Development and Application of Wide Dynamic Camera Technology (Part 1)-Revolutionary Pixim DPS New Imaging Technology

Development and application of wide dynamic camera technology (Part 1)

-Revolutionary Pixim DPS new imaging technology

[Abstract]: Pixim's DPS imaging technology from Stanford University has applied for 56 patents, 42 of which have been effective. The world-renowned camera manufacturer Ikegami Ikegami Japan uses this technology and some of its broadcast-level camera technologies to apply to surveillance cameras. In October 2005, the Ikegami ISD-A10 camera came out with a much better wide dynamic effect than traditional CCD cameras. The true color reproduction and high definition, especially the pictures taken in the environment with complex lighting changes, are widely praised by European and American ATMs, banks, financial institutions, security industries and other users. In the future, CCD cameras will be gradually replaced by Pixim's DPS cameras.

Beijing Far East United International Technology Co., Ltd. Guo Song

1. Development process of wide dynamic camera

The security industry is a rapidly developing market, and the vast prospects and growth of this market can be seen through video surveillance. The video surveillance market includes products such as video cameras, monitors, digital video recorders, audio and video matrices, and picture processors. Recent events around the world have contributed to the growth in demand for video monitors, especially for high-quality video images.

In the application process of surveillance cameras, scenes with large contrast between light and dark or backlight often appear. For safety reasons, CCD cameras are installed indoors and outdoors that need to be monitored. Since they often face multiple lighting conditions at the same location, the lighting conditions in many places are divided into mixed light of daylight and artificial lighting, and there is a contrast between light and dark at different times. Very large, backlighting, etc., such as in bank depository, entrances and exits of important places, etc., because the strong light entering from the window and the soft light from the ceiling fluorescent light may cause difficulty in capturing indoor and outdoor scenes The indoor and outdoor scenes with great contrast are clearly shot. However, for the security industry, it is required to shoot a clear picture under complex lighting conditions without losing any details. Ordinary cameras are limited by the CCD sensitivity characteristics. When shooting images, the background will be too bright and the foreground is too dark, or the background is clear and the foreground is too dark and the foreground is suitable for the background. The traditional camera generally uses backlight compensation technology or is placed indoors or outdoors. A camera to adapt to the large light contrast, but the effect is not ideal. In response to this situation, a wide dynamic technology was born.

In 1977, Panasonic introduced the first generation of wide dynamic camera, its wide dynamic range is 40 times. In 1999, Panasonic introduced the second generation of super wide dynamic camera, its wide dynamic range reached 80 times (48dB). In April 2005, Panasonic's third-generation super wide dynamic camera came out, and its wide dynamic range reached 160 times (54 dB). At present, the wide dynamic technology is mainly mastered by some large foreign camera manufacturers. Although the technical methods of the various companies are different, the principle of using the CCD to achieve the wide dynamic is basically the same. The main technology of WDR is to use a special DSP (Digital Signal Processing) circuit to expose the bright part to the most appropriate shutter speed, and then to expose the dark part to the most appropriate shutter speed, and then perform DSP processing on the two images again. In combination, the bright and dark parts can be seen clearly, which requires high technology to minimize the loss of color and clarity. However, due to the limitations of CCD characteristics, the wide dynamic range of the camera can be up to 60dB.

In October 2005, Japan ’s Ikegami Company launched the ISD-A10 ultra-wide dynamic camera using Pixim ’s DPS imaging technology, which has a typical dynamic range of 95 dB (17782 times) and a maximum of 120 dB (316,000 times). Color reproduction and clarity. It marks a huge breakthrough in WDR technology, and a new generation of WDR cameras has taken a big step forward at the starting point of a higher layer.

2. Pixim's DPS technology super wide dynamic camera comes out

At the ASIS International Security Exhibition in Orlando, Florida, in September 2005, a new CMOS-based Pixim DPS (Digital Pixel System®) CCTV camera gave a refreshing feeling. The world-renowned manufacturer of professional broadcast TV cameras and CCTV cameras-Ikegami Ikegami Corporation has launched its first Pixim DPS camera Hyper Dynamic ISD-A10, which became the highlight of the exhibition. And after the exhibition, it was widely welcomed by American and European banks and financial institutions.

Pixim ISD-A10

Pixim CEO Joe Montalbo said: "Ikegami ISD-A10 camera is the ideal choice for Pixim technology, the actual subject and target recognition is very important, for example in the banking department and ATM airport. Pixim's DPS technology adoption will help Since user losses are minimized, clear pictures are taken under dazzling and unpredictable light conditions, which helps to arrest more criminal suspects. "

The following image shows the comparison between Pixim camera and CCD camera in the same scene.

Ikegami Ikegami Japan is widely recognized around the world because of its outstanding broadcast cameras and CCTV cameras. With its performance, true color reproduction, image quality and absolute reliability, Ikegami occupies a leading role in cameras, monitors and diverse broadcast equipment. This time the Ikegami company combined its leading low-vertical flare and backlight compensation, color adjustment and other technologies with Pixim technology in the field of cameras to launch the super dynamic ISD-A10 camera.

Teruo Hongo, President of Ikegami Electronics, said: "Effective surveillance requires consistent, accurate, and real-time identification of subjects and targets. Pixim technology enables our new product ISD-A10 camera to capture high-level images even under strong light. Clear and detailed low-light spot images. Generally, within 24 hours, due to light changes, surveillance cameras in many places have not been able to capture accurate images. Such as exposure to flickering light, strong background light, reflected light, oblique light, Direct sunlight or bright front lights. Why many users use cameras with Pixim technology when adding or replacing original cameras is due to the fact that there are light problems in the actual use environment. Ikegami will prepare for a larger range after the preparation Promote cameras based on DPS chips. "

In normal or wide dynamic range scenes under any light conditions, Pixim's DPS chipset is closely arranged, easy to form a certain shape, and can take very high-quality images. When shooting actual images with existing simulation technology, due to the continuous change of light and the limitation of accurate color restoration of objects, defects such as poor object recognition and poor color reproduction of the image appeared, and the continuity and accuracy of Pixim imaging technology overcome these defects. The DPS image sensor converts the light signal into a digital signal on each pixel, so that each pixel has an independent and optimized exposure time to produce a high-quality, high-color accuracy image.

Pixim has developed a patented DPS imaging technology superior to traditional CCDs, which marks a breakthrough in basic principles of image technology. DPS technology was developed in 1993 by Abbas el Gamal, a professor of electrical engineering at Stanford University, and his PhD student David Yang (杨晓东), and was later authorized to Pixim, a company founded by Dr. Yang Xiaodong in 1999. Since then, Pixim has applied for 56 patents on DPS concepts and technologies, 42 of which have become effective.

It has a transformative meaning in the process of video camera capturing and processing images. Using this technology to shoot high-quality moving and still images far exceeds any other existing technology. The so-called DPS platform, by combining image capture and processing in an optimized system, Pixim's imaging system has unparalleled functions. Pixim provides a complete digital imaging system including an image sensor, image processor, camera reference design method, software and key algorithms, making the camera easy to develop and design and form a high-quality, high-performance camera.

Fourth, the basic principle of Pixim's DPS technology

The core invention of DPS technology is to convert the optical signal to a digital signal at each pixel point when capturing an image-from analog to digital conversion ADC (analog-to-digital converter), so that the signal attenuation and chroma brightness crosstalk are reduced to Minimization allows the sensor to provide the best and independent number of exposures for each pixel. Once the data is captured in digital form, a variety of digital signal processing techniques are used to reproduce the best image. Even in scenes with high dynamic range under extreme lighting conditions, you can shoot