Compound-Eye Image Pickup Apparatus with Shared Focus Driver
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional compound-eye image pickup apparatuses struggle to simultaneously obtain in-focus images with different angles of view using integrally molded lens units, leading to structural complexity and larger size due to the need for individual lens unit control and drivers, while single image sensors for multiple optical systems result in inadequate image capture.
Innovation Solution
A compound-eye image pickup apparatus with multiple imaging optical systems of varying focal lengths, each with a focus lens unit that moves during focusing and a fixed lens unit, utilizing a focus driver to move all focus lens units by equal amounts, allowing simultaneous capture of images with different angles of view.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If integrally molded lens units are used in multiple optical systems with different focal lengths, then the structure is simplified, but it becomes impossible to simultaneously obtain in-focus images with different angles of view
Solution Approach 1:
The lens unit is divided into two separate parts: a focus lens unit that moves during focusing and a fixed lens unit that remains stationary. This segmentation allows each unit to perform its specific function independently, enabling simultaneous in-focus imaging across multiple optical systems with different focal lengths while maintaining structural simplicity.
2Manufacturing precision
If individual drivers are provided to each lens unit to control focusing, then in-focus images with different angles of view can be obtained, but the apparatus becomes larger and structurally more complicated
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple focus lens units from different optical systems are mechanically coupled and moved together by a single shared driver. This merging approach allows one driver to control all focus lens units simultaneously, achieving in-focus images with different angles of view while avoiding the need for multiple individual drivers, thus reducing structural complexity and apparatus size.
3Volume of moving object
If a single image sensor is provided to multiple optical systems, then the apparatus size is reduced, but it cannot simultaneously capture images with different angles of view
Solution Approach 1:
Each image sensor is designed to receive optical images from multiple optical systems simultaneously. This multi-functional design allows a single image sensor to capture images with different angles of view from different focal length optical systems, maintaining compact apparatus size while enhancing image capture versatility.
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 solution enables the capture of in-focus images with different angles of view while simplifying the focus driver and reducing the overall size of the apparatus by equalizing the moving amounts of focus lens units across different focal lengths, improving image quality and reducing structural complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of imaging optical systems having different focal lengths and each configured to form an optical image of an object
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of image sensors having image pickup areas each corresponding to one of the plurality of imaging optical systems and each configured to photoelectrically convert the optical image formed by a corresponding one of the imaging optical systems
Data Source
AI summary
An image pickup apparatus includes a plurality of imaging optical systems having different focal lengths and each configured to form an optical image of an object, and a plurality of image sensors having image pickup areas each corresponding to one of the plurality of imaging optical systems and each configured to photoelectrically convert the optical image formed by a corresponding one of the imaging optical systems. The image pickup apparatus is configured to simultaneously capture a plurality of images by controlling the plurality of imaging optical systems and the plurality of image sensors. Each imaging optical system includes a focus lens unit configured to move in focusing and a fixed lens unit that is fixed in the focusing. The image pickup apparatus further includes a focus driver configured to move a plurality of focus lens units by equal moving amounts.