Deformable Image Sensor for Wide Depth of Field Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional imaging systems struggle to maintain clear imaging across a wide depth of field, especially when the depth distribution of the object exceeds the camera's depth of field scope or when large aperture photography is used, resulting in parts of the image being blurred due to shallow depth of field.
Innovation Solution
The method involves determining target in focus depth positions for multiple imaging sub-areas of an image sensor based on object depth information and utilizing a deformable image sensor to adjust its surface shape, allowing reference points of these sub-areas to align with their respective target in focus depth positions, thereby expanding the depth of field scope for clear imaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the aperture is increased to improve light quantity and reduce exposure time, then the shutter speed increases, but the depth of field becomes shallow resulting in blurred imaging for objects at different depths
Solution Approach 1:
The image sensor is divided into multiple independently controllable imaging sub-areas, each capable of being deformed to different degrees. This segmentation allows different regions of the sensor to focus on objects at different depths, resolving the contradiction between large aperture (shallow depth of field) and clear imaging across depth ranges.
Solution Approach 2:
The image sensor employs deformable structures that can dynamically adjust their shape and position in response to control signals. This dynamic capability enables the sensor to adapt its focal characteristics in real-time, maintaining clear imaging across varying depth distributions while preserving large aperture benefits.
2Manufacturing precision
If the depth distribution of the object exceeds the camera's depth of field scope, then clear imaging cannot be achieved for all object parts, but using smaller aperture to increase depth of field reduces light quantity and increases exposure time
Solution Approach 1:
Different imaging sub-areas of the sensor are given different local focal characteristics through selective deformation. Each sub-area is optimized to capture objects at specific depth ranges, allowing the system to maintain clear imaging across the entire depth distribution without requiring a small aperture that would reduce light quantity.
3Manufacturing precision
If a deformable image sensor is used to expand depth of field scope, then clear imaging can be achieved across broader depth range, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The image sensor utilizes flexible substrate structures that can be deformed into different shapes to achieve varying focal depths. This approach expands the depth of field scope while avoiding the need for complex mechanical focusing mechanisms, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
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 enhances the quality of imaging by ensuring clear capture of objects across a broader depth range, even when the object's depth distribution exceeds the camera's depth of field, and improves the effectiveness of large-aperture photography by aligning focus positions with target depth positions.
Implementation Method 1
controlling deformation of the image sensor so as to make depth positions of reference points of the at least two imaging sub-areas after the deformation approach or coincide with the corresponding target in focus depth positions
Data Source
AI summary
The present application discloses various imaging control methods and apparatuses, and various imaging devices. One of the imaging control methods includes: determining, at least according to depth information of an object to be photographed, target in focus depth positions respectively corresponding to at least two imaging sub-areas of the image sensor; controlling deformation of the image sensor so as to make depth positions of reference points of the at least two imaging sub-areas after the deformation approach or coincide with the corresponding target in focus depth positions; and acquiring, based on the image sensor after the deformation, an image of the object. Technical solutions provided by the present application may improve quality of imaging.