Asymmetrical Reflective Surfaces for Uniform Fish-Eye Camera Illumination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Surveillance cameras with poorly designed light-enhancing components fail to illuminate entire areas effectively, leading to uneven image capture and reduced image quality, especially in low-light environments, due to the limited projection angle of infrared light sources in fish-eye cameras.

Innovation Solution

A light-enhancing component with asymmetrical reflective surfaces, comprising a light source between a first reflecting surface with a greater inclination and a second reflecting surface with a lesser inclination, and symmetric third and fourth reflecting surfaces, which uniformly distribute light across the image capturing component's field of view.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If a fish-eye camera uses an infrared light source with limited projection angle (90-100 degrees), then the center of images receives sufficient illumination, but the peripheral areas remain dark causing the 'flashlight effect'

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveillumination uniformityVSAvoidlight distribution coverage

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs asymmetrical reflective surfaces with different inclinations to redirect light distribution. The first reflecting surface has a first inclination angle while the second reflecting surface has a second inclination angle different from the first, creating non-uniform light redirection that compensates for the infrared light source's limited projection angle and achieves uniform illumination across the entire field of view.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the light-enhancing component have different reflective properties. The patent uses multiple reflecting surfaces with varying inclinations positioned at different locations to selectively redirect light to specific areas, ensuring that peripheral regions receive adequate illumination while maintaining appropriate light intensity in the center region.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Area of stationary object

If multiple infrared light sources are equipped to cover the viewing angle, then the light coverage improves, but the device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveillumination coverage areaVSAvoidnumber of light sources

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a light-enhancing component with reflective surfaces as an intermediary between the infrared light source and the monitored area. This mediator redirects and distributes the light from a single source to cover the entire field of view, achieving the same illumination coverage as multiple light sources would provide but with reduced device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of manufacture

If the light-enhancing component uses symmetrical reflective surfaces, then the manufacturing is simpler, but the light distribution remains uneven causing the 'flashlight effect'

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidillumination uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent deliberately employs asymmetrical reflective surfaces with different inclinations to achieve uniform light distribution. The first reflecting surface has a first inclination angle while the second reflecting surface has a second inclination angle different from the first, creating non-uniform light redirection that compensates for the infrared light source's limited projection angle and achieves uniform illumination across the entire field of view.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

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 described light-enhancing component improves image quality by ensuring even illumination across the entire field of view, addressing the 'flashlight effect' and enhancing image capture in low-light conditions.

Implementation Method 1

The light reflective unit comprises a first reflecting surface and a second reflecting surface. The light source is disposed between the first reflecting surface and the second reflecting surface.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS9534763B2Light-enhancing component and photographic device having the same

Publication Date: 2017.01.03 VIVOTEK INC

AI summary

The disclosure provides a light-enhancing component and a photographic device having the same. The light-enhancing component includes a light reflective unit and a light source. The light reflective unit includes a first reflecting surface and a second reflecting surface. The light source is disposed between the first reflecting surface and the second reflecting surface. An inclination of the first reflecting surface is different from an inclination of the second reflecting surface.