Multi-Camera Flicker Correction for Strobed Lighting Regions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image processing techniques to mitigate light emitter flicker are resource-intensive and compromise image quality by adjusting camera exposure times, particularly affecting high dynamic range (HDR) cameras, as they often fail to synchronize camera frequency with light emitter frequency, leading to visible flicker and reduced dynamic range.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that identify strobed lighting regions in image data using environment and image data from multiple cameras with different exposure times, allowing for targeted image correction without adjusting the exposure time of the primary imaging device, thereby preserving image quality and dynamic range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If camera exposure time is adjusted to align with light emitter frequency to mitigate flicker, then image flicker is reduced, but dynamic range and image quality are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image processing approach by identifying specific strobed lighting regions within the image and applying flicker mitigation only to those regions rather than adjusting the entire camera exposure time. This allows selective correction of flicker-affected areas while preserving optimal exposure settings for the rest of the image, thereby maintaining dynamic range and image quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by treating different regions of the image differently - strobed lighting regions receive flicker mitigation processing while other regions maintain their original exposure characteristics. This enables targeted correction where needed without compromising the overall image quality and dynamic range that would result from global exposure adjustment.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If camera exposure time is adjusted to synchronize with light emitter frequency, then flicker mitigation is achieved, but processing resources are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the image into strobed lighting regions and non-strobed regions, applying flicker mitigation processing only to the identified strobed regions. This segmentation approach reduces the total amount of image data requiring intensive processing compared to global exposure adjustment, thereby improving processing efficiency while still achieving flicker mitigation where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies flicker mitigation processing partially - only to the extent necessary for identified strobed lighting regions rather than applying it globally to the entire image. This partial action approach reduces computational resource requirements while achieving sufficient flicker mitigation for the affected areas.
3Manufacturing precision
If camera frequency is not synchronized with light emitter frequency, then dynamic range is maintained, but visible flicker occurs in reproduced images
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing step between image capture and output - identifying strobed lighting regions and applying selective flicker mitigation to those regions. This intermediary approach allows the camera to maintain its optimal exposure settings for dynamic range while a post-processing intermediary corrects the flicker artifact in specific regions without requiring synchronization between camera and light emitter frequencies.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the present invention relate to an image correction system (300) for mitigating image flicker from strobed lighting systems. The image correction system (300) comprises one or more controllers (120) comprising input means (122), processing means (121) and output means (122). The input means (122) is configured to receive, from a first imaging apparatus (111) comprising a first pixel array configured to operate with at least a first exposure time, first image data (141) indicative of an environment. The input means (122) are configured to receive, from a second imaging apparatus (112) comprising a second pixel array configured to operate with at least a second exposure time different to the first exposure time, second image data (142) indicative of at least a portion of the environment. The processing means (121) are configured to identify strobed lighting regions of the first image data (141) and strobed lighting regions of the second image data (142); and to determine corrected image data for mitigating image flicker of the strobed lighting regions of the first image data (141) in dependence on a correspondence between the strobed lighting regions of the first image data (141) and the strobed lighting regions of the second image data (142). The output means (122) is configured to output a signal indicative of the corrected image data.