WO2018234960A1 - Method and device for capturing and enhancing acquired images in digital form - Google Patents

Method and device for capturing and enhancing acquired images in digital form Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2018234960A1
WO2018234960A1 PCT/IB2018/054414 IB2018054414W WO2018234960A1 WO 2018234960 A1 WO2018234960 A1 WO 2018234960A1 IB 2018054414 W IB2018054414 W IB 2018054414W WO 2018234960 A1 WO2018234960 A1 WO 2018234960A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
camera
polarized lens
digital
images
frames
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Application number
PCT/IB2018/054414
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Marcello CALISTI
Gaetano CARBONARA
Cecilia Laschi
Original Assignee
Scuola Superiore Di Studi Universitari E Perfezionamento Sant'anna
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Publication of WO2018234960A1 publication Critical patent/WO2018234960A1/en

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Classifications

    • GPHYSICS
    • G03PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03BAPPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
    • G03B17/00Details of cameras or camera bodies; Accessories therefor
    • G03B17/56Accessories
    • G03B17/565Optical accessories, e.g. converters for close-up photography, tele-convertors, wide-angle convertors

Abstract

A device (1) for capturing and improving photographic images, in particular underwater, acquired in digital form by a camera (2), through a polarized lens (11) placed in front of the lens (20) of said camera (2), the polarized lens being placed in continuous rotation by means of motorized dragging organs (15). Therefore, in a rapid sequence, a plurality of digital photograms are acquired, each of them having different polarization characteristics, as a function of the angular position assumed by the cited polarized lens (11). The images acquired are inserted into an electronic analysis and processing system, which selects two or more of them, and then overlaps and merge them with pre-established parameters and obtain a digital synthesis image having better clarity, contrast, color fidelity, and color saturation compared to each of the individual original images acquired or selected.

Description

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CAPTURING AND ENHANCING ACQUIRED IMAGES IN
DIGITAL FORM
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention is inserted in the photographic sector, with particular reference to underwater shooting.
STATE OF THE ART
[0002] Apart from the known difficulties related to the need to have equipment for shooting and/or lighting, or enclosures, watertight, underwater photo shoots have technical problems inherent in the presence of water, from its greater or lesser clarity for any sand or other in suspension, from the depth at which shooting takes place and, not least, from the characteristics of the backdrop if this affects the scene.
[0003] The quality of underwater images is, therefore, negatively influenced by the physical properties of the water medium and by the effects on the light propagation process existing therein.
[0004] The light propagation under water is mainly affected by two phenomena: attenuation and diffusion (scattering).
[0005] The attenuation is caused by the absorption of light energy by the water medium while the "scattering" determines a variation in the direction of light propagation.
[0006] The first phenomenon, with the reduction of the signal module, determines a color change of the image and for this reason the predominant colors in underwater images are green and blue.
[0007] The second phenomenon leads to a reduction in the performance of optical groups in underwater environments, in particular the so-called "forward scattering" (light casually deviated from an object towards the camera) which causes a blurring or loss of image definition, and the "back scattering" (fraction of light reflected from the water towards the camera lens before reaching the object in the scene), which limits the contrast of the images, generating a veil that stands between the scene and the objective that recovers it, partially "hiding" the scene itself.
[0008] In the past, with traditional negative films or slides, the only possible corrective actions were optical filters applied in front of lenses, such as colored filters to mitigate color dominants and/or polarizing filters to mitigate the scattering effects.
[0009] Currently, with the advent of digital images, in addition to said optical filters, postprocessing image software is used.
[0010] The photographic technique teaches that the ambient light that arrives in depth passes through various layers of water, which makes the disturbing effect (the veil that attenuates the contrast) extremely polarized, and that, therefore, a polarizing filter is able to reduce the veil that changes the color and the contrast of the scene.
[0011] The polarizing filter is therefore rotated till the angle which, in the specific condition, offers the best result.
[0012] The digital image thus created is treated with the well-known processing programs to further improve it, but are evident the limits of these procedures, which can not subrogate missing information in the starting image.
[0013] In the earlier document CN204948252 it is described an acquisition device capable of detecting the polarization state of underwater scenes. The device consists of a dedicated image acquisition system and of a pair of polarizing filters useful for determining the polarization of light coming from the scene being shot.
[0014] The two polarizing filters, superimposed on each other, are placed in front of the acquisition system, which is specially designed.
[0015] The outermost filter is fixed, while the underlying filter is actuated with a motor and independently rotates. [0016] Three contacts, distributed along the circumference of the filter and spaced by 120°, are used for the identification of the position of the filter and the extraction of information related to the polarization state of the light.
[0017] The cited document does not contemplate means for improving the quality of a digital image except as far as possible with a predefined polarization.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0018] The object of the present invention is therefore to propose a method and a device for capturing and enhancing photographic images, in particular, even if not exclusively, of those made in an underwater environment, to correct as much as possible sharpness defects, contrast, color fidelity, and saturation of the colors that afflict these images taken in a conventional way.
[0019] Another object of the invention is to combine the expedients offered by the traditional photographic technique, which act in the shooting phase, with those offered by digital technology with the subsequent processing of the acquired photograms, with corrective interventions of significant impact on the result.
[0020] Another object of the invention is to provide, as far as the device is concerned, a technical solution that allows it to be used with any type of digital camera normally available on the market, both with fixed and interchangeable optics.
[0021] A further object of the invention is to propose a device suitable for being inserted in an underwater housing which contains, in addition to the device itself, a camera, and which has the size and weight suitable for easily panning in water.
[0022] Yet another object of the invention, with regard to the method, is to allow working options that allow better operational flexibility.
[0023] These and other objects are fully achieved by means of a device for capturing and enhancing photographic images, digitally acquired by means of a camera, with said device comprising: - an optical array (10) having at least one polarized lens (1 1) suitable for being associated in front of the lens (20) of said camera (2) in rotatable mode with respect to its optical axis substantially coincident with that of said camera (2);
- motorized dragging organs (15), associated with said optical array (10), capable of rotating said polarized lens (1 1) according to a predetermined motion law, in a suitable phase with the actuation of the shutter of said camera (2), for the acquisition in immediate sequence of a plurality of digital frames, each of which having different polarization characteristics, depending on the angular position taken by said polarized lens (1 1).
[0024] said objects are also achieved by a method for capturing and enhancing images, acquired in digital form by means of a camera to which an optical group is associated, comprising at least one polarized lens, rotatably mounted with respect to its optical axis, with the latter substantially coincident with the optical axis of said camera, in said method being provided:
- the continuous rotation of said polarized lens (1 1) at constant speed for at least one complete revolution;
- the acquisition, in immediate sequence, of a plurality of digital frames through said camera during said rotation of the polarized lens (1 1) so that at least one frame is captured every 10° of rotation of the same polarized lens (11), starting from the angular position of the same assumed in correspondence of the acquisition of the first of said plurality of frames;
- the electronic analysis and processing of captured frames, by means of computing algorithms able to read said frames, selecting two or more of them, overlap them and merge them with predetermined parameters in order to obtain at least a digital synthetized image having better characteristics of clarity, contrast, color fidelity or color saturation with respect to each single original captured frames.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0025] The characteristics of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the method, as well as of the realization of the relative device, according to the object, according to what is proposed in the claims and with the aid of the attached drawings, in which:
- Fig. 1 shows an axonometric view of the device, with an exploded view, a transparent porthole;
- Fig. 2 shows a view similar to Fig. 1 with the porthole applied;
- Fig. 3 shows a front view of the device, associated with an underwater camera housing;
- Fig. 4 shows a side view of Fig. 3, sectioned according to a vertical plane.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0026] In the above listed figures, the device in question, as a whole, has been indicated with reference 1.
[0027] The device 1 is intended to be combined with a digital camera 2, to improve the digital photographic images acquired by the latter.
[0028] The device 1 is designed in particular, though not exclusively, to correct photographic images made in underwater environments, improving as much as possible clarity, contrast, color fidelity, and color saturation.
[0029] Other possible applications of the invention, according to a non-exhaustive list, concern:
- Medical photography for diagnostics, online and offline (endoscopy, biopsy, etc.);
- Amateur or professional photo, with fixed or interchangeable optical devices (reflex);
- Aerial photography;
- Shooting with smartphones;
- Shooting with cameras or on-board sports cameras, such as GoPro or similar.
[0030] The device 1 comprises an optical array 10 with at least one polarized lens 11 , with a linear polarizing filter, suitable for being associated in front of the objective 20 of said camera 2. [0031] The polarized lens 1 1 is integral with an outer ring 12 rotatably associated to an annular support 13, made integral with a plate 14, for example of circular shape and centrally drilled in correspondence of said polarized lens 11.
[0032] The polarized lens 1 1 , together with the relative outer ring 12, is rotatable according to its optical axis, which substantially coincides with that of the lens 20 of said camera 2.
[0033] For this purpose, motorized dragging organs 15 are associated with the outer ring 12, able to rotate the polarized lens 1 1 according to a predetermined motion law, in a suitable phase with the actuation of the shutter of said camera 2, for the acquisition, in rapid sequence, of a plurality of digital frames, each of which having different polarization characteristics, as a function of the angular position assumed by the same polarized lens 1 1.
[0034] In a preferred solution, said motion law provides a continuous rotation of the polarized lens 1 1 with an angular speed calibrated according to the shutter speed of said camera 2, so that in the second fraction in which the shutter remains open for the exposure, the angular excursion made by the polarized lens 1 1 is not excessive.
[0035] The motorized dragging organs 15 comprise a miniaturized electric motor 16 and transmission organs 17 constituted, in the non-limiting example shown in the figures, by an endless screw 17A, keyed on the shaft of the motor 16, and by a cogwheel 17B, the latter being formed in the outer circumference of the ring 12.
[0036] The plate 14 also supports battery supply means for said electric motor 16, not shown in the figures as obvious and irrelevant for understanding purposes.
[0037] In a first embodiment, not shown, said transmission organs 17 comprise a pinion, driven in rotation by the shaft of said motor 16, and a transmission belt engaged with a pulley formed in the outer circumference of said ring 12.
[0038] In a second variant embodiment, also not illustrated, said transmission organs 17 are of the cascade of gears type. [0039] The device 1 , in addition to the elements just described, which constitute the "hardware" part of the invention, comprises an automatic system for electronically analyzing and processing the acquired images (not shown), which identifies the "software" part, in which are provided calculation algorithms which are able to read said images, to select two or more of them and to overlap and merge them with predetermined parameters to obtain a digital synthesis image having better sharpness, contrast, chromatic fidelity, and color saturation with respect to to each of the individual original images acquired or selected.
[0040] It should be noted that the processing software is per se known, even if it can not be considered a commercial program comparable to the most famous, therefore its detailed description is omitted, as it is known by the experts of the sector.
[0041] For said underwater use, the device 1 advantageously comprises a watertight housing 3 for housing said camera 2, of the optical array 10 and of the motorized dragging organs 15, in said housing 3 being provided a transparent porthole 4 arranged in front of said optical array 10.
[0042] In a preferred embodiment, as shown in the figures, the porthole 4 has a spherical cap shape; this solution is optimal both from a mechanical point of view, with greater resistance to water pressure, and from an optical performance profile, by distancing the surrounding water from the polarized lens 11 and the objective 20.
[0043] It should be noted that the curvature radius of the porthole 4 is calculated appropriately in order not to generate optical distortions in the images taken.
[0044] Inside the underwater housing 3 there are provided, in a per se known manner, supporting members 5 for fixing the camera 2 and a rear window 6 which allows to see the screen in the back of the camera.
[0045] The same housing 3 can be equipped with gripping handles, grips, sport sights, attachments for illuminators and all that is already provided as standard and/or optional for such objects. [0046] The design of the housing 3 will advantageously have dimensions, ergonomics and weight suitable for an easy swiveling in water.
[0047] The invention also defines an original method for shooting and enhancing photographic images, acquired in digital form by means of a camera 2 to which an optical array 10 is associated, comprising at least one polarized lens 1 1 , rotatably mounted with respect to its own optical axis, with the latter substantially coinciding with the optical axis of said camera 2, in the aforesaid method being provided:
- the continuous rotation of said polarized lens (1 1) at constant speed for at least one complete revolution;
- the acquisition, in immediate sequence, of a plurality of digital frames through said camera 2 during said rotation of the polarized lens 1 1 so that at least one frame is captured every 10° of rotation of the same polarized lens 1 1 , starting from the angular position of the same assumed in correspondence of the acquisition of the first of said plurality of frames;
- the electronic analysis and processing of the captured frames, by means of computing algorithms capable of reading said frames, selecting two or more of them and overlapping and merging them with predetermined parameters in order to obtain at least a digital synthetized image having better characteristics of clarity, contrast, color fidelity or color saturation with respect to each of the single original captured frames.
[0048] For particular situations, for example in the case in which the rotation speed of the lens is too high with respect to the execution speed of sequential shots of the camera, in the method it is envisaged to make said polarized lens 1 1 perform two or more complete revolutions, and to acquire, in each of these, digital images corresponding to a certain number of angular orientations of the same polarized lens 1 1 , different from those of the other turns, so as to enlarge the number of acquired frames with angular orientation different from each other to provide to the image processing software. [0049] The method described provides that the image processing software is in direct interface with the CCD or CMOS sensor or with the memory card of the camera 2; alternatively, it is envisaged to transfer the frames acquired from said camera 2 and store them in an external storage device, before carrying out the electronic analysis and processing thereof.
[0050] A variant of the method provides the preparation, by means of said electronic analysis and processing, of two or more digital synthesis images, different from each other, leaving to the professionalism of an operator, as well as to his personal preference, the task of a visual comparison of the synthesis images obtained, for the choice of the most satisfying one.
[0051] From the foregoing it can be understood how the proposed invention allows to obtain a decisive improvement of photographic images in an underwater environment, giving them superior quality regarding clarity, contrast, chromatic fidelity, and color saturation.
[0052] Obviously, uses different from underwater photography remain possible, as also specified in the preceding description.
[0053] The original combination between a linear polarizer filter moved in continuous rotation and a software able to synthesise, even in post-production, all the acquired images of the same scene to compose one that summarizes the best features of the original ones, it is revealed at the same time simple and effective in order to obtain results of considerable impact.
[0054] It should be noted that the device described is suitable for any type of digital camera, both with fixed and interchangeable lenses.
[0055] The characteristics of the device make it easy to insert into an underwater housing, together with the camera.
However, it is understood that the above description has an exemplifying and non-limiting value, therefore any variants of detail that may be necessary for technical and/or functional reasons are considered from now on falling within the same protective scope defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. Device for capturing and enhancing acquired images in digital form via a camera (2), said device (1) characterized in that it comprises:
- an optical array (10) having at least one polarized lens (1 1) suitable for being associated in front of the lens (20) of said camera (2) in rotatable mode with respect to its optical axis substantially coincident with that of said camera (2);
- motorized dragging organs (15), associated with said optical array (10), capable of rotating said polarized lens (1 1) according to a predetermined motion law, in a suitable phase with the actuation of the shutter of said camera (2), for the acquisition in immediate sequence of a plurality of digital frames, each of which having different polarization characteristics, depending on the angular position taken by said polarized lens (1 1).
2. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that it comprises an automated system for the analysis and processing of scanned images, in which there are provided computing algorithms able to read said images, select two or more of them, overlap them and merge them with predetermined parameters in order to obtain a synthetized digital image having superior clarity, contrast, color fidelity, and color saturation with respect to each single original images captured or selected.
3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, for underwater use, characterized in that it comprises a watertight housing (3) for housing said camera (2) and said optical array (10) and motorized dragging organs (15), in said housing (3) being provided a transparent porthole (4) disposed in front of said optical array (10).
4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that said porthole (4) has a spherical shell shape.
5. Device according to claim 1 , characterized in that said motion law provides a continuous rotation of said polarized lens (1 1) with an angular speed calibrated in function of the fastening speed of said camera (2).
6. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said motorized dragging organs (15) comprise a miniaturized electric motor (16) and transmission organs (17) intended for actuating on an outer ring (12) provided in said optical array (10) and integral with said polarized lens (11).
7. A method of capturing and enhancing acquired images in digital form by means of a camera (2) to which an optical array (10) is associated, comprising at least one polarized lens (11) rotatably mounted with respect to its optical axis, with the latter substantially coincident with the optical axis of said camera (2), characterized in that it comprises:
- the continuous rotation of said polarized lens (1 1) at constant speed for at least one complete revolution;
- the acquisition, in immediate sequence, of a plurality of digital frames through said camera during said rotation of the polarized lens (1 1) so that at least one frame is captured every 10° of rotation of the same polarized lens (11), starting from the angular position of the same assumed in correspondence of the acquisition of the first of said plurality of frames;
- the electronic analysis and processing of captured frames, by means of computing algorithms able to read said frames, select two or more of them, overlap them and merge them with predetermined parameters in order to obtain at least a digital synthetized image having better characteristics of clarity, contrast, color fidelity or color saturation with respect to each single original captured frames.
8. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that said polarized lens (11) is intended to perform two or more complete turns and to capture, in each of these, digital images corresponding to a certain number of angular orientations of the same polarized lens (1 1), different from those of other laps.
9. Method according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that it is intended to transfer the frames captured by said camera (2) and to store them in an external storage device prior to said analysis and electronic processing thereof.
10. Method according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that it provides the output preparation by means of said electronic analysis and processing of two or more of the aforementioned synthetized digital images, different from each other, and a visual comparison of these performed by an operator, for the choice of the most satisfying one.
PCT/IB2018/054414 2017-06-19 2018-06-15 Method and device for capturing and enhancing acquired images in digital form WO2018234960A1 (en)

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IT102017000067132A IT201700067132A1 (en) 2017-06-19 2017-06-19 METHOD AND DEVICE FOR THE RECOVERY AND IMPROVEMENT OF PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGES
IT102017000067132 2017-06-19

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Cited By (1)

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CN110174808A (en) * 2019-05-21 2019-08-27 Oppo广东移动通信有限公司 Underwater auxiliary device of taking pictures

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US4522474A (en) * 1980-05-20 1985-06-11 Slavin Sidney H Spinning optics device
US6259865B1 (en) * 1997-09-29 2001-07-10 3-D Video, Inc. Stereoscopic beam splitter optical converter device for video systems
US20070035705A1 (en) * 2005-07-15 2007-02-15 James Hurd System, method and apparatus for enhancing a projected image
US20140240854A1 (en) * 2013-02-25 2014-08-28 Tien-Pei MENG Multi-ring optical filter assembly allowing independent adjustment of rotation angle of each lens thereof
US20140240857A1 (en) * 2013-02-25 2014-08-28 Tien-Pei MENG Pivotally connected structure allowing lens replacement and lens angle adjustment

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CN106504222B (en) * 2016-11-21 2019-09-06 河海大学常州校区 A kind of underwater Polarization Image Fusion system based on bionic visual mechanism

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4522474A (en) * 1980-05-20 1985-06-11 Slavin Sidney H Spinning optics device
US6259865B1 (en) * 1997-09-29 2001-07-10 3-D Video, Inc. Stereoscopic beam splitter optical converter device for video systems
US20070035705A1 (en) * 2005-07-15 2007-02-15 James Hurd System, method and apparatus for enhancing a projected image
US20140240854A1 (en) * 2013-02-25 2014-08-28 Tien-Pei MENG Multi-ring optical filter assembly allowing independent adjustment of rotation angle of each lens thereof
US20140240857A1 (en) * 2013-02-25 2014-08-28 Tien-Pei MENG Pivotally connected structure allowing lens replacement and lens angle adjustment

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN110174808A (en) * 2019-05-21 2019-08-27 Oppo广东移动通信有限公司 Underwater auxiliary device of taking pictures
CN110174808B (en) * 2019-05-21 2021-06-15 Oppo广东移动通信有限公司 Underwater photographing auxiliary device

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