System and method for processing video data to detect and eliminate flickering light sources through dynamic exposure control
First Claim
1. An image capture system for a vehicle equipped with a display for displaying streamed video images of a scene proximate the vehicle, the image capture system comprising:
- a camera comprising a field of view for capturing video images of the scene proximate the vehicle and streaming the video images; and
an image processing unit for receiving the streamed video images, processing the streamed video images and supplying the streamed video images to the display,wherein the image processing unit is configured to;
select a first plurality of exposure times comprising a first exposure time and at least a second exposure time;
select the first exposure time based on ambient light conditions in the field of view;
adjust the first exposure time to the second exposure time based on an amplitude-modulated light source in the streamed video images;
calculate a variance of a flicker intensity for the amplitude-modulated light source for each of the first plurality of exposure times; and
display the amplitude-modulated light source in the streamed video images supplied to the display with a reduced flicker intensity of the amplitude-modulated light sources.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An image capture system is provided for a vehicle equipped with a display for displaying streamed video images of a scene proximate the vehicle. The image capture system includes a camera for capturing video images of the scene proximate the vehicle at a selected exposure time and streaming the video images, and an image processing unit for receiving the streamed video images, processing the streamed video images and supplying the streamed video images to the display. The image processing unit is configured to detect amplitude-modulated light sources in the streamed video images, and adjust the exposure time of the camera to match a multiple of a modulation frequency of the amplitude-modulated light sources decreasing a flicker intensity of the amplitude-modulated light sources in the streamed video images supplied to the display.
31 Citations
16 Claims
-
1. An image capture system for a vehicle equipped with a display for displaying streamed video images of a scene proximate the vehicle, the image capture system comprising:
-
a camera comprising a field of view for capturing video images of the scene proximate the vehicle and streaming the video images; and an image processing unit for receiving the streamed video images, processing the streamed video images and supplying the streamed video images to the display, wherein the image processing unit is configured to; select a first plurality of exposure times comprising a first exposure time and at least a second exposure time; select the first exposure time based on ambient light conditions in the field of view; adjust the first exposure time to the second exposure time based on an amplitude-modulated light source in the streamed video images; calculate a variance of a flicker intensity for the amplitude-modulated light source for each of the first plurality of exposure times; and display the amplitude-modulated light source in the streamed video images supplied to the display with a reduced flicker intensity of the amplitude-modulated light sources. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. An image system for a vehicle, the image system comprising:
-
a camera for capturing video images of a scene proximate the vehicle at a selected exposure time and streaming the video images; an image processing unit for receiving the streamed video images and processing the streamed video images; and a display for displaying the streamed video images; wherein the image processing unit is configured to; detect an amplitude-modulated light source in the streamed video images; adjust the exposure time of the camera to match the multiple of the modulation frequency by selecting a first exposure time and selecting a first plurality of exposure times based on the first exposure time; determine a flicker strength of each of the first plurality of exposure times over a plurality of the video images; determine a magnitude of a sampling function of the flicker strength of each of the first plurality of exposure times; compare the magnitude of each of the first plurality of exposure times to determine if one of the plurality of exposure times is an approximate local minimum; and adjust the exposure time of the camera to match a multiple of a modulation frequency of the amplitude-modulated light sources decreasing a flicker intensity of the amplitude-modulated light sources in the streamed video images supplied to the display. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A method of capturing video images streamed from a camera within a vehicle, the method comprising:
-
detecting amplitude-modulated light sources in the streamed video images; iteratively selecting a plurality of exposure times; calculating a sampling function of a flicker strength of each of the plurality of exposure times over a plurality of the video images; comparing a magnitude of the sampling function for each of the plurality of exposure times to identify an approximate minimum of the sampling function; and adjusting an exposure time of the camera to match a multiple of a modulation frequency of the amplitude-modulated light sources decreasing a flicker intensity of the amplitude-modulated light sources in the streamed video images when displayed. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
-
Specification