Depth Sensing Auto Focus Camera System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable devices with multiple cameras face challenges in achieving accurate depth perception due to focus breathing, distortions, and aberrations caused by small camera sizes and fixed focal lengths, which affect the consistency and quality of depth maps.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system with multiple image sensors, including a primary auto-focus camera and secondary auto-focus cameras with deformable optical elements or telecentric lenses, synchronized to maintain a constant field of view and reduce focus breathing, and using software to correct for distortions and generate accurate depth maps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If small camera modules are used in portable devices, then device portability is improved, but depth perception accuracy deteriorates due to focus breathing and distortions
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the imaging function into multiple camera modules (first camera module and second camera module) with different optical characteristics. Each module captures images from the same scene but with different focus distances and fields of view, allowing the system to segment the depth measurement task across multiple sensors to overcome the limitations of small individual modules
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes different focal lengths and focus distances as varying parameters between the first and second camera modules. By capturing images at different focus parameters and applying software corrections for focus breathing and distortions, the system transforms the constraint of small camera size into a multi-parameter measurement system that achieves accurate depth perception
2Volume of moving object
If fixed focal length lenses are used in small cameras, then device compactness is improved, but image quality deteriorates due to distortions and aberrations
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs software-based correction mechanisms that use feedback from calibration data to compensate for distortions and aberrations introduced by the fixed focal length lenses. The processor applies correction algorithms to the captured images, using stored distortion characteristics to restore image quality without requiring larger, more complex optical systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple camera modules with different optical characteristics (different focal lengths, different focus distances) into a composite imaging system. This composite approach allows each small module to maintain its compact fixed-focal-length design while the combination of modules produces high-quality depth maps that compensate for individual module limitations
3Measurement precision
If multiple cameras with different focus distances are used, then depth map accuracy is improved, but field of view consistency deteriorates due to focus breathing
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calibration to characterize the focus breathing effects of each camera module before actual depth measurement. By pre-determining the field of view variations at different focus distances and storing correction data, the system prepares in advance to compensate for these variations during operation, maintaining field of view consistency while utilizing different focus distances for accurate depth mapping
Solution Approach 2:
The patent systematically varies the focus distance parameter between the first and second camera modules while applying software corrections for the resulting field of view changes. By controlling and compensating for focus breathing through parameter management, the system achieves both depth map accuracy (through different focus distances) and field of view consistency (through correction algorithms)
Data Source
AI summary
A depth sensing multiple camera system is described that uses depth sensing cameras. In one example, the camera system includes a primary auto-focus camera to capture an image of a scene at a first focus distance, the primary camera having a fixed field of view through different focus distances, a secondary auto-focus camera to capture an image of the same scene at a second focus distance, the secondary camera having a fixed field of view through different focus distances, and a processor having a port coupled to the primary camera to receive images from the primary camera and also coupled to the secondary camera to receive images from the secondary camera and to determine a depth map for the captured primary camera image using the captured secondary camera image.