US2023072493A1PendingUtilityA1

Methods and Apparatus for Contrast Sensitivity Compensation

Assignee: IRISVISION INCPriority: Feb 13, 2018Filed: Sep 12, 2022Published: Mar 9, 2023
Est. expiryFeb 13, 2038(~11.6 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
G06T 2200/24G06T 2207/20172G06T 7/90G06T 2207/20192G06T 2207/10016G06T 5/009G06T 5/73G06T 5/92
71
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Claims

Abstract

A system and methods for contrast sensitivity compensation provides for correcting the vision of users whose vision is deficient for discerning high spatial frequencies. The system and methods use measurements of the user's contrast detection as a function of spatial frequency in the image to correct images in real time. The system includes a head-mountable device that includes a camera and a processor that can provide enhanced images at video framing rates.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A method of providing enhanced video images to a user using a programmable electronic device, the method comprising:
 obtaining input video images comprising a plurality of input images A;   computing, in the programmable electronic device, the application of a contrast enhancement function to the plurality of input images A to form a plurality of contrast enhanced images comprising contrast enhanced video images C where the contrast enhancement function is user-specific and where the contrast enhancement function is frequency-dependent, and   presenting, on a display of the programmable electronic device and to the user, the contrast enhanced video images C,   such that the contrast enhanced video images are preferentially enhanced at spatial frequencies discernable to the user.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , where the contrast enhancement function depends on
 a contrast sensitivity function, CSF p (u) obtained for the user p corresponding to minimum discernable contrasts to the user as a function spatial frequency u; and   a spatial frequency cut-off for the user c p , where c p  is the maximum spatial frequency at which the user can discern contrast.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 obtaining the CSF p (u) and the c p  from a vision test of the user.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , where the contrast enhancement function further depends on
 a contrast sensitivity function CSF n (u) for persons n having normal contrast sensitivity, and   a spatial cut-off frequency, c n , where, c n  is the maximum spatial frequency at which the user can discern contrast.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 ,
 where each image of the plurality of input images includes a luminance image, Y(x, y) and chrominance images C B (x, y), C R (x, y),   where the contrast enhancement function is   
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   CEF 
                   p 
                 
                 ( 
                 u 
                 ) 
               
               - 
               
                 { 
                 
                   
                     
                       
                         
                           
                             
                               CSF 
                               n 
                             
                             ( 
                             
                               
                                 u 
                                 × 
                                 
                                   c 
                                   n 
                                 
                               
                               
                                 c 
                                 p 
                               
                             
                             ) 
                           
                           
                             
                               CSF 
                               p 
                             
                             ( 
                             u 
                             ) 
                           
                         
                       
                       
                         
                           
                             for 
                             ⁢ 
                                 
                             u 
                           
                           ≤ 
                           
                             c 
                             p 
                           
                         
                       
                     
                     
                       
                         1 
                       
                       
                         
                           
                             for 
                             ⁢ 
                                 
                             u 
                           
                           > 
                           
                             c 
                             p 
                           
                         
                       
                     
                   
                   , 
                 
               
             
           
         
         where computing the application of a contrast enhancement function to the plurality of input images includes
 performing a Fourier transform on the luminance image Y(x, y) to obtain a luminance amplitude M Y (u) and phase P Y (u), 
 enhancing the luminance amplitude by M′ Y (u)=M Y (u)×CEF P (u), 
 performing an inverse Fourier transform on M′ Y (u) and P Y (u) to obtain an enhanced luminance image Y′(x, y) and 
 the enhanced luminance image is combined with unaltered chrominance images to form contrast enhanced video images:
     C=C ( x,y )=[ Y′ ( x,y ), C   B ( x,y ), C   R ( x,y )]. 
 
 
       
     
     
         6 . A method of providing enhanced images to a user using a programmable electronic device, the method comprising:
 obtaining input video images comprising a plurality of input images A, where each image of the plurality of input images includes a luminance image Y(x, y) and chrominance images C B (x, y), C R (x, y);   forming a contrast enhancement function CEF p (u), as   
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   CEF 
                   p 
                 
                 ( 
                 u 
                 ) 
               
               = 
               
                 { 
                 
                   
                     
                       
                         
                           
                             
                               CSF 
                               n 
                             
                             ( 
                             
                               
                                 u 
                                 × 
                                 
                                   c 
                                   n 
                                 
                               
                               
                                 c 
                                 p 
                               
                             
                             ) 
                           
                           
                             
                               CSF 
                               p 
                             
                             ( 
                             u 
                             ) 
                           
                         
                       
                       
                         
                           
                             for 
                             ⁢ 
                                 
                             u 
                           
                           ≤ 
                           
                             c 
                             p 
                           
                         
                       
                     
                     
                       
                         1 
                       
                       
                         
                           
                             for 
                             ⁢ 
                                 
                             u 
                           
                           > 
                           
                             c 
                             p 
                           
                         
                       
                     
                   
                   , 
                 
               
             
           
         
         where CSF p (u), is a contrast sensitivity function for the user p corresponding to minimum discernable contrasts to the user as a function spatial frequency u, 
         where c p  is a spatial frequency cut-off for the user, which is the maximum spatial frequency at which the user can discern contrast, 
         where CSF n (u) is a contrast sensitivity function for persons n having normal contrast sensitivity, and 
         where c n  is a spatial cut-off frequency for persons n, which is the maximum spatial frequency at which the user can discern contrast; 
         computing, in the programmable electronic device, the application of the contrast enhancement function to the plurality of input images A to form a plurality of contrast enhanced images comprising contrast enhanced video images C where the application includes
 performing a Fourier transform on the luminance image Y(x, y) to obtain a luminance amplitude M Y (u), and phase, P Y (u), 
 enhancing the luminance amplitude by M′ Y (u)=M Y (u)×CEF P (u), 
 performing an inverse Fourier transform on M′ Y (u) and P Y (u) to obtain an enhanced luminance image Y′(x, y), and 
 combining the enhanced luminance image is combined with unaltered chrominance images form contrast enhanced video images:
     C ( x,y )=[ Y′ ( x,y ), C   B ( x,y ), C   R ( x,y )]; and 
 
 
         presenting, on a display of the programmable electronic device and to the user, the contrast enhanced video images C=C(x, y), 
         such that the contrast enhanced video images are preferentially enhanced at spatial frequencies discernable to the user. 
       
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 ,
 where CSF p (u) is obtained from a measurement of the vision of the user viewing target images, where the target images each have a contrast and a spatial frequency, where CSF p (u) is a minimum discernable contrast as a function of target image spatial frequency.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 testing the vision of the user to obtain CSF p (u).   
     
     
         9 . A contrast sensitivity compensation system wearable by a user, the system comprising:
 a memory including a stored program;   a camera mounted on the user aimed to view the scene in front of the user and operable to obtain input video images of the scene comprising a plurality of input images A;   a processor programmed to execute the stored program to
 compute the application of a contrast enhancement function to the plurality of input images A to form a plurality of contrast enhanced images comprising contrast enhanced video images C, where the contrast enhancement function is user-specific, and where the contrast enhancement function is frequency-dependent; and 
 present, to the user on a display of the programmable electronic device, the contrast enhanced video images C−C(x, y). 
   
     
     
         10 . The contrast sensitivity compensation system of  claim 9 , where the contrast enhancement function depends on
 a contrast sensitivity function CSF p (u) obtained for the user p corresponding to minimum discernable contrasts to the user as a function spatial frequency u and   a spatial frequency cut-off for the user c p , where c p  is the maximum spatial frequency at which the user can discern contrast.   
     
     
         11 . The contrast sensitivity compensation system of  claim 10 ,
 where the CSF p (u) and the c p  are obtained from a vision test of the user.   
     
     
         12 . The contrast sensitivity compensation system of  claim 10 , where the contrast enhancement function further depends on
 a contrast sensitivity function CSF n (u) for persons n having normal contrast sensitivity, and   a spatial cut-off frequency c n , where c n  is the maximum spatial frequency at which the user can discern contrast.   
     
     
         13 . The contrast sensitivity compensation system of  claim 12 ,
 where each image of the plurality of input images includes a luminance image, Y(x, y) and chrominance images, C B (x, y), C R (x, y),   where the contrast enhancement function is   
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   CEF 
                   p 
                 
                 ( 
                 u 
                 ) 
               
               = 
               
                 { 
                 
                   
                     
                       
                         
                           
                             
                               CSF 
                               n 
                             
                             ( 
                             
                               
                                 u 
                                 × 
                                 
                                   c 
                                   n 
                                 
                               
                               
                                 c 
                                 p 
                               
                             
                             ) 
                           
                           
                             
                               CSF 
                               p 
                             
                             ( 
                             u 
                             ) 
                           
                         
                       
                       
                         
                           
                             for 
                             ⁢ 
                                 
                             u 
                           
                           ≤ 
                           
                             c 
                             p 
                           
                         
                       
                     
                     
                       
                         1 
                       
                       
                         
                           
                             for 
                             ⁢ 
                                 
                             u 
                           
                           > 
                           
                             c 
                             p 
                           
                         
                       
                     
                   
                   , 
                 
               
             
           
         
         and where the processor is further programmed to
 perform a Fourier transform on the luminance image Y(x, y) to obtain a luminance amplitude M Y (u) and phase P Y (u), 
 enhance the luminance amplitude by M′ Y (u)=M Y (u)×CEF P (u), 
 perform an inverse Fourier transform on M′ Y (u) and P Y (u) to obtain an enhanced luminance image Y′(x, y), and 
 combine the enhanced luminance image is combined with unaltered chrominance images form contrast enhanced video images:
   C−C(x,y)−[Y′(x,y),C B (x,y),C R (x,y)].
 
 
 
       
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . (canceled)

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