Aspheric Dome Cover for Camera Image Quality
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dome-type cameras with spherical dome covers experience image quality degradation due to discontinuous optical properties, particularly when combining spherical and cylindrical portions, leading to image blurring and reduced mobility in various environmental conditions.
Innovation Solution
A dome-type camera with a dome cover having an aspheric shape where optical properties, such as focal length, are continuously changed at least at locations other than the top, reducing image quality degradation by eliminating discontinuous sections and allowing for easier production and replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spherical dome cover is used, then the camera achieves environmental tolerance, but the overall size becomes very large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a hemispherical dome cover shape that provides environmental tolerance while minimizing volume. The hemispherical geometry optimizes the balance between protective coverage and compact size, allowing the camera to withstand environmental conditions without requiring a fully spherical enclosure that would be excessively large.
2Volume of moving object
If a dome cover with spherical portion and cylindrical portion is used, then the camera maintains compact size, but image quality degradation occurs due to discontinuous optical properties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a partial shielding filter specifically at the discontinuous portion where the spherical and cylindrical portions meet. This localized solution addresses the optical property discontinuity without requiring redesign of the entire dome structure, thereby maintaining compact size while improving image quality in the affected region.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of the discontinuous portion into a manageable issue by applying a partial shielding filter that blocks the specific region causing image quality degradation. This allows the dome cover to maintain its compact hemispherical-cylindrical design while compensating for the optical discontinuity through targeted light blocking.
3Manufacturing precision
If a partial shielding filter is applied, then image quality degradation is suppressed, but the complexity of the device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the dome cover into distinct functional regions: a hemispherical portion for environmental protection, a cylindrical portion for structural support, and a partial shielding filter for optical correction. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and assembled together, managing complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The partial shielding filter acts as an intermediary element between the dome cover structure and the imaging system. It mediates the optical properties by selectively blocking light paths that would otherwise cause image quality degradation at the discontinuous portion, without requiring fundamental changes to the dome or camera design.
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
The aspheric dome cover effectively reduces image quality degradation, enhances optical properties, and maintains camera mobility across various environments by ensuring continuous optical changes, thereby improving image sharpness and usability.
Implementation Method 1
one cause of such image blurring is that refractive indices are at locations (for example, the spherical portion and the cylindrical portion) straddling the discontinuous portion of the dome cover
Data Source
AI summary
A dome-type camera includes a dome cover (11) and a camera unit (12). The dome cover (11) has a front surface (21) and a back surface (22). The camera unit (12) includes an optical system (13) and an imaging element (14). The optical system (13) is disposed on the back surface (22) side of the dome cover (11), and the imaging element (14) outputs image data on the basis of imaging light received via the optical system (13). At least the back surface (22) out of the front surface (21) and the back surface (22) of the dome cover (11) has at least an aspheric shape in which optical properties are continuously changed at a location other than a top t of the dome cover (11).