Alternating Dual Camera Modules for High Frame Rate Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic devices with limited processing capability struggle to enhance the frame rate of captured images and videos due to computational intensity and hardware constraints, especially when displaying on small screens.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a multimedia processor that coordinates two camera modules to alternately photograph at different frame rates, measuring and adjusting their delay times to achieve a higher effective frame rate, and dynamically adjusting the frame rate based on object movement to optimize image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a single camera module photographs at high frame rate, then image quality is improved, but processing capability requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the imaging task between multiple camera modules, where each module operates at a lower frame rate individually. By segmenting the imaging function across multiple devices, the processing load on any single module is reduced, allowing the system to achieve high effective frame rates without requiring each module to process data at maximum capacity continuously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the output of multiple camera modules through a multimedia processor that merges images from different sources. By merging the outputs of multiple camera modules operating at lower frame rates, the system achieves a higher effective frame rate than any single module could provide alone, while distributing the processing burden across multiple components.
2Productivity
If multiple camera modules photograph alternately to increase frame rate, then image quality is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a multimedia processor as an intermediary component that coordinates the multiple camera modules. This mediator manages the complexity of alternating photographing operations by centralizing the control logic, timing synchronization, and image merging functions in a dedicated processor, thereby simplifying the overall system architecture despite the increased number of camera modules.
3Reliability
If frame rate is increased to capture moving objects better, then motion clarity is improved, but computational intensity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the computational workload by having each camera module capture images at moderate frame rates independently. The complex task of achieving high frame rate is segmented across multiple lower-frame-rate operations, reducing the computational intensity required from any single module while maintaining overall motion capture quality through coordinated operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic alternating photographing operations where camera modules take turns capturing images at scheduled intervals. This periodic action pattern allows the system to achieve high effective frame rates through rhythmic coordination rather than continuous high-intensity processing, distributing computational demands over time and reducing peak power requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device includes a first camera module photographing according to a first frame rate, a second camera module photographing according to a second frame rate and a multimedia processor coupled to the first camera module and the second camera module. The multimedia processor instructs the first camera module and the second camera module to alternately photograph to obtain a sequence of pictures recorded at a third frame rate. The third frame rate is higher than the first frame rate and the second frame rate.