Retroreflective Garment Photography Camera System
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional camera systems struggle to accurately capture images of objects against a white background, often introducing color casts or washing out object colors due to high illumination, which is detrimental for online catalog representation.
Innovation Solution
A camera system incorporating imaging optics, a retroreflective surface, and a low-power LED illumination source that emits white light, allowing for high-quality image capture with over-saturated white pixels, ensuring accurate representation of white and light-colored objects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If high illumination is used to illuminate the white background, then the white background is well illuminated in the captured image, but the illumination introduces a color cast or washes out the colors of the object
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination system is segmented into multiple independent LED modules, each capable of emitting light with different color temperatures. This allows selective illumination of different regions (background vs. object) with appropriately tuned color characteristics, preventing color cast on objects while maintaining bright background illumination.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the imaging scene are illuminated with different quality characteristics. The background region receives high-intensity illumination from LEDs with higher color temperature (cooler white) to ensure brightness, while the object region receives illumination that preserves natural color representation, achieving local optimization of illumination quality.
2Measurement precision
If traditional flash systems or diffused light systems are used to accurately image objects, then color accuracy is improved, but the system becomes expensive and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive traditional lighting equipment (flash systems, diffused light systems) with inexpensive LED modules. These LED modules, while simpler and cheaper, achieve comparable or superior color accuracy through digital control and spectral selection, eliminating the need for complex mechanical lighting rigs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes mechanical/optical illumination control systems (adjustable diffusers, reflectors, flash mechanisms) with electronically controllable LED arrays. The illumination characteristics are controlled through electronic drivers and software algorithms rather than mechanical adjustments, simplifying the overall system while maintaining or improving performance.
3Measurement precision
If intricate post processing methods are applied to captured images, then color accuracy is enhanced, but the process becomes time-consuming and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary color correction and calibration during the image capture phase itself, using known reference targets and pre-configured LED color temperatures. This preliminary action establishes accurate color baselines before imaging, eliminating or minimizing the need for time-consuming post-processing color correction operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging system performs self-calibration and self-correction using integrated reference standards and automated algorithms. The system automatically adjusts illumination parameters and processes images to maintain color accuracy without requiring external post-processing intervention, making the system self-sufficient and time-efficient.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The camera system effectively captures high-quality images with consistent white backgrounds, improving color accuracy and visibility of object boundaries, reducing the need for complex lighting systems and post-processing methods.
Implementation Method 1
a retroreflective surface, and an illumination source allow for capturing high quality images against a pure-white background
Implementation Method 2
The illumination source may comprise an array of low-power LEDs configured to emit a white light spectrum
Implementation Method 3
an image sensor that generates an image from the reflected light
Data Source
AI summary
A camera system including imaging optics, a system controller, a retroreflective surface, and an illumination source allows for capturing high quality images that allow for similar white balance between subsequent images. The camera system includes a camera body coupled to the illumination source such that the illumination source emits light towards the retroreflective surface. An object, is mounted to the retroreflective surface such that at least part of the retroreflective surface is obscured by the garment. Consequently, the light emitted from the illumination source is reflected by both the retroreflective surface and the object towards the camera body. The camera body contains imaging optics which capture an image from the reflected light. Thus, the camera system captures images of the object and retroreflective surface. The camera system similarly white balances any number of images including any number of objects.