Image Capturing Apparatus Region-Specific Exposure Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image capturing apparatuses struggle to achieve desired expressions when capturing both moving subjects with trails and those without trails in a single image, as long exposure often blurs unwanted subjects.
Innovation Solution
An image capturing apparatus with an imaging device, an image generation unit, an amount-of-light control unit, and control units that divide the image into regions to adjust exposure time and light control, allowing for customized exposure control for each division region to achieve the desired image expression.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If long exposure is performed to capture trails of moving subjects, then trails of moving subjects are captured, but other moving subjects become blurred
Solution Approach 1:
The image capturing apparatus divides the captured image into multiple division regions and performs different exposure time controls for each region. This segmentation allows different parts of the image to have different exposure durations, enabling trails in some regions while maintaining clarity in others.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different exposure characteristics to different spatial regions of the image. By controlling exposure time independently for each division region, the system creates local quality variations where some areas show motion trails and others show sharp images, according to the specific requirements of each region.
2Loss of information
If exposure time is extended to capture motion trails, then motion trails are achieved, but overall image quality deteriorates due to unwanted blurring
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus segments the image into multiple division regions and applies different exposure time controls to each segment. This allows motion trail information to be captured in regions where it is desired, while maintaining image sharpness in regions where clarity is prioritized.
Solution Approach 2:
Different exposure characteristics are applied to different spatial regions. The system preserves motion trail information locally in specific regions while maintaining sharpness in other regions, creating a composite image with varied local qualities.
3Device complexity
If uniform exposure control is applied to the entire image, then control simplicity is maintained, but flexibility to achieve different expressions in different regions is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is divided into multiple control units, each responsible for a specific division region. This segmentation enables independent exposure control for each region, providing flexibility to achieve different expressions without requiring a completely complex centralized control system.
Solution Approach 2:
The exposure time control is made dynamic and adjustable for each division region. The system can adaptively set different exposure times based on the specific requirements of each region, enhancing versatility while maintaining manageable complexity through modular control architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
A CPU performs an amount-of-exposure control process to thereby function as a first control unit that controls the exposure time of pixels to control the amount of exposure of the pixels for each of a plurality of division regions obtained by dividing a captured image and as a second control unit that controls the light transmittance of an ND filter to adjust the difference in amount of exposure between the plurality of division regions for each of which the amount of exposure is controlled by controlling the exposure time. On a touch panel display, the captured image obtained with the amount of exposure controlled by the CPU in accordance with a combination of the exposure time and the light transmittance of the ND filter is displayed.