Adaptive Sonar Image Contrast for Uneven Brightness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sonar images often present locations with low brightness, making them difficult to discern, and high brightness can wash out interesting objects, complicating navigation and fish location identification.
Innovation Solution
Adaptive contrast image processing techniques adjust brightness and color levels in sonar images based on factors like distance from the transducer, brightness, water clarity, depth, object type, and orientation, using methods like contrast stretching and histogram equalization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If adaptive contrast image processing is applied to increase brightness in low brightness areas, then visibility of sonar images is improved, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multiple image processing techniques including contrast stretching, histogram equalization, and fuzzy logic to dynamically adjust brightness and contrast parameters of sonar images based on water clarity conditions, transforming the raw sonar data into enhanced visual representations that improve visibility while managing processing complexity through established algorithms
2Illumination intensity
If brightness is increased to improve visibility, then important features become more discernible, but interesting objects may get washed out
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs adaptive contrast processing that adjusts brightness and contrast parameters locally based on water clarity at different locations in the sonar image. Areas with poor water clarity receive greater brightness enhancement while areas with good clarity maintain their natural contrast, preventing over-processing and information loss in already visible regions
Solution Approach 2:
The processing system dynamically adjusts brightness and contrast parameters based on real-time analysis of water clarity conditions in different regions of the sonar image, rather than applying uniform enhancement across the entire image, allowing optimal visibility while preserving detail in varying conditions
3Ease of operation
If uniform brightness processing is applied, then ease of viewing is improved, but difficulty of detecting and measuring specific features increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies contrast stretching and histogram equalization techniques that enhance the dynamic range of brightness values in the sonar image, creating a more uniform perceived brightness level across different water clarity conditions while simultaneously improving the detectability of features through enhanced contrast in processed areas
Data Source
AI summary
A system for the enhancement of sonar data is provided comprising one or more processors, a memory, and one or more sonar transducer assemblies configured to provide sonar data. The memory includes computer program code configured to, when executed, cause the processor(s) to receive the sonar data, with the sonar data providing information representative of an underwater environment around a watercraft. The computer program code is also configured to, when executed, cause the processor(s) to perform adaptive contrast image processing to adjust a brightness level or color of the sonar data at one or more locations and to form adjusted sonar data. Adaptive contrast image processing considers a distance of a location from a sonar transducer assembly of the one or more sonar transducer assemblies, a brightness level, color, water clarity, or depth associated with a location, an object type, or an orientation or surface properties of the object.