Infrared Illumination for Low-Light Camera Color Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Low-light environments pose challenges for digital cameras in producing high-quality images and videos due to inadequate light levels, leading to increased noise and poor color representation, with existing solutions failing to provide a suitable low-cost, non-intrusive solution for improving image quality.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of active lighting using invisible or non-intrusive light sources, such as infrared (IR) or ultraviolet (UV) light, combined with post-imaging processing techniques like color correction and gamma correction, to enhance image quality without disturbing the subject, and using a dual-camera system to improve low-light conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If additional lighting is used to improve image quality in low-light conditions, then image quality improves, but the lighting may be intrusive or distracting to the user
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using invisible infrared light sources that illuminate only the specific area being photographed without affecting the user's visual experience. The IR LEDs are positioned to provide localized illumination on the user's face while remaining imperceptible to human eyes, thus improving image quality without causing intrusiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes color changes by employing infrared light (outside the visible spectrum) to illuminate the scene. The infrared illumination is invisible to human eyes but detectable by the camera sensor, effectively changing the 'color' or wavelength range of the lighting from visible to invisible, thereby providing illumination without visual intrusiveness.
2Illumination intensity
If infrared light is used to illuminate the scene, then image brightness improves, but color accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing step where the captured infrared-illuminated image is combined with a reference image taken under normal lighting conditions. This intermediary process allows the system to benefit from the brightness enhancement of IR lighting while using the reference image to correct and restore accurate color information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite image by merging data from two different light sources: the infrared-illuminated image (providing brightness and detail) and the reference image taken under visible light (providing accurate color information). This composite approach combines the advantages of both imaging modes to achieve both brightness and color accuracy.
3Measurement precision
If image processing is applied to correct color distortion, then color accuracy improves, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by capturing a reference image under normal lighting conditions before or during the infrared illumination process. This reference image is prepared in advance and stored for later use, allowing the system to quickly correct color distortion by comparing and combining images without requiring complex real-time processing during infrared imaging.
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 increases the light level in low-light environments, resulting in sharper and more aesthetically pleasing images by correcting color distortion caused by IR or UV light, thereby producing higher quality images than would be possible without additional lighting.
Implementation Method 1
Some implementations disclosed herein use infrared (IR) light sources to augment an image. The IR light is invisible to the eyes of a user being imaged, but the IR light helps to raise the detected photons in its wavelength due to the IR light being reflected from objects being imaged and detected by an image sensor in the camera.
Implementation Method 2
the IR light helps to raise the detected photons in its wavelength due to the IR light being reflected from objects being imaged and detected by an image sensor in the camera
Data Source
AI summary
In some implementations, invisible light is emitted toward a subject being imaged in a low-light environment. A camera having a first color image sensor captures an image of the subject. Image processing is used to correct distortion in the image caused by the invisible light, and an augmented color image is output.