APPARATUS AND METHOD OF AUTOMATICALLY CORRECTING BRIGHTNESS OF IMAGES CAPTURED BY MULTIPLE CAMERAS

• US 20130176400A1
• Filed: 08/31/2012
• Published: 07/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Inventors: Kim, Jin Seo, Lee, Song Woo, You, Ju Yeon, Cho, Maeng Sub, JANG, In Su, Kwon, Soon Young
• Application Number:
  US13/601,907
• Publication Number:
  US 20130176400A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/47
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/50 using two or more images, e.g. averaging or subtraction
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/92 based on global image properties
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/133 Equalising the characteristics of different image components, e.g. their average brightness or colour balance
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/243 using three or more 2D image sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/257 Colour aspects

Abstract

Disclosed is a technique for acquiring many images in different positions using multiple cameras to three dimensionally restore an object. The technique acquires images obtained by capturing an object by multiple cameras and corrects brightnesses between images captured by the multiple cameras based on an average brightness value calculated from the images captured by the multiple cameras so as to be constantly maintained. Therefore, it is possible to precisely restore a 3D model using images captured by multiple cameras having corrected brightness.

Claims

1. An automatic brightness correcting device, comprising:

an image acquiring unit configured to acquire images obtained by capturing an object with multiple cameras; and

an image correcting unit configured to correct brightnesses between images captured by the multiple cameras based on an average brightness value calculated from the images captured by the multiple cameras so as to be constantly maintained.

2. The automatic brightness correcting device of claim 1, wherein the image acquiring unit acquires images whose brightness values are varied depending on a position of a camera and an illumination condition.

3. The automatic brightness correcting device of claim 1, wherein the image acquiring unit stores the images captured by the multiple cameras that are disposed in a predetermined position with respect to the object so as to be mapped with the cameras that capture the images.

4. The automatic brightness correcting device of claim 1, wherein the image acquiring unit includes:

a communicating unit configured to communicate with the multiple cameras to receive the images captured by the multiple cameras; and

a storing unit configured to store the received image so as to be mapped with the cameras that capture the images.

5. The automatic brightness correcting device of claim 4, wherein the communicating unit communicates with the multiple cameras through at least one of a wired interface and a wireless interface.

6. The automatic brightness correcting device of claim 4, wherein the storing unit stores images including specific identification codes of the multiple cameras.

7. The automatic brightness correcting device of claim 1, wherein the image correcting unit calculates an average value of brightness values of the images captured by the multiple cameras and corrects the brightnesses between the images captured by the multiple cameras based on an average brightness value of the total images calculated from the calculated average value so as to be constantly maintained.

8. The automatic brightness correcting device of claim 1, wherein the image correcting unit selects a field where the brightness value of the image is corrected based on an average value, a maximum value, and a minimum value of the brightness values of the images captured by the multiple cameras.

9. The automatic brightness correcting device of claim 8, wherein the image correcting unit generates a correction function for correcting the brightness value of the images based on the average brightness value and the field to be corrected and converts the images using the generated correction function.

10. The automatic brightness correcting device of claim 1, wherein the image correcting unit corrects the brightness value in a predetermined field of each of the images captured by the multiple cameras using the average brightness value.

11. The automatic brightness correcting device of claim 1, wherein the image correcting unit includes:

a brightness calculating unit configured to calculate an average value, a maximum value, and a minimum value of the brightness values of the images captured by the multiple cameras and calculate the average brightness value of the total images from the calculated average value;

a correction field selecting unit configured to select a field where the brightness values of the images are corrected based on the average value, the maximum value, and the minimum value of the brightness values of the images captured by the multiple cameras; and

an image converting unit configured to generate the correction function for correcting the brightness value of the images based on the average brightness value and the field to be corrected and convert the image using the generated correction function.

12. An automatic brightness correcting device, comprising:

a brightness correcting target configured to be cylindrical and to have a size determined by considering a size of an object to be three-dimensionally restored;

multiple cameras that are disposed in predetermined positions with respect to a brightness correcting target and capture the brightness correcting target; and

an image processing device configured to correct the brightnesses between the images captured by the multiple cameras based on the average brightness value calculated from the images captured by the multiple cameras so as to be constantly maintained.

13. The automatic brightness correcting device of claim 12, wherein the brightness correcting target has a predetermined color so as to obtain an optimal image for brightness correction.

14. The automatic brightness correcting device of claim 13, wherein the brightness correcting target is manufactured by non-reflective inks.

15. The automatic brightness correcting device of claim 12, wherein the image processing device generates a 3D image using the corrected image.

16. An automatic brightness correcting method, comprising:

acquiring images obtained by capturing an object with multiple cameras; and

calculating an average value of brightness values of acquired images and correcting the brightnesses between the images captured by the multiple cameras based on the average brightness value of the total images calculated from the calculated average value so as to be constantly maintained.

17. The automatic brightness correcting method of claim 16, wherein the acquiring includes:

communicating with the multiple cameras to receive the images captured by the multiple cameras; and

storing the received images by mapping the images with the cameras that capture the images.

18. The automatic brightness correcting method of claim 16, wherein the correcting includes:

calculating an average value, a maximum value, and a minimum value of the brightness values of the images captured by the multiple cameras and calculating an average brightness value of the total images from the calculated average value;

selecting a field where the brightness value of the images are corrected based on an average value, a maximum value, and a minimum value of the brightness values of the images captured by the multiple cameras; and

generating a correction function for correcting the brightness values of the images based on the average brightness value and the field to be corrected and converting the images using the generated correction function.