DYNAMIC, LOCAL EDGE PRESERVING DEFECT PIXEL CORRECTION FOR IMAGE SENSORS WITH SPATIALLY ARRANGED EXPOSURES
First Claim
1. A defect pixel correction system for image data collected by a pixel array of an image sensor with spatially arranged exposures, comprising:
- a neighborhood pre-processing component that receives an exposure ratio for the pixel array and adjusts a value of at least a particular neighbor pixel of a given pixel from the image data based upon the exposure ratio, wherein the exposure ratio is a ratio of a first exposure time of a first subset of pixels of the pixel array to a second exposure time of a second subset of the pixels of the pixel array, wherein neighbor pixels of the given pixel comprise the particular neighbor pixel, wherein the neighbor pixels and the given pixel belong to a particular Bayer domain, and wherein each of the neighbor pixels of the given pixel is one of vertically, horizontally, or diagonally adjacent to the given pixel within the particular Bayer domain;
a neighborhood analysis component that computes neighborhood statistics for the given pixel from the image data based on values of the neighbor pixels of the given pixel from the image data as adjusted by the neighborhood pre-processing component;
a defect detection component that detects whether a value of the given pixel from the image data is defective based upon the neighborhood statistics; and
a replacement component that replaces the value of the given pixel from the image data when detected to be defective to output modified image data.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Various technologies described herein pertain to defect pixel correction for image data collected by a pixel array of an image sensor with spatially arranged exposures. The pixel array includes a first subset of pixels having a first exposure time and a second subset of pixels having a second exposure time. An exposure ratio (ratio of first exposure time to second exposure time) is received. A value of at least a particular neighbor pixel of a given pixel from the image data is adjusted based upon the exposure ratio. Neighborhood statistics for the given pixel from the image data are computed based on values of neighbor pixels of the given pixel from the image data as adjusted. Whether the value of the given pixel is defective is detected based on the neighborhood statistics. The value of the given pixel is replaced when detected to be defective to output modified image data.
23 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A defect pixel correction system for image data collected by a pixel array of an image sensor with spatially arranged exposures, comprising:
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a neighborhood pre-processing component that receives an exposure ratio for the pixel array and adjusts a value of at least a particular neighbor pixel of a given pixel from the image data based upon the exposure ratio, wherein the exposure ratio is a ratio of a first exposure time of a first subset of pixels of the pixel array to a second exposure time of a second subset of the pixels of the pixel array, wherein neighbor pixels of the given pixel comprise the particular neighbor pixel, wherein the neighbor pixels and the given pixel belong to a particular Bayer domain, and wherein each of the neighbor pixels of the given pixel is one of vertically, horizontally, or diagonally adjacent to the given pixel within the particular Bayer domain; a neighborhood analysis component that computes neighborhood statistics for the given pixel from the image data based on values of the neighbor pixels of the given pixel from the image data as adjusted by the neighborhood pre-processing component; a defect detection component that detects whether a value of the given pixel from the image data is defective based upon the neighborhood statistics; and a replacement component that replaces the value of the given pixel from the image data when detected to be defective to output modified image data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of correcting defect pixels in image data collected by a pixel array of an image sensor with spatially arranged exposures, comprising:
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receiving an exposure ratio for the pixel array, wherein the exposure ratio is a ratio of a first exposure time of a first subset of pixels of the pixel array to a second exposure time of a second subset of the pixels of the pixel array; adjusting a value of at least a particular neighbor pixel of a given pixel from the image data based upon the exposure ratio, wherein neighbor pixels of the given pixel comprise the particular neighbor pixel; computing neighborhood statistics for the given pixel from the image data based on values of the neighbor pixels of the given pixel from the image data as adjusted; detecting whether a value of the given pixel from the image data is defective based upon the neighborhood statistics; and replacing the value of the given pixel from the image data when detected to be defective to output modified image data. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An image sensor, comprising:
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a pixel array; a buffer that retains image data collected by the pixel array; and a defect pixel correction system, comprising; a neighborhood pre-processing component that receives an exposure ratio for the pixel array and adjusts a value of at least a particular neighbor pixel of a given pixel from the image data based upon the exposure ratio, wherein the exposure ratio is a ratio of a first exposure time of a first subset of pixels of the pixel array to a second exposure time of a second subset of the pixels of the pixel array, wherein neighbor pixels of the given pixel comprise the particular neighbor pixel, wherein the neighbor pixels and the given pixel belong to a particular Bayer domain, and wherein each of the neighbor pixels of the given pixel is one of vertically, horizontally, or diagonally adjacent to the given pixel within the particular Bayer domain; a neighborhood analysis component that computes neighborhood statistics for the given pixel from the image data based on values of the neighbor pixels of the given pixel from the image data as adjusted; a defect detection component that detects whether a value of the given pixel from the image data is defective based upon the neighborhood statistics; a replacement component that replaces the value of the given pixel from the image data when detected to be defective to output modified image data; and an exception component that detects whether a condition exists when the first exposure time differs from the second exposure time, wherein the exception component, upon detection of the existence of the condition, inhibits replacement of the value of the given pixel from the image data regardless whether detected to be defective.
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Specification