Distance Detection Device Surrounding Lens Barrel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing camera systems face vignetting issues due to the lens barrel blocking distance measurement light, preventing accurate distance detection across the entire image frame, especially when the imaging angle varies during image capture.
Innovation Solution
A camera system design where a distance detection device is attached to the lens device, positioned to surround its periphery, ensuring that the distance measurement light is not obstructed by the lens barrel, allowing for unobstructed irradiation and reception of light across the image angle, thereby enabling precise distance image acquisition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the distance measurement light irradiator is disposed in the imaging apparatus main body, then the structure is compact and integrated, but the lens barrel blocks the distance measurement light causing vignetting and preventing accurate distance detection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the distance measurement light irradiator from the imaging apparatus main body to the lens device, changing the spatial dimension of component arrangement. This allows the irradiator to be positioned at the front end of the lens device where it can emit light without being blocked by the lens barrel, resolving the vignetting problem while maintaining integration through the attachment mechanism
2Device complexity
If the distance measurement light irradiator is disposed in the imaging apparatus main body, then the overall structure is simplified, but the irradiation light is obstructed by the lens barrel reducing the irradiation range
Solution Approach 1:
By relocating the irradiator to the lens device front end, the patent expands the irradiation range in the radial direction from the optical axis. This positional change in another dimension allows light to reach wider angles without being blocked by the lens barrel, increasing the effective irradiation area
3Adaptability or versatility
If the distance measurement light irradiator is disposed in the imaging apparatus main body, then the system integration is improved, but vignetting occurs preventing distance measurement across the entire image frame
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the distance measurement light irradiator from the imaging apparatus main body and attaches it to the lens device. This separation removes the source of the vignetting problem (the blocked light path) while maintaining the functional integration needed for coordinated operation during image capture
Solution Approach 2:
The relocation to the lens device front end changes the geometric relationship between the irradiator and lens barrel, eliminating the blocking effect and enabling full-frame distance measurement coverage
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 configuration allows for accurate distance information acquisition without vignetting, enabling enhanced image processing, three-dimensional image synthesis, and improved performance in multi-view imaging and augmented reality applications by ensuring the distance measurement light reaches the object without obstruction.
Implementation Method 1
The time of flight (TOF) scheme is a method of performing irradiation with distance measurement light from an imaging apparatus toward an object and calculating the distance on the basis of a time required by an imaging element for acquiring a distance image to receive the reflected light
Implementation Method 2
The infrared light reflected by the object is received by the imaging element, and a time difference between a timing of the irradiation in the irradiation pattern and a timing of the light reception is detected
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a distance detection device (300) attached to a position at which it surrounds a camera lens device (200). The distance detection device has a light emitting element (309) configured to irradiate a target region with irradiation light and a light receiving element (310) configured to receive reflected light of the irradiation light from a target in the target region. The distance detection device acquires distance information indicating a distance to the target on the basis of a time until the light receiving element receives the reflected light after the light emitting element performs irradiation with the irradiation light and communicates the distance information.