Night Vision Image Processing Amplifying Near Infrared Light
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicular night-vision systems face challenges in maintaining image visibility and detection performance due to the reduction in near-infrared light intensity caused by windshields that block infrared wavelengths, leading to noise amplification and decreased brightness contrast.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus with an image acquisition section, correction section, and image production section that amplifies near-infrared light intensity in specific areas of the image using a predetermined amplification factor based on the difference or ratio between near-infrared and visible light intensities, producing a corrected image that enhances visibility and detection performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the intensity of near infrared lights is amplified by multiplying with a gain to amplify the intensity received by each light receiving element, then the detected object can be displayed in highlighted manner, but numerous tiny grains or specks appear on the image due to amplification of noise component
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating between subject areas and non-subject areas in the image. The correction section identifies subject areas (where target objects are located) and applies different amplification factors to different regions. Specifically, a first amplification factor is applied to subject areas and a second amplification factor (lower than the first) is applied to non-subject areas, thereby enhancing target objects while suppressing noise in background regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the amplification parameter dynamically based on the spatial location and characteristics of different areas in the image. Instead of using a uniform gain factor, the system adjusts the amplification factor according to whether the area contains a target object or not, optimizing the balance between highlighting targets and suppressing noise.
2Illumination intensity
If the intensity of near infrared lights is amplified, then the detected object can be displayed in highlighted manner, but a flare originally included in the image may be further intensified
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating between subject areas and non-subject areas in the image. The correction section identifies subject areas (where target objects are located) and applies different amplification factors to different regions. Specifically, a first amplification factor is applied to subject areas and a second amplification factor (lower than the first) is applied to non-subject areas, thereby enhancing target objects while suppressing noise in background regions.
3Temperature
If windshields capable of cutting light having wavelengths which fall within an infrared wavelength range are employed in vehicles, then a temperature rise in a compartment of the vehicle is suppressed, but an intensity of the near infrared lights reflected from a target object and received by the image taking device is decreased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the amplification parameter dynamically based on the spatial location and characteristics of different areas in the image. Instead of using a uniform gain factor, the system adjusts the amplification factor according to whether the area contains a target object or not, optimizing the balance between highlighting targets and suppressing noise.
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
The solution improves image visibility and detection performance by suppressing noise and flare, ensuring that target objects are highlighted against their surroundings, thereby enhancing the overall effectiveness of the night-vision system.
Implementation Method 1
a near infrared passing filter that mainly transmits near infrared lights
Implementation Method 2
an image taking device that receives lights including the near infrared lights from the specific space and produces an image
Implementation Method 3
a visible light passing filter that transmits visible lights and the near infrared lights
Implementation Method 4
a light receiving element that receives the lights coming from the specific space via a visible light passing filter
Implementation Method 5
a light projector that emits near infrared lights to a specific space defined in the vicinity of the subject vehicle
Implementation Method 6
windshields capable of cutting light having wavelengths which fall within an infrared wavelength range have been employed in vehicles for suppressing a temperature rise in a compartment of the vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing apparatus includes an image acquirement section, a correction section, and an image production section. The image acquirement section acquires an image signal representing an image, the image signal is generated by light receiving elements that receive lights from a specific space preliminarily defined in a vicinity of a vehicle via a near infrared passing filter mainly transmitting near infrared lights and a visible light passing filter transmitting visible lights and near infrared lights, respectively. The image includes multiple areas and indicates the specific space projected onto a plane. The correction section corrects each area of the image by amplifying intensity of near infrared lights with an increasing amplification factor when a difference between the intensity of near infrared lights and intensity of visible lights and near infrared lights becomes smaller. The image production section produces a new image based on the corrected areas of the image.