Ommatidium Lens Shading Correction for Multi-Viewpoint Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image processing systems struggle to effectively correct shading issues in images captured with multiple viewpoints, leading to inconsistent image quality and difficulties in refocusing.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus and method that includes a communication unit to receive shading information from multiple ommatidium lenses, which are non-overlapping in the optical axis direction, and a correction unit to correct shading in captured images based on this information, ensuring accurate shading correction across multiple viewpoints.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple ommatidium lenses are used to capture images from different viewpoints, then image processing capabilities such as refocusing are improved, but shading correction becomes more difficult to maintain consistency across viewpoints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the shading correction process into separate steps for each ommatidium lens. The correction unit processes each ommatidium image individually using lens-specific shading information, then combines the corrected images. This segmentation allows precise shading correction for each viewpoint while maintaining the versatility of multi-viewpoint image processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different shading correction characteristics to different regions of the image corresponding to different ommatidium lenses. Each lens has its own shading information stored and applied locally to its corresponding image region, ensuring that shading is corrected appropriately for each viewpoint rather than using a uniform correction approach.
2Manufacturing precision
If shading information is stored and processed for each ommatidium lens, then shading correction accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent stores shading information for each ommatidium lens in advance during the lens manufacturing or calibration phase. This preliminary action allows the correction unit to quickly retrieve and apply the appropriate shading information during image processing without performing complex real-time calculations, thereby reducing processing complexity while maintaining high correction accuracy.
3Stability of the object's composition
If non-overlapping ommatidium lenses are disposed in optical axis direction, then image quality consistency is improved, but lens design complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from traditional single-lens imaging to multi-lens imaging by adding the optical axis dimension. Multiple ommatidium lenses are arranged in the optical axis direction with non-overlapping positions, creating multiple viewpoints along this dimension. This dimensional change enables consistent image quality across different viewpoints while the correction unit manages the complexity through software-based shading correction.
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 enables appropriate shading correction for images with multiple viewpoints, improving image quality and facilitating refocusing by accurately accounting for lens and sensor shading characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of ommatidium lenses that are a plurality of lenses so disposed as not to overlap with each other in an optical axis direction... images formed by lights respectively concentrated by a plurality of ommatidium lenses
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, a program, and an interchangeable lens each capable of appropriately correcting shading of an image having a plurality of viewpoints. A communication unit receives shading information associated with shading of each of a plurality of ommatidium images that are included in a captured image acquired by one image sensor and correspond to images formed by lights respectively concentrated by a plurality of ommatidium lenses that are a plurality of lenses so disposed as not to overlap with each other in an optical axis direction and are included in an interchangeable lens when the interchangeable lens is fitted to a camera body including the image sensor. A correction unit corrects shading of each of the plurality of ommatidium images that are included in the captured image acquired by the image sensor and respectively correspond to the plurality of ommatidium lenses on the basis of the shading information. For example, the present technology is applicable to a camera system or the like which captures an image.