Motion-Based Exposure Control for Image Fusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image capture devices struggle to capture clear images of objects in motion without blur, especially in high dynamic range scenes, as they often require trade-offs between exposure time and illumination levels, leading to either over-exposure or under-exposure.
Innovation Solution
The system captures multiple images with different exposure settings and generates a fused image by selecting pixels based on motion information, using short exposure times for moving objects and longer exposure times for static objects, while maintaining equal total exposure to balance illumination and motion blur.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If longer exposure time is used to improve illumination of poorly lit objects, then illumination intensity is improved, but motion blur increases for moving objects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image into multiple depth layers (foreground, midground, background) based on motion detection. Different exposure times are applied to different depth segments - shorter exposure for moving foreground objects to reduce blur, longer exposure for static background objects to improve illumination. This resolves the contradiction by allowing simultaneous optimization of illumination and clarity for different spatial regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts exposure time based on detected motion. When motion is detected in a region, the exposure time is shortened for that region; when no motion is detected, exposure time is extended. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize both illumination and motion blur reduction in real-time, resolving the fixed trade-off between these parameters.
2Manufacturing precision
If shorter exposure time is used to reduce motion blur, then image clarity is improved, but illumination intensity decreases for poorly lit objects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the scene into moving and static regions, applying different exposure strategies to each segment. Static regions receive longer exposure for better illumination, while moving regions receive shorter exposure for reduced blur. This segmentation allows the system to overcome the limitation of uniform short exposure by selectively applying appropriate exposure durations to different spatial regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality control by assigning different exposure characteristics to different spatial regions based on motion detection. Rather than applying a single global exposure setting, the system tailors the exposure time to local motion characteristics, providing optimal illumination where needed and optimal clarity where motion occurs.
3Illumination intensity
If automatic exposure control adjusts exposure settings uniformly, then overall illumination is improved, but motion blur increases for all regions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the image into multiple depth segments and motion-based regions, allowing different exposure parameters to be applied to each segment. This prevents the uniform adjustment problem by enabling region-specific exposure control, where static segments can be over-exposed for illumination while moving segments use shorter exposure for clarity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes exposure parameters dynamically based on motion detection results. Instead of uniform parameter adjustment, the system modifies exposure time as a function of detected motion magnitude and depth position, allowing the same scene to have different exposure settings in different regions, thus resolving the contradiction between overall illumination and local clarity.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and techniques are described herein for capturing images. For instance, a process can include obtaining a first image associated with a first exposure setting and obtaining a second image associated with a second exposure setting that is different from the first exposure setting. The process can include obtaining motion information associated with at least one of the first image and the second image and determining, based on the motion information, that motion associated with a first pixel of the first image exceeds a threshold. The process can include generating, based on the motion information, a fused image including a first set of pixels from the first image and a second set of pixels from the second image. The first set of pixels from the first image includes the first pixel based on the determination that the motion associated with the first pixel exceeds the threshold.