method 1

an image-capturing unit that is photosensitive to light in an invisible band

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotosensitivity: Photoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

generates invisible wavelength information defined based on a sensitivity characteristic... for conversion of image-capturing data generated from an output signal of the image-capturing unit into visible color space image data

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpectral conversion:

Data Source

PatentUS10911731B2Image-capturing device

Publication Date: 2021.02.02 NIKON CORP

AI summary

Because conversion from an invisible wavelength band to a visible wavelength band has been performed arbitrarily on a device-by-device basis, the color gamut in the visible color space could not be utilized sufficiently. A first aspect of the present invention provides an image-capturing device including: an image-capturing unit that is photosensitive to light in an invisible band; a generating unit that generates invisible wavelength information defined based on a sensitivity characteristic, which is an output characteristic of the image-capturing unit, to an object light flux wavelength for conversion of image-capturing data generated from an output signal of the image-capturing unit into visible color space image data; and a processing unit that relates the invisible wavelength information to the image-capturing data.