Invariant Pulse Latency Coding for Contrast-Insensitive Vision
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing computer vision systems fail to effectively encode visual signals in a way that is insensitive to luminance and contrast, making it difficult to process and transmit visual information reliably across varying light conditions.
Innovation Solution
The system encodes visual signals into pulse-code output by utilizing relative pulse latencies, which are calculated using a generator signal and scaling parameters adapted from the image signal's history, ensuring that the information is invariant to changes in luminance and contrast, and uses logarithmic functions and low-pass filtering to maintain optimal latency intervals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional encoding methods are used to transmit visual signals, then the system can process basic visual information, but the encoding becomes sensitive to luminance and contrast variations, reducing reliability under varying light conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the encoding parameter from amplitude-based (conventional) to latency-based (invariant). By encoding visual signal information in the timing/latency of pulses rather than their amplitude, the system achieves invariance to luminance and contrast changes while maintaining reliable information transmission under varying lighting conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the conventional amplitude modulation mechanism with a temporal coding mechanism. Instead of varying signal amplitude to encode information, the system uses variations in pulse latency/timing, substituting a temporal domain approach for the traditional amplitude domain approach, thereby achieving robustness against luminance and contrast variations
2Adaptability or versatility
If pulse latency is used to encode visual information, then the system achieves invariance to luminance and contrast, but the adaptation to low or high levels of luminance and contrast becomes slow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the system continuously monitors luminance and contrast levels and dynamically adjusts encoding parameters based on this feedback. This allows the system to adapt to changing lighting conditions while maintaining the benefits of latency-based encoding, balancing adaptation speed with invariance properties
3Reliability
If relative pulse latencies are calculated using generator signals and scaling parameters, then information transmission becomes invariant to luminance and contrast, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the complex latency calculation task into separate processing channels, each handling specific aspects of the visual signal. By segmenting the processing into multiple independent channels with dedicated scaling parameters, the system achieves contrast-invariant encoding while organizing complexity into manageable, modular components
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for processing image signals are described. One method comprises obtaining a generator signal based on an image signal and determining relative latencies associated with two or more pulses in a pulsed signal using a function of the generator signal that can comprise a logarithmic function. The function of the generator signal can be the absolute value of its argument. Information can be encoded in the pattern of relative latencies. Latencies can be determined using a scaling parameter that is calculated from a history of the image signal. The pulsed signal is typically received from a plurality of channels and the scaling parameter corresponds to at least one of the channels. The scaling parameter may be adaptively calculated such that the latency of the next pulse falls within one or more of a desired interval and an optimal interval.