Saturated Pixel Data Correction via Weighted Neighboring Averages

Solution Overview

Problem

Image sensors with narrow dynamic ranges often fail to accurately represent object colors, especially when incident light is very bright, leading to saturated pixels that distort color values and affect neighboring pixels.

Innovation Solution

A method is introduced to correct saturated pixel data by determining a weight function that correlates color values of saturated pixels with neighboring pixels, using a weighted average to restore original color values, with weight values increasing as differences in color and hue values decrease and saturation values decrease.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If the image sensor captures image data with high incident light intensity, then the brightness of the captured image is improved, but the color accuracy deteriorates due to saturated pixels

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovebrightnessVSAvoidcolor accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses neighboring pixels as intermediaries to restore the original color values of saturated pixels. By calculating weighted averages from surrounding non-saturated pixels, the method transfers color information from healthy pixels to saturated ones, effectively using intermediaries to bridge the information loss caused by saturation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of color values by applying saturation correction. It identifies saturated pixels through threshold comparison and then modifies their color values using weighted averages from neighboring pixels, thereby transforming the parameter state from saturated (clipped) to corrected (restored)

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Illumination intensity

If the light intensity exceeds the maximum color value that can be sensed, then the saturation threshold is exceeded, but the color value is clipped to the maximum value causing loss of original color information

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight intensityVSAvoidoriginal color information

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary identification of saturated pixels by comparing color values against saturation thresholds before correction. This preliminary action allows the system to detect which pixels have lost original color information and need restoration, enabling targeted correction rather than processing all pixels

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses neighboring pixels as intermediaries to restore the original color values of saturated pixels. By calculating weighted averages from surrounding non-saturated pixels, the method transfers color information from healthy pixels to saturated ones, effectively using intermediaries to bridge the information loss caused by saturation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Quantity of substance

If saturated pixels are present in the image, then the dynamic range is exceeded, but neighboring pixels are affected and lose their original color values

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of saturated pixelsVSAvoidcolor accuracy of neighboring pixels

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges information from multiple neighboring pixels to correct a single saturated pixel. By combining color values from surrounding pixels through weighted averaging, the method consolidates information from multiple sources to restore the original color, effectively merging data to overcome local saturation effects

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of color values by applying saturation correction. It identifies saturated pixels through threshold comparison and then modifies their color values using weighted averages from neighboring pixels, thereby transforming the parameter state from saturated (clipped) to corrected (restored)

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS9294688B2Method of correcting saturated pixel data and method of processing image data using the same

Publication Date: 2016.03.22 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

Methods of correcting saturated pixel data in an image sensor are provided. A method of correcting saturated pixel data in an image sensor includes determining a weight function. The weight function indicates a correlation between color values of saturated pixels and color values of neighboring pixels. The saturated pixels are among a plurality of pixels which have a color value greater than a saturation threshold value. The neighboring pixels are among the plurality of pixels that are proximate to each of the saturated pixels. The method includes determining weight values of a neighboring pixels that are proximate to a first saturated pixel using the weight function. The method includes determining a weighted average value of the color values of each of the neighboring pixels using the weight values. The method includes correcting the color value of the first saturated pixel to the weighted average value.