Multi-Sensor Camera with Integrated Filter Arrays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional camera devices with single optical chains and sensors are limited in capturing a balanced amount of optical information due to the Bayer filter's bias towards green pixels, restricting the capture of red and blue pixel values, and require separate sensors or movable filters for capturing different colors, which is impractical.
Innovation Solution
A camera device with multiple optical chains, each equipped with different sensors having integrated multi-element filters, such as Bayer, R, G, C, B, and R, G, IR, B patterns, allowing for balanced color capture without the need for movable filters, enabling the capture of a wide variety of filter patterns with a single device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single optical chain with a Bayer filter is used, then the camera device has a simpler structure, but the color information capture is unbalanced with excessive green pixel values and insufficient red and blue pixel values
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single optical chain into multiple optical chains (first optical chain with Bayer filter, second optical chain with R, G, C, B filters, third optical chain with R, G, IR, B filters). Each optical chain captures different color information, and the processor combines data from all chains to achieve balanced and comprehensive color capture, resolving the information loss problem while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design.
2Measurement precision
If a uniform filter is placed over a sensor to detect light of a single color, then the sensor can detect a specific color, but different sensors are required for each color and images must be captured at different times
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple sensors with different filter configurations into a single camera device that operates simultaneously. The processor combines data from the Bayer filter sensor, RGCBSensor, and RGIRBSensor in real-time to produce balanced color images, eliminating the need for sequential capture and improving productivity while maintaining measurement precision through multi-sensor data fusion.
3Adaptability or versatility
If movable filters are used to align with individual pixel elements, then different filter patterns can be achieved, but the alignment is difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using movable filters that require precise alignment, the patent creates fixed copies of different filter patterns (Bayer, RGCBC, RGIRBC) directly integrated into separate sensor arrays. Each sensor has its filter pattern permanently fabricated, eliminating alignment complexity while maintaining the versatility of multiple filter patterns through parallel sensor operation.
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
Enables more balanced color image capture by using multiple sensors with different filter patterns, allowing for efficient power management and flexible operation modes, including preview and image capture, without the need for separate sensors or movable filters.
Implementation Method 1
different multiple element filter patterns used to filter light reaching the pixel element of the sensor
Data Source
AI summary
A camera device includes multiple sensors with each sensor including an integrated multi-element filter. Because of the use of different filters in different sensors, a wide variety of filter patterns can be supported in a single camera device without the need for moveable or otherwise changeable filters. While multiple optical chains and sensors are included which sensors are used during a given time period are determined based on the whether a power save mode of operation is active and/or the image capture mode being used. Fewer optical chains are used during power save mode for capturing images corresponding to the image mode in use, e.g., color, IR, or monochrome. While the camera device may include a large number of optical modules, e.g., 4, 10 or more, in some embodiments sensors of optical chains not selected for use during a given time period are intentionally powered down to conserve power.