Shdr Camera

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Jarrell Campbell

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Aug 3, 2024, 4:53:29 PM8/3/24

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The Qualcomm Vision Intelligence Platform is purpose-built with powerful image processing and machine learning for smart camera products in the consumer and enterprise IoT spaces. The platform is designed to provide superior image processing together with enhanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities for smart camera products in a variety of IoT devices. These include enterprise/security cameras, industrial cameras, home monitoring cameras, and smart home devices that use on-device vision artificial intelligence (AI) in the security, retail, manufacturing, logistics applications, and more.

High Dynamic Range (HDR) is the next generation of color clarity and realism in images and videos. Ideal for media that require high contrast or mix light and shadows, HDR preserves the clarity better than Standard Dynamic Range (SDR).

HDR is an imaging technique that captures, processes, and reproduces content in such a way that the detail of both the shadows and highlights of a scene are increased. While HDR was used in traditional photography in the past, it has recently made the jump to smartphones, TVs, monitors, and more.

So what does this mean for you? This means images have more overall detail, a wider range of colors, and look more similar to what is seen by the human eye when compared to SDR (Standard Dynamic Range) images.

In most images you will come in contact with there will be brighter parts and darker parts of the image that both contain displayable detail. When an image is overexposed, information in the brighter part of the image will be lost; likewise, when an image is underexposed information in the dark parts of the image will be lost.

HDR remedies this problem by calculating the amount of light in a given scene and using that information to preserve details within the image, even in scenes with large variations in brightness. This is done in an attempt to create more realistic-looking images.

SDR, or Standard Dynamic Range, is the current standard for video and cinema displays. Unfortunately, it is limited by its ability to only represent a fraction of the dynamic range that HDR is capable of. HDR, therefore, preserves details in scenes where the contrast ratio of the monitor could otherwise be a hindrance. SDR, on the other hand, lacks this aptitude.

To put it simply, when comparing HDR vs. SDR, HDR allows you to see more of the detail and color in scenes with a high dynamic range. Another difference between the two lies in their inherent measurement.

For those of you familiar with photography, dynamic range can be measured in stops, much like the aperture of a camera. This reflects adjustments made to the gamma and bit depth used in the image and will differ depending on whether HDR or SDR is in effect.

On a typical SDR display, for instance, images will have a dynamic range of about 6 stops. Conversely, HDR content is able to almost triple that dynamic range, with an average approximate total of 17.6 stops. Because of this, a dark scene may see dark grey tones becoming clipped to black, while in the bright scene some colors and detail in that part of the scene may become clipped to white.

HDR10 has established itself as the default standard for 4K UHD Blu-ray disks and has also been used by Sony and Microsoft in the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One S. When it comes to computer screens, some monitors from the ViewSonic VP Professional Monitor Series come equipped with HDR10 support.

Currently, HDR is content is available in a number of ways. In terms of streaming, Netflix supports HDR on Windows 10 and Amazon Prime has jumped onto the HDR bandwagon as well. In terms of physical content, there are HDR Blue-ray disks and players available for purchase along with the built-in players on the Sony PlayStation 4 and the Microsoft Xbox One S gaming consoles.

In music, vinyl records became CDs, which then became mp3s in turn. In home videos, VHS became DVDs then Blue-Rays. In terms of televisual resolution, simply, 480i morphed into 720p and 1080i over time. The pattern here is clear.

In the case of the latter-most example, high definition televisions did not become available in the United States until 1998, and popular until five to eight years thereafter. Today, Full HD resolution is commonplace throughout the country, with 4K UHD acting as the new fringe option.

The current modern battle between HDR vs. SDR reflects the same trend. Although HDR has been commonplace in the photography world for some time, it is the new kid on the block in terms of television and monitors. Some have even gone so far as to argue that 1080p HDR looks better than 4K SDR!

While of course, nothing is ever 100% certain, HDR technology has fortune in its favor. Currently, its inherent technology is tied closely to that of ultra-high definition resolution, otherwise known as 4K.

Luckily for all of the early adopters out there, HDR products are not hard to come by. The benefits of HDR even extend into gaming by allowing you to see more detail in your games for a more realistic feel.

Exploring our solar system, especially our closest planetary neighbours, continues to be a focus area for many scientists and engineers around the globe. These endeavours require reliable and powerful rockets that must generate incredible amounts of thrust in order to launch spacecraft and satellites into space. While rocket technology has significantly improved since its inception, there is much work to be done to fine-tune rockets and enhance their capabilities. Rockets that function incorrectly can lead to mission failure and ultimately decrease the sustainability of long-term space exploration.

To meet this challenge, the team at I2R has developed specialised imaging technology known as high-speed colour scientific High Dynamic Range imaging, or sHDRTM. sHDR can capture and rapidly process scientific grade, extreme HDR video streams at up to 500 frames per second for limited size images. sHDR improves the ability to measure the darkest and lightest features in an image without saturation. This technology has particularly relevant application to the study of rocket plumes, which may be several orders of magnitude brighter than nearby structures. I2R has demonstrated non-saturated imaging across scenes that vary by 120 dB or six orders of magnitude in brightness.

Other current high-definition, high-speed video sensors can image across approximately three orders of magnitude and are, by comparison, low dynamic range (LDR). These current and emerging LDR technologies have difficulty simultaneously imaging an engine test article, rocket plume, and the possible hot molten debris ejected from the combustion chamber without saturation. Standard HDR methods are also nowhere near sufficient for this application. More advanced high-speed HDR technologies are being developed for the astronomical and defence communities, but are only approaching the ability to image across approximately four orders of magnitude. While there are claims that sensors on the market can image across six orders of magnitude, this is achieved through a nonlinear, logarithmic detector response that limits the precision of any scientific measurement made. HDR techniques that interleave images acquired with multiple exposure times can achieve linear imaging across six orders of magnitude, but cannot meet the high frame rate requirements of rocket engine test and launch monitoring.

I2R sees a bright future integrating sHDR into a host of other applications including additive manufacturing, robotic welding and self-driving cars, where it is critical to simultaneously monitor relatively dim and bright features within the same image.

Calibrating camera and sensing equipment is vital for accurate measurements in laboratory as well as in field settings. Whatever the application for the equipment may be, many companies and institutions recognise the importance of accuracy. In response to this need, I2R offers high-precision camera calibration services. At present, they perform camera calibrations for a variety of companies ranging from Fortune 50 companies to small start-ups and universities.

For instance, in a 2016 research project, the I2R team worked to calibrate a Raspberry Pi-based camera. A Raspberry Pi is a low-cost computer the size of a credit card. Despite being relatively small, the computer has significant processing power and provides for peripherals such as cameras, which makes it perfect for imaging applications. In a paper on this project, the team demonstrated the ability of the Raspberry pi V2.1 camera module to be radiometrically calibrated to consistently produce science-grade imagery. If the team can further validate the technology and ensure that Raspberry Pi-based cameras generate accurate and repeatable results in multiple contexts, they can be used for numerous, highly technical scientific and engineering related applications. I2R foresees that such a system could serve as a low-cost imaging option for computer vision, biophotonics, remote sensing, astronomy, and security applications, to name just a few.

Innovative Imaging and Research (I2R) was founded by Mary Pagnutti and Robert Ryan in 2007 to provide sensor calibration technology and services to the aerial and satellite mapping industry. Leveraging NASA, NOAA and internally funded research, I2R continues to provide a large range of imaging and remote sensing products to high-tech industrial, academic and governmental customers. I2R is currently working with NASA to develop scientific High Dynamic Range (sHDRTM) and hydrogen flame imagers for use in the field of rocket science and space exploration. I2R also offers radiometric, spatial resolution and geometric camera calibration services for large aerial mapping and small UAV cameras.