Aerial Camera Global Shutter With Dispersive PLS Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aerial camera systems face challenges such as mechanical shutter wear, complexity, and parasitic light signal (PLS) effects, which degrade image quality and require complex mechanical stabilization.
Innovation Solution
The aerial camera instrument incorporates an electronic global shutter and an external dispersive shutter component, which reduces shutter actuations and PLS effects, while allowing for compact and efficient design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mechanical shutter is used for aerial photography, then the shutter can physically block light to prevent overexposure, but the mechanical components experience wear and require frequent replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical shutter system with an electronic global shutter implemented in the imaging sensor. This electronic shutter uses pixel-level charge transfer and storage mechanisms to control light exposure without moving parts, eliminating mechanical wear and simplifying the overall system structure while maintaining precise exposure control
2Illumination intensity
If a mechanical leaf shutter is used to control exposure time, then the shutter speed can be adjusted, but the shutter cannot be fast enough to avoid overexposure in strong sunlight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an electronic global shutter that achieves microsecond-level exposure control through electronic timing signals that synchronize pixel reset, integration, and readout operations. This electronic timing mechanism provides shutter speeds orders of magnitude faster than mechanical shutters, enabling precise exposure control in bright sunlight conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of shutter speed from mechanical rotation/translation speeds to electronic timing intervals. By using synchronized clock signals and trigger inputs, the system achieves microsecond-resolution exposure control that is not practically achievable with any mechanical shutter system
3Speed
If an electronic global shutter is used instead of mechanical shutter, then the shutter speed increases dramatically, but parasitic light signal causes imaging artifacts during readout phase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the imaging process into distinct phases: integration phase where photons are collected, transfer phase where charges move to storage nodes, and readout phase where signals are read. By spatially separating the photosensitive area from storage nodes and controlling charge transfer timing, the system prevents parasitic light during readout while maintaining high shutter speed
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces storage nodes as intermediary structures between the photosensitive area and readout circuitry. These storage nodes temporarily hold accumulated charges during the readout phase, acting as a buffer that prevents direct exposure of readout circuits to incoming light and eliminates parasitic light artifacts
4Adaptability or versatility
If mechanical shutters are used in multi-camera systems, then each camera can be shuttered independently, but the number of actuations reaches hundreds of thousands per flight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical shutters with electronic global shutters in each camera, eliminating the need for physical actuation. Each camera can still be independently controlled through electronic timing signals, maintaining adaptability while reducing actuation frequency from hundreds of thousands per flight to zero mechanical movements
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enhances image quality by minimizing mechanical shutter wear, reducing PLS artifacts, and simplifying mechanical stabilization, thereby enabling high-resolution aerial imaging with improved reliability and reduced complexity.
Implementation Method 1
The dispersive element is configured to deflect a parasitic light signal away from an imaging sensor when the imaging sensor is in a readout phase
Data Source
Figure 1~2b
Figure 3a~3c
Figure 3d~3e
AI summary
The invention relates to an aerial camera instrument configured to acquire high-resolution aerial images from a target area. The aerial camera instrument comprises (i) an imaging sensor having an electronic global shutter functionality, (ii) an external dispersive component, and (iii) a coupling functionality configured to synchronize the electronic global shutter functionality and the external dispersive component.