Calibrated PSF Lens Simulation for Image Enhancement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lens aberrations, resulting from design compromises and manufacturing deviations, limit image quality by introducing distortions that existing methods struggle to fully address, especially when accurate point spread function (PSF) measurement is laborious and simulation only accounts for design-related aberrations.
Innovation Solution
A method that calculates the PSF from a single test image at a specific depth, using the lens model specification and manufacturing deviations, to generate a calibrated PSF for any scene depth, enabling effective deconvolution and image enhancement by simulating the lens PSF through wave optics and hybrid ray tracing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If full PSF measurement is performed to address lens aberrations, then image quality improvement is achieved, but measurement time and resource requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-calculates PSFs for multiple lens parameter values using wave optics simulation before actual image capture. This preliminary action creates a lookup table of pre-computed PSFs that can be quickly applied during image enhancement, avoiding the need for time-consuming measurements during calibration while maintaining high measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of performing actual physical measurements for each lens configuration, the patent creates simulated copies of PSFs through wave optics calculations. These simulated PSFs replicate the optical behavior without requiring physical measurement setups, significantly reducing calibration time while preserving measurement accuracy
2Productivity
If simulation-based PSF generation is used to reduce measurement time, then calibration efficiency improves, but accuracy for manufacturing deviations is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary step that combines simulated PSFs with actual measured PSFs. The simulated PSFs provide a good initial approximation, and the measured PSF data corrects for manufacturing deviations. This intermediary combination allows the system to maintain high calibration efficiency while achieving accurate PSF generation that accounts for both design and manufacturing variations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adjusts lens parameters in the simulation to match actual measured values. By changing the simulation parameters (such as focal length, aperture, and other optical characteristics) to reflect real manufacturing variations, the simulated PSFs become accurate representations of the actual lens behavior, resolving the accuracy issue while maintaining productivity
3Ease of manufacture
If lens model specification is used for PSF simulation, then design-related aberrations are addressed, but manufacturing deviations are not accounted for
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by measuring the actual PSF of individual lenses and using this information to adjust the lens parameters in the simulation. This feedback loop ensures that the simulated PSFs accurately reflect both the standardized lens model and the specific manufacturing variations of each individual lens, resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and manufacturing precision
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
This approach reduces lens-induced aberrations, improving image quality by generating accurate PSFs for various lens parameter values, achieving results comparable to full measurement with significantly fewer calibration images and addressing both design and manufacturing-related aberrations.
Implementation Method 1
a lens that focuses an image on an image sensor
Implementation Method 2
simulating the lens PSF through wave optics
Data Source
AI summary
The description relates to enhancing images. One device includes a lens configured to focus images on an image sensor. The device also includes point spread function (PSF) lens data relating to manufacturing specifications of the lens and a PSF measurement of the lens associated with a test image of a planar calibration pattern at a single depth of field.