Compound-eye imaging device resolution enhancement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing camera devices that divide imaging elements into multiple regions to acquire different types of information face a resolution trade-off, where increasing the number of regions decreases the number of pixels per region, leading to lower resolution.
Innovation Solution
A camera device with multiple imaging regions, including high-resolution and low-resolution areas, where the processor enhances the resolution of low-resolution images using high-resolution components from adjacent regions, allowing for high-priority information to be captured with improved clarity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the imaging element is divided into multiple imaging regions to acquire different types of information, then the ability to simultaneously acquire multiple types of information is improved, but the number of pixels per imaging region decreases, leading to lower resolution
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging element is divided into multiple imaging regions, each equipped with different optical filters to capture different types of information (e.g., visible light, near-infrared, polarization). This segmentation enables simultaneous acquisition of multiple information types while maintaining dedicated pixel allocation for each region.
Solution Approach 2:
Different imaging regions are assigned different resolutions based on the importance and requirements of the information they capture. High-priority information channels receive higher resolution allocation, while less critical channels use lower resolution, optimizing overall system performance.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the number of imaging regions is increased to capture more different types of information, then the versatility of the device is improved, but the area and pixel count per region decrease, reducing image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a single imaging element to a multi-element array configuration, adding spatial dimensionality to the system. This allows multiple imaging regions to coexist without excessively reducing the area of each individual region, as the total imaging area is distributed across multiple elements.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple imaging elements are used to capture different types of information simultaneously, with each element serving multiple functional purposes. The system achieves multi-functionality by combining several imaging regions with different optical filters on multiple elements, thereby increasing versatility without proportionally sacrificing individual region quality.
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 the acquisition of different types of information with high resolution, even in smaller imaging regions, by leveraging the processor to enhance low-resolution images with high-resolution components, thus maintaining or improving overall image quality.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of lenses to image images of a same field of view onto the plurality of imaging regions
Implementation Method 2
the plurality of optical filters are provided so that an image acquired in each of the imaging regions of the second type represents a different type of information from an image acquired in each of the at least one imaging region of the first type
Data Source
AI summary
A compound-eye imaging device includes a camera device and a processor including a resolution enhancer. The camera device includes an imaging element including imaging regions including at least one imaging region of a first type and imaging regions of a second type smaller than the imaging region of the first type; lenses to image images of the same field of view onto the imaging regions; and optical filters provided so that an image acquired in each of the imaging regions of the second type represents a different type of information from an image acquired in each of the at least one imaging region of the first type. The resolution enhancer receives the image acquired in one of the at least one imaging region of the first type and the image acquired in one of the imaging regions of the second type, and generates a high-resolution image from the acquired images.