Curved Image Sensor Aberration Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional camera systems suffer from image distortion due to aberration, particularly at the edges of the image sensor, which is exacerbated by the complexity and increased size of the imaging system when multiple lenses or aberration compensation devices are used.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus that adapts the curvature of the image sensor to match the focal surface of a target image, utilizing a drive control module to adjust the image sensor's curvature based on focusing determination, thereby minimizing aberration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a plurality of lenses or aberration compensation devices are used to reduce aberration, then image quality is improved, but device complexity and size are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature to the image sensor surface to match the focal surface of the lens system. By making the image sensor curved rather than flat, the sensor surface aligns with the natural focal surface where all light rays converge, eliminating aberration without requiring additional lenses or compensation devices. This directly resolves the contradiction by improving image quality through geometric curvature while maintaining simple system structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameter of the image sensor from flat to curved surface. This parameter change allows the sensor to adapt to the focal surface geometry, achieving aberration correction through a fundamental change in the sensor's physical configuration rather than adding complex optical components.
2Manufacturing precision
If a plurality of lenses or aberration compensation devices are used to reduce aberration, then image quality is improved, but system size is increased
Solution Approach 1:
By curving the image sensor surface to match the focal surface, the patent eliminates the need for additional optical components that would increase system volume. The curved sensor directly captures focused light rays without requiring extra lenses or compensation devices, thus improving image quality while keeping the system compact.
3Manufacturing precision
If a plurality of lenses or aberration compensation devices are used to reduce aberration, then image quality is improved, but manufacturing cost is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent simplifies manufacturing by using a curved image sensor instead of multiple lenses or compensation devices. This approach reduces the number of components that need to be precisely manufactured and assembled, thereby lowering manufacturing costs while achieving the same image quality improvement through a single geometric modification.
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 approach effectively reduces image distortion by dynamically adjusting the image sensor's curvature to match the focal surface, improving image clarity across the entire sensor area without increasing system complexity or size.
Implementation Method 1
the curvature of an image sensor is adaptively changed to correspond to a focal surface of a target image, thereby minimizing aberration
Data Source
AI summary
There are provided an image processing apparatus and a control method thereof. An image processing apparatus includes an image sensor for acquiring a target image, an image processing module for performing focusing on a specific area of the acquired target image and determining a focal surface of the target image on the basis of the performed focusing, and a drive control module for controlling the curvature of the image sensor, based on the determined focal surface.