«Image Sensors and Signal Processing for Digital Still Cameras,» written by Junichi Nakamura and published by CRC Press in 2005, provides an extensive analysis of the technologies integral to digital still cameras (DSCs). Emphasizing image acquisition and signal processing, the book systematically explores the path from image capture to digital data generation and storage, excluding peripheral areas like mechanics or user interfaces.
The first chapter offers a historical overview and the current status of DSCs, discussing their evolution, modern variations, basic structure, and applications. It examines early digital camera innovations, such as the Sony Mavica and the Casio QV-10, and notes the growing pixel number and diversity among camera types, including point-and-shoot cameras and SLRs. The chapter underscores how dramatic improvements in image sensors and electronics have rendered digital quality comparable to traditional film.
Optics, discussed in the second chapter, are crucial for high-quality imaging. Given the increasing pixel counts and shrinking pixel sizes, the demand for high-performance optics has surged. The optics section ranges from basic principles to complex systems tailored for advanced imaging needs.
Chapters three to six delve into image sensor technologies. Beginning with the basics of CCD and CMOS sensors, the discussion encompasses the operating principles, performance parameters, and specific designs for DSC applications. CCD sensors, historically dominant and detailed comprehensively, contrast with CMOS sensors, which offer benefits such as reduced power consumption and integration capabilities. Evaluation methods for these sensors, aligned with DSC requirements, help in understanding their impact on image quality.
Color theory (Chapter 7) and image processing algorithms (Chapter 8) pivot to the theoretical framework and practical algorithms that shape digital imaging. Color theory is briefly summarized, emphasizing its practical application within DSCs. The book then transitions to image-processing algorithms, indispensable for converting raw data into viewable images, and includes both foundational and advanced techniques.
Chapter nine introduces image-processing engines and their architectures, essential for managing the high data throughput and processing demands of modern DSCs. By examining both analog front-end and digital back-end designs, this chapter bridges the hardware functionality required for optimal performance.
In Chapter ten, the evaluation of image quality is discussed, tying together how various components—from optics to image sensors—affect the final output. This includes standards for measuring quality, and it evaluates the interplay between different DSC parts.
The book concludes with a futuristic view (Chapter 11), where Eric Fossum, innovator of CMOS image sensors, discusses the trajectory of DSC technology. He speculates on future advancements and paradigm shifts that could transform digital imaging.
Overall, Nakamura’s book stands as a comprehensive resource for understanding the intertwined technologies behind digital still cameras, from imaging optics to sophisticated signal-processing algorithms, making it invaluable for graduate students in electronics engineering and professionals in the field of image sensor technology .
