Non-Causal Image Stabilization via Delay Buffer
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image capture systems face challenges in maintaining image quality due to vibrations and motions during image capture, particularly in drone-based systems, where sudden changes in processing parameters can degrade image quality and existing temporal smoothing methods are limited by access only to past data.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a delay buffer that stores recent frames (0.5 to 1 second) to allow access to future data, enabling non-causal filtering for camera controls like automatic exposure correction, white balance, and electronic image stabilization, thereby anticipating scene modifications and improving image stabilization performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If temporal smoothing is applied using only past data (causal filtering), then processing is simple and real-time, but image quality degrades due to sudden parameter changes and inability to anticipate scene modifications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a delay buffer that stores recent frames (0.5 to 1 second) before processing, allowing the system to perform non-causal filtering by accessing both past and future data. This preliminary buffering enables anticipation of scene modifications and smoother parameter transitions without sacrificing image quality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a delay buffer as an intermediary component between image capture and processing. This buffer mediates the temporal relationship between frames, enabling access to future data while maintaining processing stability and reducing motion artifacts through non-causal filtering
2Reliability
If access to future data is enabled through delay buffering, then non-causal filtering improves image stabilization and parameter smoothing, but memory usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial buffering by storing only a limited window of recent frames (0.5 to 1 second) rather than all historical data. This partial action provides sufficient future data for effective non-causal filtering while constraining memory consumption to manageable levels
3Manufacturing precision
If mechanical stabilization systems (gimbals and motors) are used to reduce vibration distortion, then image quality improves, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical stabilization systems with electronic image stabilization through non-causal filtering. By using delay buffering and accessing future frame data, the system achieves vibration compensation and motion artifact reduction through software processing rather than complex mechanical gimbals and motors
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are disclosed for image capture. For example, methods may include accessing a sequence of images from an image sensor; determining a sequence of parameters for respective images in the sequence of images based on the respective images; storing the sequence of images in a buffer; determining a temporally smoothed parameter for a current image in the sequence of images based on the sequence of parameters, wherein the sequence of parameters includes parameters for images in the sequence of images that were captured after the current image; applying image processing to the current image based on the temporally smoothed parameter to obtain a processed image; and storing, displaying, or transmitting an output image based on the processed image.