Computational Camera Dual Lens Arrays for Compact High-Speed Imaging
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional digital cameras face challenges in designing high-quality, fast lenses that are both affordable and efficient, as they require multiple high-precision lens elements, leading to bulkiness and expense, while light-field cameras struggle to capture directional light information effectively.
Innovation Solution
A computational camera system incorporating two arrays of lenses, including a lenslet array and a separate array of objective lenses, which are thinner, lighter, and less expensive, capturing light-field information and enabling post-processing to produce high-quality images similar to those from fast conventional lenses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If multiple high-precision lens elements are used to achieve fast lens performance, then image quality is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single complex objective lens into multiple simpler lens elements arranged in an array. Each lens element in the array is simpler to manufacture than a single fast lens, but collectively they achieve the light-gathering capability of a fast lens while reducing individual element complexity and overall manufacturing cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple lens elements into an array configuration that functions as a unified optical system. The array merges the capabilities of individual simpler lenses to achieve the performance of a single complex fast lens, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining image quality.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple high-precision lens elements are used to achieve fast lens performance, then image quality is improved, but weight and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the heavy single fast lens into multiple smaller lens elements in an array. This segmentation reduces the weight of individual elements and allows for a more compact overall structure that is lighter than a single equivalent fast lens while maintaining image quality through the combined optical power of the array.
3Device complexity
If conventional camera design is used, then structural simplicity is maintained, but directional light information is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the single photosensor into multiple photosensors arranged in an array, with each photosensor corresponding to a lens element. This segmentation allows each photosensor to capture light from specific directions through its corresponding lens element, thereby preserving directional light information that would be lost in a conventional single-lens design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a spatial dimension to the optical system by arranging lens elements and photosensors in a two-dimensional array. This dimensional expansion allows the system to capture not only intensity information but also directional information by recording which lens element captured which light rays, enabling light-field photography capabilities.
4Length of stationary object
If lenslet array is placed close to photosensor, then system compactness is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the lenslet array and photosensor array into a single integrated module where corresponding lens elements and photosensors are aligned during manufacturing. This merging approach allows the system to achieve compact thickness while managing alignment precision requirements through integrated fabrication processes rather than separate assembly steps.
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 system achieves high-quality images comparable to fast conventional lenses with lower F-numbers, while being more affordable and compact, and captures directional light information for enhanced features like refocusing and noise reduction.
Implementation Method 1
Each lenslet in the lenslet array refracts light from each objective lens, thereby generating N microimages corresponding to the N objective lenses
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Method and apparatus for a fast (low F/number) computational camera that incorporates two arrays of lenses. The arrays include a lenslet array in front of a photosensor and an objective lens array of two or more lenses. Each lens in the objective lens array captures light from a subject. Each lenslet in the lenslet array captures light from each objective lens and separates the captured light to project microimages corresponding to the objective lenses on a region of the photosensor under the lenslet. Thus, a plurality of microimages are projected onto and captured by the photosensor. The captured microimages may be processed in accordance with the geometry of the objective lenses to align the microimages to generate a final image. One or more other algorithms may be applied to the image data in accordance with radiance information captured by the camera, such as automatic refocusing of an out-of-focus image.