Method and system for increasing the effective dynamic range of a random-access pixel sensor array
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorsAndrei Cernasov, Fernando De La Vega
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Abstract
To effective increase the dynamic range of a pixel array, a plurality of brightness groups is set. The pixels of a pixel array are then distributed among the groups according with their likely brightness. Each image frame is scanned in the order of brightness, with the pixels in the group likely to be the brightest being scanned first and the pixels in the group likely to be the darkest being scanned last. The brightness groups are adjusted at the boundary of the frame scan.
Claims16
A method of increasing the effective dynamic range of a random access pixel array, the method comprising:
- setting a plurality of brightness groups;
- assigning pixels in the pixel array to brightness groups based on past values of their scanned brightness, wherein pixels with comparable brightness values are assigned to a common group and pixels with relatively different brightness values to different groups;
- scanning the pixel array in the order of brightness groups, starting with the pixels in the group containing the brightest pixels, following with the pixels in the group containing the next relatively darker pixels and ending with the group containing the darkest pixels;
- and
- updating the group assignments of the pixels in the array.
A system for effectively increasing a dynamic range of a random-access pixel array, the system comprising:
- a pixel array;
- a plurality of memory maps, each memory map configured to store pixel addresses that access pixels in the pixel array, wherein the plurality of memory maps are ordered by brightness level;
- and
- a controller configured to interface with the pixel array and the plurality of memory maps, wherein the controller is also configured to scan the plurality of memory maps based on a brightness level of the plurality of memory maps, beginning with the brightest level.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.