Parallax Image Grouping for Lens Array Sensor Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
As the number of pixels in image sensors increases, the apparatus required for obtaining high-resolution images necessitates additional logic and memory for performing image processing, leading to increased complexity and costs.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves an image obtaining apparatus that includes an image sensor with a micro lens shared by neighboring pixels and a processor that generates parallax images with the same parallax, groups them based on similar image characteristics, performs image processing operations on these groups, and combines the processed images to generate an output image. This approach minimizes the increase in logic and memory required for image processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the number of pixels in image sensor increases to obtain high-resolution images, then image resolution is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional logic and memory required for image processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image processing task by dividing parallax images into groups based on similar image characteristics. Instead of processing all parallax images uniformly, the system identifies and groups images with comparable features, allowing for more efficient processing that reduces the overall logic and memory requirements while maintaining high-resolution output quality.
2Productivity
If additional logic and memory are added to perform image processing operations, then image processing capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the processing parameters by grouping parallax images based on their image characteristics. This parameter-based grouping allows the system to optimize processing operations for each group, improving overall image processing capability while reducing the need for additional logic and memory resources compared to processing each image individually with full resources.
Data Source
AI summary
An image obtaining apparatus includes an image sensor including a micro lens and a plurality of neighboring pixels sharing the micro lens and a processor configured to generate, based on an input image received from the image sensor, a plurality of parallax images having a same parallax, group, from among the plurality of parallax images, first parallax images having similar image characteristics, perform at least one image processing operation on the first parallax images, and generate an output image by combining the first parallax images on which the at least one image processing operation is performed.