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News Release 05-005

New Image Sensor will Show what the Eyes See, and a Camera Cannot

Software behind the technology already finding its way into photo editing

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Vladimir Brajovic holding an image sensor similar to proposed chip

Vladimir Brajovic and his collaborators at Intrigue Technologies are developing an image sensor that will approach the adaptive capabilities of the human eye. The chip in this photo is a product of the team's related research at Carnegie Mellon. Like the proposed chip, it is a computational image sensor that pre-processes an image before sending it to a computer, video screen or other outlet.

Credit: Vladimir Brajovic, Carnegie Mellon University and Intrigue Technologies


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underexposed image of desert road

Road departure warning systems are hampered by conventional cameras. Shadow Illuminator will help the image analysis components of these systems by extracting details from shadows. This is the original, underexposed image of a desert road.

Credit: Timothy E. Nelson


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desert road processed by Shadow lluminator

After the new software processed the image, details in the road and surrounding rock became visible.

Credit: Timothy E. Nelson


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chest x-ray

When applied to x-ray images, Shadow Illuminator enhances contrast and reveals new detail. This is the unprocessed image of a chest x-ray film.

Credit: Nikola Zivaljevic, M.D.


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chest xray

The software reveals additional detail in the x-ray.

Credit: Nikola Zivaljevic, M.D.


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underexposed image of airport interior

The new software may help airport security systems "see" objects in shadows. Here, a combination of dim artificial lights and natural light pouring in from windows, creates numerous obstacles for image sensors.

Credit: Vladimir Brajovic


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airport interior

After Shadow Illuminator processing, an area once dominated by shadow now reveals the image of a man in the bottom left corner of the scene.

Credit: Vladimir Brajovic, Carnegie Mellon University and Intrigue Technology


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