Bent Image Sensor Curvature Control for Stress Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installation of large-format image sensors in compact digital cameras increases lens size, leading to higher light ray incidence angles and stress on the image sensor, which reduces durability, especially when the curvature of the image sensor is varied to accommodate different optical lens states.
Innovation Solution
An image capturing apparatus with a bent image sensor and a control unit that adjusts the curvature to minimize stress during non-image capture operations, using a suction unit to control air pressure and reduce curvature when not in use, thereby reducing stress and improving durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the lens size is reduced while installing a large-format image sensor, then the camera size is reduced, but the light ray incidence angle increases
Solution Approach 1:
The image sensor substrate is designed with a bent structure instead of a flat surface. The bending unit causes the substrate to curve, allowing light rays entering at high incidence angles to be redirected orthogonally onto the image capturing surface, thereby resolving the issue of high incidence angles caused by reduced lens size
Solution Approach 2:
The curvature radius of the image sensor substrate is made variable rather than fixed. By changing the curvature parameter according to different lens conditions (zoom position, aperture value), the system optimizes light ray incidence for various optical states while maintaining compact camera dimensions
2Adaptability or versatility
If the curvature of the image sensor is varied to accommodate different optical lens states, then the adaptability is improved, but the stress on the image sensor increases
Solution Approach 1:
The image sensor substrate transitions from a static fixed-curvature structure to a dynamic variable-curvature structure. The bending unit enables real-time adjustment of curvature radius according to operational conditions, allowing the sensor to adapt to different lens states (zoom, aperture) while managing stress through controlled deformation
Solution Approach 2:
The image sensor structure is divided into distinct functional layers: the substrate, the bending unit, and the image capturing surface. This segmentation allows the bending unit to handle mechanical deformation and stress independently, protecting the fragile image capturing surface while enabling curvature adjustment for adaptability
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 apparatus effectively reduces stress on the image sensor during non-image capture operations, enhancing its durability and maintaining performance by minimizing curvature when not in use, thus addressing the issue of stress caused by curvature changes.
Implementation Method 1
using a suction unit to control air pressure and reduce curvature when not in use
Data Source
AI summary
An image capturing apparatus includes an image sensor in which a plurality of pixels are arrayed two-dimensionally, a driving unit that bends the image sensor, and a control unit that controls the driving unit to bend the image sensor at a predetermined curvature. The control unit controls the driving unit so that stress acting on the image sensor in the case where an image capture operation is not carried out is lower than stress acting on the image sensor in the case where an image capture operation is carried out.