Parallel Image Signal Read-Out for AE AF Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current image capture technologies face challenges in achieving high-speed or highly accurate processing due to the time-consuming nature of wave detection processing in Automatic Exposure (AE) and Automatic Focus (AF) operations, which involve multiple exposures and calculations across pixel lines.
Innovation Solution
An image capturing control apparatus with a control unit that performs parallel read-out control of image signals from different pixel line groups under varying image capturing conditions, and multiple image processing units that process these signals, enabling high-speed or highly accurate evaluation processing in AE and AF operations through row thinning read-out and parallel processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple exposures are performed for wave detection processing in AE or AF operations, then photometric processing accuracy is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pixel lines are divided into multiple groups, with each group processed independently by dedicated processing units. This segmentation allows parallel processing of different pixel line groups, reducing overall processing time while maintaining accurate photometric measurements through multiple exposures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a temporal dimension by performing multiple exposures at different time points, and a spatial dimension by dividing pixel lines into groups. This multi-dimensional approach enables simultaneous improvement of measurement precision (through multiple exposures) and processing speed (through parallel group processing).
2Productivity
If image signals from all pixel lines are processed in parallel, then processing speed is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Pixel lines are segmented into multiple groups, each handled by a processing unit. This segmentation enables parallel processing (improving productivity) while keeping each individual processing unit relatively simple in structure, as each unit only needs to handle a subset of pixel lines rather than all lines.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent processes pixel lines in groups rather than requiring all lines to be processed simultaneously by a single complex unit. This partial action approach achieves high processing speed through parallelism while avoiding the need for excessively complex processing units.
3Productivity
If row thinning read-out is performed, then processing speed is improved, but measurement precision may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing pixel lines into groups and performing row thinning within each group separately, the patent maintains photometric accuracy through group-based processing while achieving speed improvements via parallel execution of multiple group processing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the processing parameters by applying row thinning selectively to different pixel line groups with different exposure conditions. This parameter variation allows optimization of both processing speed (through thinning) and accuracy (through multiple exposure conditions processed in parallel).
Data Source
AI summary
An image capturing control apparatus includes a control unit and a plurality of image processing units. The control unit is configured to perform a read-out control of an image capturing unit such that image signals are read out in parallel, the image signals generated under different image capturing conditions for every pixel line group of a plurality of pixel lines of the image capturing unit. The plurality of image processing units are configured to process the image signals read out from the image capturing unit.