Aerial Image Lens Array for Wide-Angle 3D Light Field Capture
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing light field techniques require large optical lenses, narrow viewing angles, or extensive camera setups, leading to impractical, costly, and complex systems for acquiring wide-angle light ray information.
Innovation Solution
A video system utilizing an aerial imaging optical system with retroreflective properties, a first lens array, and a camera to capture light rays from a three-dimensional object, allowing for wide viewing angle light ray acquisition while keeping the system scale small.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If an optical lens with very large diameter is used to acquire light ray information in a wide viewing angle, then the viewing angle is improved, but the manufacturing difficulty and system scale increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single large optical lens into multiple smaller optical lenses arranged in an array. Each optical lens captures light ray information from a specific direction, and collectively they cover a wide viewing angle. This segmentation approach maintains the wide viewing angle capability while making each individual lens manufacturable with standard techniques.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single large lens (one-dimensional solution) to a two-dimensional array of multiple small lenses. By adding the spatial dimension of lens arrangement, the system achieves wide viewing angle coverage without requiring any single lens to have an unmanufacturably large diameter.
2Volume of stationary object
If a dedicated camera with narrow viewing angle is used, then the system scale is reduced, but the light ray information acquisition is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the light ray information acquisition task across multiple optical lenses in an array, where each lens captures information from a different angular direction. This allows a compact camera system to gather comprehensive light ray information that would otherwise require a much larger single-camera system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes a single compact camera serve multiple functions by using the lens array to capture light ray information from multiple directions simultaneously. The camera system thus performs both compact imaging and wide-angle light field capture, eliminating the need for separate large-scale equipment.
3Area of moving object
If multiple cameras are used to capture light ray information, then the viewing angle coverage is improved, but the system complexity and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple imaging functions into a single camera by positioning a lens array in front of one image sensor. This combination allows one camera to capture light ray information from multiple directions simultaneously, avoiding the complexity of coordinating multiple separate cameras while maintaining wide viewing angle coverage.
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
Enables acquisition of light ray information in a wide viewing angle with a compact system, reducing manufacturing complexity and cost, and ensuring accurate three-dimensional video reproduction.
Implementation Method 1
an aerial imaging optical system that has retroreflective properties and converges, in air, light rays from a three-dimensional object to form an aerial image
Implementation Method 2
a first lens array that is disposed at an image-forming position of the aerial image or in a vicinity of the image-forming position and includes a plurality of first lenses arranged two-dimensionally
Data Source
AI summary
A video system includes: an aerial imaging optical system that has retroreflective properties and converges, in the air, light rays from a three-dimensional object to form an aerial image representing the three-dimensional object; a first lens array that is disposed at an image-forming position of the aerial image or in the vicinity of the image-forming position and includes a plurality of first lenses arranged two-dimensionally; and a camera that includes an imaging lens and an image sensor and captures light rays transmitted from the aerial image through the first lens array to output a three-dimensional element video signal including light ray information related to the light rays from the aerial image.