Asymmetric Doorbell Camera Sensor Layout for Package Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional doorbell cameras have a limited vertical field of view (FOV) that prevents the detection of packages delivered close to the doorbell, leading to missed notifications and potential theft, and wide-angle cameras increase costs and reduce image quality.
Innovation Solution
Asymmetric camera sensor positioning with a portrait-oriented and vertically shifted image sensor relative to the lens, allowing capture of objects outside the conventional FOV, followed by lens distortion correction to enhance package detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If a 180° angle of view camera is used to expand the camera's FOV, then the field of view is improved, but manufacturing costs increase and additional architectural features are required to prevent infrared flare
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by rotating the image sensor to a portrait orientation and vertically shifting it relative to the lens, creating an asymmetric positioning that expands the vertical field of view without requiring a 180° camera. This asymmetric configuration allows the sensor to capture the lower portion of the image circle that would otherwise be missed, achieving enhanced package detection capability while avoiding the manufacturing complexity and costs associated with ultra-wide angle cameras.
2Area of moving object
If a 180° angle of view camera is used to expand the camera's FOV, then the field of view is improved, but additional architectural features are required to prevent infrared flare
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetric sensor positioning eliminates the need for additional architectural features to prevent infrared flare. By shifting the sensor vertically and rotating it to portrait orientation, the patent achieves expanded vertical FOV without the complex anti-IR flare architecture that would be required in a 180° camera system.
3Ease of manufacture
If a standard camera orientation is used, then manufacturing is simplified, but packages delivered close to the doorbell are outside the camera's FOV
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains manufacturing simplicity while improving package detection by applying asymmetric sensor positioning. The portrait orientation and vertical shift of the image sensor are achieved through straightforward mechanical mounting without complex manufacturing processes, yet this asymmetric configuration reliably captures packages delivered close to the doorbell that would otherwise be outside the FOV.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the orientation dimension by rotating the image sensor to portrait orientation, thereby expanding the vertical field of view. This dimensional change allows the camera to capture both the upper portion (for face recognition) and lower portion (for package detection) of the scene, improving package detection capability while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
4Reliability
If the image sensor is positioned to capture the lower portion of the image circle, then package detection is improved, but lens distortion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing lens distortion correction through image processing algorithms before package detection is performed. The captured image, which includes the lower portion of the image circle where packages may be located, undergoes digital distortion correction to remove the effects of capturing at the edge of the image circle, thereby enabling accurate package detection without compromising image quality.
Data Source
AI summary
This document describes asymmetric camera sensor positioning for enhanced package detection. In aspects, an electronic doorbell has an image sensor that is rotated to a portrait orientation and vertically shifted relative to a lens of a camera, resulting in asymmetric positioning of the image sensor relative to the lens. The lens projects an image circle onto the image sensor and the image sensor has a sensor detection area having upper corners within the image circle and lower corners outside of the image circle to enable capture of an object located in a lower portion of the image circle and proximate to an edge of the image circle. Then, lens distortion correction is performed on a captured image to provide a final image usable to detect the package, which may be located within the image circle but outside of a conventional sensor detection area.