Multi-Sensor Camera with Overlapping Light Bundles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional camera systems for vehicle surround-view systems require multiple cameras, leading to insufficient lens resolution, significant image distortions, especially in wide-angle views, and complications in relative camera position changes, which result in artifacts and increased costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A camera device with a common housing for two sensors and lenses, where each sensor is outside its respective light bundle, allowing overlapping light bundles within the housing to avoid interactions and enable a single data interface, reducing installation space, energy consumption, and simplifying calibration, while covering different viewing angles with a single device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple individual cameras are used to cover a large field of view, then the capture area is increased, but the lens resolution becomes insufficient and image distortions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The camera device is segmented into multiple sensor units (first sensor, second sensor, third sensor) with different field of view characteristics. Each sensor captures a specific portion of the surroundings, and the image processing unit combines these segmented images to form a complete total image, thereby achieving large capture area while maintaining adequate resolution in each segment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from using multiple separate camera devices to integrating multiple sensors within a single camera housing. This dimensional consolidation allows the system to cover a large field of view through multiple sensors while maintaining a compact form factor and reducing the number of external components needed.
2Area of stationary object
If multiple individual cameras are used to cover a large field of view, then the capture area is increased, but image distortions especially in edge regions increase
Solution Approach 1:
Different sensors are assigned to capture different regions with optimized characteristics. The first sensor with a wide-angle lens captures the central and peripheral areas, while the second and third sensors with telephoto lenses capture specific side areas. This local optimization allows each sensor to capture its designated region with minimal distortion, and the image processing unit combines these locally optimized images to produce a high-quality total image.
3Area of stationary object
If multiple individual cameras are used, then the capture area is increased, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple sensor units that would traditionally require separate camera devices are merged into a single camera housing. The first sensor, second sensor, and third sensor are integrated within one housing, sharing common structural support and data transmission interfaces. This merging reduces the number of external camera devices needed while maintaining the capability to capture a large field of view through multiple sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The single camera device performs multiple functions by housing three different sensor units with different field of view characteristics. This multi-functional design allows one camera device to replace what would traditionally require three separate camera devices, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining comprehensive capture area coverage.
4Area of stationary object
If multiple individual cameras are used, then the capture area is increased, but relative movement artifacts appear in the total image
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple sensor units are integrated within a single camera housing, ensuring they move together as one rigid unit. This physical integration eliminates relative movement between sensors that would occur with separate camera devices, thereby preventing relative movement artifacts in the combined total image while maintaining comprehensive field of view coverage.
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 configuration reduces image artifacts, simplifies mechanical integration and calibration, saves costs and time, and allows for a single camera device to cover large fields of view without the need for multiple cameras, enhancing image quality and reducing weight through a single data transmission interface.
Implementation Method 1
a first lens (2) configured to form a first light bundle_B (6) in the case of a first light bundle_A (8) passing therethrough
Implementation Method 2
at least a second lens (3) configured to form a second light bundle_B (7) in the case of a second light bundle_A (9) passing therethrough
Implementation Method 3
a first sensor (4) arranged within the first light bundle_B (6) and configured to convert the first light bundle_B (6), which is impinging on the first sensor (4), into first image data
Implementation Method 4
at least a second sensor (5) arranged within the second light bundle_B (7) and configured to convert the second light bundle_B (7), which impinges on the at least second sensor (5), into second image data
Data Source
AI summary
A camera device having a first lens forming a first light bundle_B a first sensor arranged within the first light bundle_B, to convert the first light bundle_B, into first image data at least a second lens, forming a second light bundle_B, at least a second sensor arranged within the second light bundle_B to convert the second light bundle_B into second image data. The first sensor and the second sensor are arranged in a common housing. The first sensor is arranged outside the second light bundle_B and the second sensor is arranged outside the first light bundle_B. The first lens and the first sensor and the second lens and the at least second sensor are arranged such that the first light bundle_B and the second light bundle_B overlap at least in part in the housing.