In-Pixel Foreground and Contrast Enhancement Circuits with Customizable Mapping
This addresses the need for real-time, adaptive image processing in various imaging environments, though it is incremental as it builds on existing in-pixel circuit designs.
The paper tackled the problem of enhancing image quality by developing an in-pixel circuit that performs contrast and foreground enhancement directly within pixels, resulting in a nearly 6x increase in Michelson Contrast Ratio in simulations.
This paper presents an innovative in-pixel contrast enhancement circuit that performs image processing directly within the pixel circuit. The circuit can be tuned for different modes of operation. In foreground enhancement mode, it suppresses low-intensity background pixels to nearly zero, isolating the foreground for better object visibility. In contrast enhancement mode, it improves overall image contrast. The contrast enhancement function is customizable both during the design phase and in real-time, allowing the circuit to adapt to specific applications and varying lighting conditions. A model of the designed pixel circuit is developed and applied to a full pixel array, demonstrating significant improvements in image quality. Simulations performed in HSPICE show a nearly 6x increase in Michelson Contrast Ratio (CR) in the foreground enhancement mode. The simulation results indicate its potential for real-time, adaptive contrast enhancement across various imaging environments.