Remote Image White Balance Using Sun-Angle Calculation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Digital cameras face challenges in automatically adjusting white balance for remote objects, particularly in aerial and satellite imaging, due to unknown lighting conditions, leading to poor image quality from unsightly color casts.
Innovation Solution
A system that calculates geographic coordinates and sun angle relative to the object using GPS/INS and sun position data, determining white balance settings to adjust image processing parameters, thereby accounting for sunlight conditions and reducing solar glint and glare.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If automatic white balance adjustment is used in remote imaging, then image processing is automated, but image quality deteriorates due to unknown lighting conditions causing color casts
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calculations of geographic coordinates, sun position, and sun angle before capturing the image. This advance preparation allows the white balance to be optimized based on predicted lighting conditions rather than attempting automatic adjustment after the fact, thereby maintaining image quality while preserving automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediate computational parameters (geographic coordinates, sun position, sun angle) that mediate between the automated imaging process and the final white balance adjustment. These intermediaries enable the system to bridge the gap between automation and image quality by using calculated solar geometry as a basis for accurate color correction.
2Device complexity
If conventional AWB assumptions are applied to remote objects, then processing is simplified, but accuracy deteriorates due to mismatched lighting conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by calculating sun position and sun angle specific to the geographic location and timing of each remote object image. Instead of using generic white balance assumptions, the processing is tailored to the local lighting conditions at the object's coordinates, thereby improving color temperature determination accuracy without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters used for white balance from conventional scene-based assumptions to solar-geometry-based parameters (geographic coordinates, sun position, sun angle). This parameter transformation allows the system to accurately determine color temperature for remote objects by using astronomical calculations rather than relying on simplified conventional assumptions.
3Manufacturing precision
If sun angle calculation is added to white balance determination, then color accuracy improves, but computational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calculation of sun position and sun angle using the object's geographic coordinates and image capture time. By computing these parameters in advance before the actual white balance adjustment, the system minimizes real-time processing complexity while maintaining high white balance accuracy through pre-computed solar geometry data.
Data Source
AI summary
A technology for remote object imaging processing. An example of the technology can include calculating geographic coordinates for an object using in part a line-of-sight distance to the object from a camera coupled to a vehicle, calculating an angle of the sun relative to the object using sun position data that corresponds to a time and date and the geographic coordinates for the object, determining a white balance setting based in part on the angle of the sun relative to the object, and applying the white balance setting as a parameter used to process an image of the object captured using the camera coupled to the vehicle.