Ophthalmic Image Correction Using Multi-Camera Reflection Pixels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ophthalmic imaging systems often produce images with undesired reflections due to illumination, which current methods like polarization and interpolation fail to effectively address, leading to inaccurate or less clear images.
Innovation Solution
The system employs multiple cameras with different viewing directions to capture images of the eye, identifying reflection pixels in one image and using information from other images or surrounding pixels to correct these reflections, employing techniques such as averaging or overlaying correction pixels to reduce or eliminate reflections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If illumination is used to generate the image, then the image can be captured, but undesired reflections appear in the image
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the reflected light itself (the harmful factor) to identify reflection pixels, then replaces those pixels with information from corresponding locations in other images. This converts the harmful reflection into a useful indicator for correction, eliminating the reflection artifact while preserving the underlying eye structure information.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If polarization or interpolation methods are used to address reflections, then some reflection reduction may be achieved, but image accuracy and clarity become inaccurate or less clear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a third image (or multiple other images) as an intermediary source of information. Instead of directly modifying the reflected pixels in one image using polarization or interpolation, the system uses corresponding pixels from other images that do not contain reflections as mediators to replace the problematic pixels, thereby preserving image accuracy and clarity.
3Measurement precision
If multiple cameras are used to capture images from different positions, then reflection pixels can be identified and corrected, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a temporal dimension by capturing multiple images at different time points, or uses multiple cameras positioned at different spatial angles. This allows the system to observe the same eye location from different perspectives, where reflections appear at different positions, enabling identification and correction of reflection pixels through comparison across the additional dimension.
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
This approach enhances image clarity by accurately reducing reflections, providing more precise and accurate ophthalmic images for diagnosis and treatment.
Implementation Method 1
The illuminator is located at a position relative to the eye region and directs light towards the eye region
Implementation Method 2
the reflection pixels image a reflection of light from the illuminator reflected by a location of the eye region
Data Source
AI summary
In certain embodiments, an ophthalmic system images an eye region comprising at least one eye. The system includes a camera system and a computer. The camera system includes cameras that yield image portions of the eye region. Each camera is located at a position relative to the eye region and yields an image portion. The computer receives the image portions from the camera system. A first image portion is provided by a first camera, and a second image portion is provided by a second camera. The computer identifies identify target pixels of the first image portion, where the target pixels image a location of the eye region; determines image information of correction pixels of the second image portion, where the correction pixels image the same location of the eye region; and corrects the target pixels using the identified image information.