Multi-Camera Auto Exposure Control for Image Quality

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing camera systems face challenges in efficiently determining the optimal exposure level, leading to issues of overexposure or underexposure, which affects image quality, as current auto exposure methods often trade off between speed and smoothness, resulting in discomforting or low-speed adjustments.

Innovation Solution

A multi-camera module system that includes a primary and secondary camera, where both cameras capture images with different exposure levels, and an auto exposure engine adjusts these levels based on pixel intensity values and histograms to determine and correct exposure, ensuring accurate and balanced lighting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If aggressive auto exposure methods are used, then speed of brightness adjustments is improved, but smoothness deteriorates causing discomforting preview images

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeed of brightness adjustmentsVSAvoidsmoothness of preview images

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the auto-exposure control into two independent cameras capturing images at different exposure levels simultaneously. This allows the system to process multiple exposure data in parallel, achieving faster brightness adjustments while maintaining smooth transitions by selectively combining results from both cameras.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the exposure parameter by having two cameras capture images at different exposure levels (first exposure level and second exposure level). This enables the system to quickly determine optimal exposure by comparing results from both cameras, achieving both speed and smoothness in brightness adjustments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Stability of the object's composition

If conservative auto exposure methods are used, then smoothness of preview images is improved, but speed of brightness adjustments deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesmoothness of preview imagesVSAvoidspeed of brightness adjustments

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the auto-exposure control into two independent cameras capturing images at different exposure levels simultaneously. This allows the system to process multiple exposure data in parallel, achieving faster brightness adjustments while maintaining smooth transitions by selectively combining results from both cameras.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the exposure parameter by having two cameras capture images at different exposure levels (first exposure level and second exposure level). This enables the system to quickly determine optimal exposure by comparing results from both cameras, achieving both speed and smoothness in brightness adjustments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If single camera auto exposure is used, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision of optimal exposure deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecamera system complexityVSAvoidprecision of exposure determination

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the functionality of two cameras into a coordinated auto-exposure system where both cameras work together to determine optimal exposure. The first camera and second camera capture images at different exposure levels, and their results are combined to achieve more precise exposure determination than a single camera could provide alone.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the exposure parameter by having two cameras capture images at different exposure levels (first exposure level and second exposure level). This enables the system to quickly determine optimal exposure by comparing results from both cameras, achieving both speed and smoothness in brightness adjustments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 allows for efficient determination and adjustment of exposure levels, reducing overexposure and underexposure, resulting in improved image quality by generating new images with optimized lighting conditions, balancing speed and smoothness.

Implementation Method 1

the camera includes an image sensor that captures the optical image and converts this information into analog electrical signals

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotoelectric effect: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentUS11343438B1Instant auto exposure control with multiple cameras

Publication Date: 2022.05.24 ADVANCED MICRO DEVICES INC

AI summary

An apparatus and methods for efficiently determining a final exposure level of an image capture device are described. A first camera generates a first image of a scene based on a first exposure level. A second camera generates a second image of the scene based on a second exposure level. When the first camera determines the first image includes out of range exposure, the first camera adjusts the first exposure level based on the second exposure level of the second camera. Additionally, the first camera adjusts the second exposure level of the second camera based on the second exposure level. Afterward, each of the first camera and the second camera are able to generate new images of the same scene using the updated first exposure level and updated second exposure level.