Dual Camera Imaging System for Bandwidth and Cost Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing information processing devices face challenges in enhancing functionality due to high manufacturing costs, limited bandwidth, and responsiveness issues when improving camera performance or image quality for various image processing tasks.

Innovation Solution

The system employs a pair of cameras with adjustable imaging conditions, such as angle of view, resolution, frame rate, and exposure time, to capture images of the same subject in different conditions, allowing for efficient and cost-effective implementation of various functions by integrating image data from both cameras.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the performance of camera or image quality is improved, then the functionality of information processing device is enhanced, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage qualityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The imaging function is segmented into multiple cameras with different imaging conditions (e.g., wide-angle camera and telephoto camera, or cameras with different resolutions). Each camera captures images suitable for specific processing tasks, allowing the system to achieve high functionality without requiring a single high-performance camera, thus controlling manufacturing costs while maintaining measurement precision for various applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If the performance of camera or image quality is improved, then the functionality of information processing device is enhanced, but the bandwidth for transmitting images is exceeded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage qualityVSAvoidbandwidth consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Different cameras capture images with locally optimized quality characteristics suited to specific processing needs. For example, one camera captures high-resolution images for detailed analysis while another captures lower-resolution images for overview purposes. This local optimization ensures that bandwidth is consumed efficiently by transmitting only the necessary image quality for each specific function, rather than transmitting high-quality images for all processing tasks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Measurement precision

If the performance of camera or image quality is improved, then the functionality of information processing device is enhanced, but the responsiveness from capturing to output is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage qualityVSAvoidresponsiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically selects and switches between multiple cameras with different imaging conditions based on the current processing requirements. When high-speed processing is needed, cameras with faster frame rates or lower processing overhead are selected. When high image quality is required, appropriate cameras are chosen. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain high responsiveness across various processing tasks without being constrained by a single high-performance camera configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2590396B1Information processing system and information processing method
Publication Date: 2018.08.08 SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC
  • EP2590396B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2590396B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2590396B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The input information acquiring unit (22) of an information processing device (14) receives an instruction input from the user. An image capturing condition control unit (24) allows capturing of images to be started under an image capturing condition determined on the basis of the user's instruction or the analysis result of a captured image. An image capturing condition storage unit (26) stores an image capturing condition table in which intended functions are made correspond to image capturing conditions. A first image analysis unit (32) and a second image analysis unit (34) acquire respective images captured by a first camera (28) and a second camera (30) both mounted on an imaging device (12) and perform necessary image analyses. An image integration unit (36) integrates the images captured by the pair of cameras and the analysis results. An image data generation unit (38) generates image data to be output as a processing result.