Apparatus and System for Improving Image Quality
First Claim
1. An apparatus for improving image quality in video telephony comprising:
- an image detection unit, wherein the image detection unit comprisesa near infrared light source for illuminating an object, such that the object is front illuminated thereby producing reflected near infrared radiation,an image sensor for generating first image data responsive to the reflected near infrared radiation, andan infrared filter for filtering the reflected near infrared radiation while allowing reflected visible light from the object so as to facilitate the image sensor further generating second image data responsive to the reflected visible light when the infrared filter is active;
an image alignment unit coupled to the image sensor of the image detection unit for aligning a near infrared image from the first image data with a visible image from the second image data in order to form an aligned image pair; and
an image fusion unit for forming a composite image of the object from the aligned image pair.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and an apparatus for improving image quality of an object in video telephony are described. The apparatus comprises an image detection unit, an image alignment unit and an image fusion unit. A near infrared light source in the image detection unit illuminates the object, such that the object is front illuminated. An image sensor alongside the near infrared light source generates a near infrared image and a visible image. An image alignment unit aligns the near infrared image and the visible image. An image fusion unit fuses the aligned near infrared image and aligned visible image pair to form a composite image of the object. The composite image of the object has improved image quality, image detail, and a reduction in shadows.
79 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for improving image quality in video telephony comprising:
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an image detection unit, wherein the image detection unit comprises a near infrared light source for illuminating an object, such that the object is front illuminated thereby producing reflected near infrared radiation, an image sensor for generating first image data responsive to the reflected near infrared radiation, and an infrared filter for filtering the reflected near infrared radiation while allowing reflected visible light from the object so as to facilitate the image sensor further generating second image data responsive to the reflected visible light when the infrared filter is active; an image alignment unit coupled to the image sensor of the image detection unit for aligning a near infrared image from the first image data with a visible image from the second image data in order to form an aligned image pair; and an image fusion unit for forming a composite image of the object from the aligned image pair. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for improving image quality in video telephony comprising:
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an image detection unit, wherein the image detection unit comprises a near infrared light source for illuminating an object, such that the object is front illuminated thereby producing reflected near infrared radiation, a first image sensor for generating a near infrared image responsive to the reflected near infrared radiation, and a second image sensor coupled to an infrared filter for generating a visible image responsive to reflected visible light when the infrared filter is active; an image alignment unit coupled to the first image sensor and the second image sensor to align the visible image with the near infrared image, in order to form an aligned image pair; and an image fusion unit for forming a composite image of the object from the aligned image pair. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system for improving image quality in video telephony comprising:
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a camera, wherein the camera comprises an image detection unit comprising a near infrared light source for illuminating an object, such that the object is front illuminated thereby producing reflected near infrared radiation, an image sensor for generating first image data responsive to the reflected near infrared radiation, and an infrared filter for filtering the reflected near infrared radiation while allowing reflected visible light from the object so as to facilitate the image sensor further generating second image data responsive to the reflected visible light when the infrared filter is active; an image alignment unit coupled to the image sensor of the image detection unit to align a near infrared image from the first image data with a visible image from the second image data in order to form an aligned image pair; and an image fusion unit for forming a composite image of the object from the aligned image pair; a communication terminal coupled to the camera to receive the composite image from the image fusion unit of the camera and to transmit the composite image to a communication line. a video display unit coupled to the communication terminal for displaying images of the object. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification