Multi-Camera Image Fusion for Ghost and Flare Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing imaging technologies struggle to effectively remove unnecessary light such as ghost and flare from captured images, which degrades image quality and reduces the accuracy of image processing tasks like detecting specific subjects.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus and method that detects the position of light sources in image data, estimates unnecessary light generation positions, and adjusts blend ratios to combine image data from multiple cameras, reducing or removing unnecessary light through a database-driven approach.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple imaging apparatuses are used to capture images from different angles, then unnecessary light can be removed by combining images, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging system is divided into multiple independent imaging apparatuses, each capturing images from different angles. This segmentation allows the system to capture the same scene from multiple perspectives, enabling the removal of unnecessary light by combining images where each apparatus captures different glare patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
An image processing apparatus acts as an intermediary that receives images from multiple imaging apparatuses, estimates unnecessary light generation positions, and combines the images to remove glare. This intermediary processing step enables the system to leverage multiple images without requiring complex real-time coordination between imaging devices.
2Reliability
If image processing is performed to remove unnecessary light, then image quality improves, but the processing time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by capturing multiple images simultaneously from different angles before the actual image processing. By having multiple pre-captured images ready, the processing stage can quickly estimate unnecessary light positions and combine images without requiring complex real-time analysis, thus reducing processing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical or optical light blocking mechanisms with computational image processing methods. Instead of using physical filters or shutters to prevent unnecessary light, the system uses algorithms to estimate and remove glare from captured images, significantly reducing the mechanical complexity and processing time.
3Measurement precision
If light source position detection is performed accurately, then unnecessary light generation position estimation improves, but the measurement precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The image processing apparatus uses the captured images themselves to detect light source positions and estimate unnecessary light generation points. By analyzing the brightness distribution and gradient information from the captured images, the system performs self-detection without requiring external detection devices, thus maintaining measurement precision while reducing detection complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the captured images to iteratively refine light source position detection and unnecessary light generation position estimation. By analyzing the relationship between detected light sources and actual glare positions in the images, the system continuously improves its estimation accuracy, making the detection process more robust without requiring extremely high initial measurement precision.
Data Source
AI summary
This information processing apparatus includes an image processing unit that detects a position of a light source in image data captured by an imaging apparatus and estimates an unnecessary light generation position in the image data on the basis of the detected position of the light source. The image processing unit detects, with respect to a plurality of pieces of image data respectively captured by a plurality of imaging apparatuses having partially common fields of view, positions of light sources and estimates unnecessary light generation positions on the basis of the detected positions of the light sources and combines pieces of image data of common field-of-view portions respectively captured by the plurality of imaging apparatuses and generates image data of the unnecessary light generation position with unnecessary light removed or reduced.