RAW Image Frame Synthesis for Post-Capture Shutter Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image-capturing technologies cannot adjust shutter speeds after image capture, limiting the effectiveness of RAW image data and often result in suboptimal image synthesis due to unsuitable development processes.

Innovation Solution

An image processing apparatus that synthesizes multiple RAW image frames to generate equivalent longer exposure images, allowing adjustment of shutter speed post-capture and performing development processes on the synthesized data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple RAW image frames are synthesized to achieve longer exposure effect, then shutter speed adjustability is improved, but processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshutter speed adjustabilityVSAvoidprocessing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs synthesis processing on RAW image data before the development process, preparing the combined image data in advance. This preliminary synthesis allows shutter speed adjustment to be accomplished by simply combining multiple frames with appropriate weighting, rather than requiring complex post-processing operations on developed images.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces synthesized RAW image data as an intermediary form between captured RAW frames and final developed images. This intermediate representation allows flexible shutter speed simulation through linear combination of frames, while maintaining compatibility with standard development pipelines.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If development process is performed after image synthesis, then image quality is improved, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage qualityVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs the synthesis operation before the development process, combining multiple RAW frames into synthesized RAW image data that is then processed through a single development pipeline. This eliminates the need to perform development on each individual frame and then combine results, significantly reducing total processing time while maintaining image quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If development process is optimized for synthesized images, then editability is improved, but compatibility with existing workflows decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveeditabilityVSAvoidworkflow compatibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent maintains synthesized RAW image data as an intermediate format that can be processed by existing development pipelines. This intermediary representation preserves the benefits of optimized development for synthesized images while maintaining compatibility with standard workflows through the use of conventional development processes on the synthesized data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12493929B2Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program

Publication Date: 2025.12.09 SONY GROUP CORP

AI summary

To make it possible to synthesize multiple pieces of image data at a step when the multiple pieces of image data are RAW images on which a development process has not been implemented. An image processing apparatus includes a synthesis processing section that synthesizes multiple pieces of RAW image data, each of which constitutes an image of one frame, to generate synthesized RAW image data.