Dual-Aperture Zoom Camera for Smooth Fusion-Free Video Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dual-aperture zoom digital cameras face issues with large size, high computational requirements, power consumption, and image quality degradation due to mismatched focal lengths and optical F numbers, particularly when operating in both still and video modes.
Innovation Solution
A dual-aperture zoom digital camera with fixed focal length lenses and two sub-cameras, utilizing partial or full image fusion in still mode and seamless switching between sub-cameras in video mode to achieve optical zoom without fusion, reducing computational demands and power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If dual-aperture imaging systems are used to approximate zoom effect, then zoom capability is achieved, but device size increases and reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The camera system is divided into two independent sub-cameras with different fixed focal length lenses (wide-angle and telephoto). Each sub-camera captures images independently through its own optical path, eliminating the need for complex mechanical zoom mechanisms while achieving zoom functionality through computational fusion of the two separate images.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multi-aperture imaging systems are used, then zoom effect is approximated, but computational requirements and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system captures images at two fixed focal lengths simultaneously (excessive action) and then selectively processes only the portions of images that are needed for the desired zoom level (partial action). This allows the camera to achieve zoom effects without continuously processing entire images at high computational cost, thereby reducing power consumption during video operation.
3Device complexity
If fixed focal length lenses are used in dual-aperture system, then device complexity is reduced, but image quality degrades due to mismatched focal lengths
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses two fixed focal length lenses with different focal lengths (wide-angle and telephoto) and compensates for the parameter differences through computational image processing. By changing the parameters of the captured images (cropping, scaling, and fusion) rather than using a single variable focal length lens, the system maintains simplicity while achieving quality results.
4Manufacturing precision
If fusion processing is applied in video mode, then image quality improves, but frame rate requirements increase and processing resources are exhausted
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies fusion processing periodically only when needed for still image capture or specific video scenarios, rather than continuously applying fusion to all video frames. During video operation, the system can switch between sub-cameras without fusion to maintain high frame rates, and only performs fusion when high image quality is required for still images or specific zoom levels.
Data Source
AI summary
A dual-aperture zoom digital camera operable in both still and video modes. The camera includes Wide and Tele imaging sections with respective lens/sensor combinations and image signal processors and a camera controller operatively coupled to the Wide and Tele imaging sections. The Wide and Tele imaging sections provide respective image data. The controller is configured to combine in still mode at least some of the Wide and Tele image data to provide a fused output image from a particular point of view, and to provide without fusion continuous zoom video mode output images, each output image having a given output resolution, wherein the video mode output images are provided with a smooth transition when switching between a lower zoom factor (ZF) value and a higher ZF value or vice versa, and wherein at the lower ZF the output resolution is determined by the Wide sensor while at the higher ZF value the output resolution is determined by the Tele sensor.