Image Flare Detection Using Asymmetric Pixels
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsGennadiy A. Agranov, Gershon Rosenblum, Xiangli Li
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for processing an image includes obtaining a set of pixel values captured from a pixel array during an image capture frame. The set of pixel values includes pixel values for a set of asymmetric pixels having different directional asymmetries. The method further includes detecting, using the pixel values for at least the asymmetric pixels and the different directional asymmetries of the asymmetric pixels, a directionality of image flare; and processing an image defined by the set of pixel values in accordance with the detected directionality of image flare. In some embodiments, image flare may be distinguished from noise using the set of pixel values.
Claims23
A method for processing an image, comprising:
- obtaining a set of pixel values captured from a pixel array during an image capture frame, the set of pixel values including pixel values for a set of asymmetric pixels having different directional asymmetries;
- detecting, using the pixel values for at least the asymmetric pixels and the different directional asymmetries of the asymmetric pixels, a directionality of image flare;
- and
- processing an image defined by the set of pixel values in accordance with the detected directionality of image flare.
An electronic device, comprising:
- a pixel array comprising asymmetric pixels having different directional asymmetries;
- a processor configured to:
- obtain a set of pixel values captured from the pixel array during an image capture frame, the set of pixel values including pixel values for the asymmetric pixels;
- evaluate the pixel values for at least the asymmetric pixels to identify a region of the pixel array affected by image flare;
- and
- detect, using the pixel values for at least the asymmetric pixels and the different directional asymmetries of the asymmetric pixels, a directionality of image flare.
An imaging system, comprising:
- a pixel array, comprising:
- a first set of asymmetric pixels distributed across the pixel array and having a first directional asymmetry;
- a second set of asymmetric pixels distributed across the pixel array and having a second directional asymmetry different from the first directional asymmetry;
- and
- a processor configured to:
- determine that a first set of pixel values obtained from the first set of asymmetric pixels, during an image capture frame, satisfies an image flare threshold;
- and
- evaluate a second set of pixel values obtained from the second set of asymmetric pixels, during the image capture frame, to determine whether the first set of pixel values is indicative of image flare or noise in an image captured by the pixel array during the image capture frame.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.