Unified Illumination Map for Image Data Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
In environments with varying lighting conditions, such as materials handling facilities, it is challenging to determine events in images exposed to different light sources, leading to difficulties in identifying high illumination areas and objects within those areas.
Innovation Solution
The method involves generating an illumination mask by comparing current image data from imaging devices with background data to identify high illumination areas, and combining masks from multiple devices with overlapping views to create a unified illumination map, while simulating illumination to determine the direction and exposure of foreground objects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If digital cameras are used to monitor facilities in environments with varying lighting conditions, then monitoring coverage is improved, but the accuracy of identifying events and objects in images deteriorates due to illumination variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary illumination detection mechanism that analyzes image data to identify high illumination areas. This intermediary system processes the raw image data and generates illumination masks that highlight regions affected by varying lighting conditions, thereby enabling the main monitoring system to compensate for illumination variations and maintain accurate event and object identification across different lighting environments
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes parameters by comparing current image data with background data to detect illumination variations. By analyzing pixel intensity values and identifying deviations from background patterns, the system adapts to varying lighting conditions in real-time, maintaining measurement precision despite changes in illumination parameters
2Area of stationary object
If multiple imaging devices are deployed to cover different areas, then monitoring coverage is improved, but the complexity of combining and analyzing data from multiple devices increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges illumination masks from multiple imaging devices to create a unified illumination map. By combining the detection results from different cameras and synthesizing their individual illumination masks into a single comprehensive map, the system achieves complete area coverage while managing data processing complexity through standardized merging operations
Solution Approach 2:
The illumination detection system is designed with multi-functionality to handle various imaging devices and lighting conditions universally. The same detection algorithm and mask generation process can be applied across different camera positions and types, enabling the system to maintain consistent performance while monitoring diverse areas without requiring device-specific complex processing
Data Source
AI summary
Described is a method for processing image data to determine if a portion of the imaged environment is exposed to high illumination, such as sunlight. In some implementations, image data from multiple different imaging devices may be processed to produce for each imaging device a respective illumination mask that identifies pixels that represent a portion of the environment that is exposed to high illumination. Overlapping portions of those illumination masks may then be combined to produce a unified illumination map of an area of the environment. The unified illumination map identifies, for different portions of the environment, a probability that the portion is actually exposed to high illumination.