Camera With Optical Deflection For Wide Field Of View
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cameras often have a limited field of view, requiring multiple cameras and complex installations to cover wider areas, such as conveyor belts, which increases effort and space requirements, and existing solutions like mirror attachments either tilt images or increase brightness unevenly.
Innovation Solution
A camera system with a first deflection unit for the reception path using refractive optical elements like prisms to image adjacent sub-areas on the image sensor one above the other, and a second deflection optics for illumination with prisms that shift and evenly illuminate these areas, reducing size and tilting, and providing uniform illumination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If multiple cameras are mounted side by side to expand the field of view, then the detection range is improved, but the device complexity and installation effort increase considerably
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple cameras into a single camera system by integrating a beam splitter and multiple mirrors that direct light from different spatial regions to separate sensor areas within one camera, thereby expanding the detection range while avoiding the complexity of coordinating multiple separate cameras
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces optical path folding using mirrors and beam splitters to capture light from multiple spatial dimensions and direct it to a single sensor plane, effectively expanding the field of view without adding multiple camera units
2Area of moving object
If mirror attachments are used to widen the field of view, then the detection area is expanded, but the images tilt and brightness becomes uneven
Solution Approach 1:
The patent assigns different optical path configurations to different regions of the sensor, with each region receiving light optimized for its specific viewing angle and distance, thereby maintaining uniform image quality and alignment across the entire expanded field of view
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a beam splitter as an intermediary optical element that evenly divides and directs light from multiple spatial regions to corresponding sensor areas, ensuring uniform illumination and preventing brightness variations across the image
3Manufacturing precision
If mirror attachments with multiple mirrors are used to prevent tilting, then the image alignment is improved, but the device complexity and installation space increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of multiple mirrors and beam splitting into a single integrated optical assembly that achieves the same image alignment效果 with fewer discrete components, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining 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
The solution allows for a more compact design with reduced size, uniform illumination, and avoidance of intensity increases at overlaps, effectively expanding the field of view without tilting or brightness issues, enabling efficient coverage of wider areas like conveyor belts.
Implementation Method 1
a first deflection unit for the reception path with at least two reception light deflection elements images two adjacent sub-areas of the detection area one above the other on the image sensor
Implementation Method 2
a second deflection optics for the transmission path with a plurality of illumination deflection elements, which shift the illumination fields of the light sources
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4a~6
Figure 7a~8b
AI summary
A camera (10) is provided with an image sensor (16) for capturing image data from a detection area (14), an illumination unit (26) with multiple light sources (28a-b) for illuminating the detection area (14), and a first deflection optic (20) which has at least two receiving light deflection elements (22a-b) to image at least two adjacent sub-areas (24a-b) of the detection area (14) superimposed on the image sensor (16). A second deflection optic (34) with multiple illumination deflection elements (36a) assigned to the light sources (28a-b) is provided to shift illumination fields (32a-b) of the light sources (28a-b) and thus illuminate the sub-areas (24a-b) uniformly.