Image Sensor White Balance via Color Channel Transmission Maps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current image sensing devices face challenges in achieving accurate auto white balance, particularly when capturing images under varying light sources, leading to color distortions where white colors may be represented as different hues like red or yellow.
Innovation Solution
An image sensing device with an image processor that generates color channel transmission maps and a target transmission map to identify white pixels, adjusting white balance based on average brightness intensity values across color channels, ensuring accurate color representation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional white balance methods are used, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision of white balance accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The image is segmented into multiple color channels (R, G, B) and processed separately. Transmission maps are generated for each color channel independently by comparing brightness intensity values, allowing precise identification of white pixels in each channel before combining results for final white balance adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
Before performing white balance adjustment, the method preliminarily generates transmission maps for each color channel by converting brightness intensity values to a standardized range and identifying white pixels. This preliminary segmentation and analysis enables more accurate white balance calculation by pre-filtering relevant pixels.
2Measurement precision
If simple brightness comparison is used, then processing speed is improved, but measurement precision of white pixel detection deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The method changes the parameter range by converting brightness intensity values from their original scale to a standardized range (e.g., 0-255 or 0-1). This parameter transformation enables consistent comparison across different color channels and lighting conditions, improving white pixel detection accuracy without requiring complex multi-step processing.
3Measurement precision
If color channel transmission maps are generated for all pixels, then measurement precision of white balance is improved, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The method extracts only the essential information needed for white balance by generating transmission maps that identify white pixels in each color channel. Instead of processing all pixel data equally, it extracts and focuses computation on white pixel identification, reducing overall processing energy while maintaining accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The method performs partial processing by generating transmission maps only for identifying white pixels rather than analyzing all image characteristics. This selective approach processes only the necessary portion of data (white pixel identification) needed for white balance, avoiding excessive computation on irrelevant image features.
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 solution enables improved auto white balance operations, correcting color distortions caused by specific light sources and ensuring that white colors are accurately represented in digital images.
Implementation Method 1
an image sensor including at least one pixel with a plurality of color channels to generate brightness intensity values
Data Source
AI summary
An image sensing device includes an image sensor including at least one pixel including a plurality of color channels and an image processor for processing an input image, based on brightness intensity values of the plurality of color channels. The image processor includes: a transmission map generator for generating color channel transmission maps including transmission values that are obtained by respectively converting brightness intensity values of the plurality of color channels, and generating a target transmission map including target transmission values that are obtained by multiplying transmission values among the transmission values that correspond to color channels; a white pixel detector for determining target pixels that are included in a white area, based on the target transmission map; and a white balance adjuster for adjusting white balance, based on average brightness intensity values of respective color channels.