Dual Camera Optical Focus Adjustment via Gaze Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing imaging systems are inefficient in accurately and automatically focusing on multiple objects in a real-world scene, due to limitations in gaze-tracking accuracy and depth of field, leading to suboptimal image quality and a non-immersive viewing experience.
Innovation Solution
An imaging system comprising two cameras with adjustable optical focus, depth-mapping, and gaze-tracking, where a processor processes depth and gaze data to generate a depth map, identify optical depths of objects, and adjust focus to capture high-quality images of objects at different optical depths simultaneously.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If gaze-trackers are employed to track user's gaze for focusing on multiple objects, then the system can identify objects of interest, but the focusing accuracy is limited by the gaze-tracker's precision and the camera's depth of field
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple cameras with different focal lengths into a camera array, where each camera captures images of objects at different optical depths. This merging of multiple imaging devices with complementary capabilities resolves the focusing accuracy limitation by providing simultaneous sharp images of objects at various depths, overcoming the single-depth-of-field constraint of individual cameras or gaze-trackers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically selects and switches between different cameras in the array based on the user's gaze direction and the depth of objects of interest. The system adjusts which camera actively captures images by evaluating gaze data and determining the optimal camera for the current viewing scenario, enabling adaptive focusing accuracy that responds to changing user attention and object depths.
2Ease of operation
If existing focussing schemes divide captured images into different areas with different focussing weights, then processing can be simplified, but the considered area is larger than the actual gaze area, reducing precision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary selection of the appropriate camera from the array before image capture, based on real-time evaluation of gaze-tracking data and object depth information. By pre-determining which camera should be active for the current gaze direction and object configuration, the system avoids the need for complex post-capture image processing and weighting schemes, achieving both processing simplicity and gaze area precision through proactive camera selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and utilizes only the relevant portion of the visual scene by selecting the specific camera that captures objects within the actual gaze area. Instead of processing entire captured images with different focussing weights across large areas, the system extracts the optimal view by choosing the appropriate camera, thereby matching the processing effort precisely to the actual gaze area and eliminating unnecessary processing of peripheral regions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If actuators are used to change the magnitude of focal lengths for focusing on multiple objects, then focus adjustment is possible, but the actuators operate slowly, reducing productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the focusing function across multiple static cameras in an array, each camera optimized for a specific focal length and depth range. Instead of using a single camera with movable actuators that slowly adjust focus, the system divides the imaging task among multiple fixed cameras, allowing instantaneous focus switching by simply changing which camera is active, thereby achieving both focus adaptability and high focusing speed without mechanical movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates multiple copies of the camera system with different fixed focal lengths, forming a camera array where each camera is a copy designed for a specific depth range. This replication allows the system to access multiple focal points simultaneously through parallel hardware copies rather than sequentially adjusting a single camera, eliminating the slow actuator movement problem while maintaining full focus adjustment capability across different depths.
4Device complexity
If a single camera is used to capture images, then the device complexity is low, but the system cannot accurately capture multiple objects at different optical depths simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a new dimension to the camera system by arranging multiple cameras in a three-dimensional spatial configuration, each positioned and oriented to capture objects at different optical depths. This spatial dimensionality allows the system to simultaneously image objects at various depths without requiring complex post-processing, as each camera naturally captures a specific depth plane, thereby achieving precision image quality of multiple objects while maintaining relatively simple individual camera designs.
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging system including: first camera and second camera; depth-mapping means; gaze-tracking means; and processor configured to: generate depth map of real-world scene of real-world environment; determine gaze directions of first eye and second eye; identify line of sight of user and conical region of interest real-world scene; determine optical depths of objects in conical region of interest, wherein at least first object, second object and third object from amongst objects are at different optical depths; adjust optical focus of one of first camera and second camera to focus on first object and second object in alternating manner, whilst adjusting optical focus of another of first camera and second camera to focus on third object; and capture images using adjusted optical focus of cameras.