Super Resolution Imaging Using Angled Fixed Focus Cameras
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional imaging systems face challenges in replicating human eye resolution using fixed focus cameras, as they require increased focal length and complex lens systems, leading to increased complexity, chromatic aberration, and high calibration requirements, making it difficult to achieve super resolution effectively.
Innovation Solution
An imaging system comprising a first camera and multiple second cameras with angled optical axes, where the second cameras capture narrower fields of view overlapping with the first camera's field of view, processed by a processor to generate output images with super resolution, eliminating the need for automatic focus and reducing disparity between cameras.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple cameras with multiple prisms are used to achieve super resolution, then resolution is improved, but device complexity and chromatic aberration increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the prism components from the multiple-camera system. By extracting the dispersive optical elements (prisms) that cause chromatic aberration and mechanical complexity, the system achieves super resolution through computational processing of images from multiple fixed-focus cameras without requiring physical dispersion elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical optical system (multiple cameras with physical prisms for dispersion) with a computational approach. Instead of using mechanical optical elements to achieve resolution enhancement, the system uses digital image processing algorithms to combine images from multiple cameras and generate super-resolution output.
2Measurement precision
If 25 cameras are used to achieve super resolution, then resolution is improved, but calibration requirements and processing complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a smaller number of cameras (N second cameras plus one first camera) rather than the excessive 25-camera approach. This partial action achieves sufficient super resolution for practical applications while significantly reducing calibration complexity and processing requirements, demonstrating that fewer cameras with appropriate field-of-view overlap can achieve the desired resolution enhancement.
3Area of stationary object
If large number of cameras with large disparity are used, then field of view coverage is improved, but image quality deteriorates due to disparity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different field-of-view characteristics to different cameras in the system. The first camera captures a wide field of view to ensure comprehensive coverage, while the N second cameras capture narrower fields of view with controlled overlap. This local differentiation of optical characteristics allows the system to maintain both wide coverage and high image quality by optimizing each camera's role.
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging system including: first camera; N second cameras, optical axes of first and second cameras being arranged at an angle; and processor(s) configured to: control first camera and N second cameras to capture first image and N second images, second field of view (FOV) is narrower than first FOV and overlaps with portion of first FOV; determine first overlapping portions (P, P′, A, A′, A″), second overlapping portion(s) (Q, B, B′, B″), and third overlapping portion (C) of first image; for given overlapping portion of first image, determine corresponding overlapping portion of at least one of N second images; and process corresponding overlapping portions of first and second images to generate corresponding portion of output image.