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Samsung patents camera method that adjusts noise handling by image brightness

Patent drawing
Patent drawing from the official filing.

Samsung describes a method for processing camera images to handle a wide range of light levels, known as dynamic range. The technique combines multiple photos and then compresses the data in specific segments, adjusting the strength of this compression based on the sensor's noise characteristics.

Why it mattersThis approach could help smartphone cameras produce clearer photos in scenes with both very bright and very dark areas by managing sensor noise more efficiently.

In the filing’s own words

A method for performing dynamic range (DR) image processing, including: obtaining a plurality of first images using an image sensor; merging the plurality of first images to obtain a second image, wherein a dynamic range of the second image is higher than a dynamic range of each of the plurality of first images; compressing the second image using a compression function to obtain a compressed second image; performing image processing on the compressed second image to obtain a processed image; and obtaining an output image by decompressing the processed image using a transposition of the compression function, wherein the compression function is divided into a plurality of segments, and wherein a compression power for each segment of the plurality of segments is determined based on a noise profile of the image sensor.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. A method for performing dynamic range image processing, the method comprising: obtaining a plurality of first images which were captured using an image sensor; merging the plurality of first images to obtain a second image, wherein a dynamic range of the second image is higher than a dynamic range of each of the plurality of first images; compressing the second image using a compression function to obtain a compressed second image; performing image processing on the compressed second image to obtain a processed image; and obtaining an output image by decompressing the processed image using a transposition of the compression function, wherein the compression function is divided into a plurality of segments, and wherein a compression power for each segment of the plurality of segments is determined based on a noise profile of the image sensor.

Facts

Company
Samsung (SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.)
Official title
CIS DR IMAGE SENSOR WITH LINEAR OUTPUT COMPRESSED PROCESSING AND AF HANDLING
Publication number
US20260313259A1
Application number
19169714
Filed
Apr 3, 2025
Published
Oct 8, 2026
Inventors
5
Claims
20

Classified under

H04N 25/58 Electricity & electronicsH04N 23/672 Electricity & electronicsH04N 23/741 Electricity & electronicsH04N 23/76 Electricity & electronicsH04N 25/616 Electricity & electronics
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.