Camera System Combining High Resolution and Large Depth of Field
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical systems for microscopy, such as surgical microscopes, face a trade-off between high image resolution and large depth of field, where increasing resolution decreases depth of field and vice versa, making it impossible to achieve both simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A camera system that automatically acquires images at two different numerical apertures, allowing for the combination of high-resolution in-focus portions with lower-resolution background images, enabling a single image with improved resolution and depth of field through dynamic aperture adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the numerical aperture is increased to improve image resolution, then the resolution improves, but the depth of field decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the numerical aperture adjustable rather than fixed. The system dynamically changes the numerical aperture between at least two different values during image acquisition, allowing optimization of both resolution and depth of field through temporal variation of the optical parameter.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic action by alternating between acquiring images at different numerical apertures. The camera device periodically switches between a first numerical aperture (for high resolution) and a second numerical aperture (for large depth of field), creating a temporal sequence that combines both qualities in the final composite image.
2Length of stationary object
If the numerical aperture is decreased to increase depth of field, then the depth of field increases, but the image resolution decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the numerical aperture between different values, switching from a smaller aperture (providing large depth of field) to a larger aperture (providing high resolution) as needed for different regions of the image.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different numerical aperture settings to different regions of the final image. The composite image contains high-resolution portions (acquired at larger aperture) for areas requiring detail and large depth-of-field portions (acquired at smaller aperture) for areas requiring contextual orientation.
3Ease of operation
If a fixed numerical aperture is used, then the optical system is simple to operate, but it is impossible to achieve both high resolution and large depth of field simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes the numerical aperture between at least two different values during operation, enabling the optical system to adapt to different imaging requirements while maintaining automated control that preserves ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera device achieves multi-functionality by being capable of operating at multiple numerical aperture settings within a single device, allowing it to perform both high-resolution imaging and large depth-of-field imaging, and combine them into a single composite image.
Data Source
AI summary
A camera system for providing images with simultaneous high resolution and large depth of field is provided. The system includes: a camera device having a field of view, the camera device configured to automatically acquire: a first image of the field of view at a first numerical aperture; and a second image of the field of view at a second numerical aperture smaller than the first numerical aperture; an image processing unit configured to combine the first image with the second image into a single image by: extracting a higher-resolution in-focus portion of the first image; and replacing a corresponding lower-resolution portion of the second image with the higher-resolution in-focus portion of the first image; and, a display device in communication with the image processing unit, the display device configured to render the single image.