Pixel Intensity Rounding for Image Sensor Binning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pixel binning methods fail to maintain consistent pixel intensity values during image processing, leading to discrepancies between pre-binned and post-binned pixel intensities, which affects image accuracy and resolution.
Innovation Solution
An image sensor processor method that rounds pixel intensity numerical values based on a predetermined value, such as 0.5, alternating between rounding up and down using a bit sequence, to maintain the weighted average pixel intensity during binning, thereby ensuring consistent pixel values.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If pixel binning is performed by conventional rounding methods, then processing speed and simplicity are improved, but pixel intensity consistency and image accuracy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the rounding parameter from a fixed threshold (e.g., always round 0.5 up) to a dynamic parameter that alternates between rounding up and down based on the least significant bit value. This parameter change allows the system to maintain processing speed while improving pixel intensity consistency by ensuring that rounding operations preserve the weighted average intensity across binned pixels.
2Device complexity
If pixel binning is performed by conventional rounding methods, then device complexity is reduced, but image accuracy and resolution deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention modifies the rounding parameter dynamically based on the least significant bit, creating a simple alternating pattern that maintains low device complexity while significantly improving image accuracy. The method uses basic bitwise operations and conditional logic to determine rounding direction, avoiding complex computational overhead.
3Reliability
If pixel intensity values are rounded during binning, then signal-to-noise ratio is improved, but pixel intensity consistency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically changes the rounding parameter based on the least significant bit, alternating between rounding up and down. This dynamic parameter adjustment allows the system to maintain the signal-to-noise ratio benefits of rounding while preserving pixel intensity consistency through the alternating rounding pattern that maintains weighted average intensity.
Data Source
AI summary
An image sensor processor implemented method for retaining pixel intensity, comprising: receiving, by the image processor, a numerical value indicative of a corresponding pixel intensity; determining, by the image processor, whether a least significant portion of the received numerical value is equal to a predetermined numerical value; and responsive to determining the least significant portion of the received numerical value is equal to the predetermined numerical value, rounding, by the image processor, the received numerical value of the corresponding pixel intensity to a higher or lower value depending on a bit sequence, and if the least significant portion of the received numerical value is not equal to the predetermined value, rounding the received numerical value to the higher or lower value based on the received numerical value; and binning the rounded value.