Dual Camera Imaging System for High-Resolution Color Video

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional camera systems struggle to capture high-resolution color video, especially under poor lighting conditions and fail to accurately determine the three-dimensional position of moving objects within overlapping fields of view.

Innovation Solution

A dual video camera system comprising a low-resolution color digital camera and a high-resolution monochromatic digital camera, connected to a digital processing system, which fuses image frames to produce high-resolution color images and calculates three-dimensional coordinates of moving objects using parallax error between the cameras.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a single high-resolution color camera is used, then color image quality is improved, but sensitivity under poor lighting conditions deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage resolutionVSAvoidsensitivity under poor lighting
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The imaging system is segmented into two separate camera subsystems: a color camera for capturing color information and a monochrome camera for capturing high-resolution detail. Each sensor is optimized for its specific function, allowing the system to overcome the limitations of a single sensor by dividing the imaging task into specialized components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system merges the outputs of two separate camera systems through image fusion technology. The color image from the color camera and the high-resolution monochrome image from the monochrome camera are combined to produce a final image that possesses both color information and high spatial resolution, thereby achieving both improved image quality and lighting sensitivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Device complexity

If conventional single-camera systems are used, then device complexity is reduced, but ability to determine three-dimensional position deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem structureVSAvoidthree-dimensional position determination
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from two-dimensional image capture to three-dimensional position determination by utilizing the spatial relationship between two cameras with overlapping fields of view. By comparing the positions of objects in both camera views and applying parallax calculations, the system derives depth information (z-coordinate) to achieve accurate three-dimensional positioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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

The system achieves improved sensitivity for color video capture under poor lighting and accurately determines the three-dimensional position of moving objects, enhancing surveillance and monitoring capabilities.

Implementation Method 1

a beam splitter, and a lens, wherein the lens gathers incident light towards the beam splitter, and the beam splitter splits the light towards the two sensor chips

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight splitting: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

the distance from the cameras to the object in the axis perpendicular to the plane of the images is derived from the parallax error between the two image frames to be fused

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectParallax: Parallax

Data Source

PatentEP2630802B1Camera imaging systems and methods
Publication Date: 2019.12.04 UNIVERSITY OF NEW BRUNSWICK
  • EP2630802B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2630802B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2630802B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A video imaging system comprising: a low resolution colour digital video camera and a high resolution monochromatic digital video camera operably connected to a digital processing system.