Video Stitching Color Brightness Calibration Circuit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional video stitching technologies face issues with noncontinuous color and brightness due to differences in camera installation positions, lenses, and sensors, resulting in visually distracting darker vertical bands in the stitched video.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for color and brightness calibration in video stitching systems, which involves capturing raw images of a calibration chart by multiple cameras to derive compensation gain values for each color channel, applied to camera sensors and image signal processors to ensure continuous brightness and color in the final stitched video.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple cameras are used to capture video signals from different positions, then the field of view coverage is improved, but color and brightness continuity deteriorates due to differences in camera lenses and sensors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by adjusting brightness and color parameters of individual camera signals through calibration values. The system captures calibration images, computes compensation gain values for each color channel (R, G, B), and applies these gains to modify the video signals from each camera, thereby achieving continuous brightness and color across the stitched video while maintaining multi-camera field of view coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces calibration values as an intermediary element between the raw camera signals and the final stitched video. These calibration values, derived from calibration chart images, serve as compensation factors that mediate the differences between cameras, enabling seamless blending of multiple camera feeds without direct modification of the camera hardware themselves
2Stability of the object's composition
If calibration values are applied to modify video signals, then color and brightness continuity is improved, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by performing calibration once during system setup or periodically, rather than continuously during normal operation. The calibration process captures reference images, computes compensation gain values, and stores these calibration values for reuse. This preliminary calibration step simplifies ongoing processing, as the pre-computed gains are simply applied to subsequent video frames without requiring repeated complex calculations
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-calibration by automatically capturing calibration chart images, computing compensation gain values, and generating calibration data without requiring manual intervention. The calibration process is autonomously executed, reducing the need for external calibration equipment or expert intervention, thereby managing complexity through automation rather than manual procedures
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes a plurality of cameras and a circuit. The cameras may be mounted on a vehicle and configured to generate a plurality of initial video signals of a scene outside of the vehicle. A plurality of fields of view of adjoining ones of the cameras may spatially overlap each other. The circuit may be configured to (i) store calibration values of the cameras generated during a calibration process, (ii) modify at least one of the initial video signals by applying the calibration values and (iii) generate a final video signal suitable to display to a user of the vehicle by stitching together the initial video signals. The calibration values may be used by the circuit to generate approximately continuous brightness within the scene in the final video signal.