Dual Camera Optical Zoom via Refractive Power Segmentation
Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge is to achieve optical zoom in portable devices like mobile phones without increasing their thickness, while utilizing dual-camera setups with wide-angle and telephoto capabilities.
Innovation Solution
An electronic imaging device with two capturing devices, each having a specific lens system configuration, where the first capturing device has a positive refractive power closest to the object side and the second capturing device has a negative refractive power closest to the object side, allowing for hybrid optical zoom through the combination of different field-of-views and refractive power distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional optical zoom with mechanical lens movement is used, then optical zoom capability is achieved, but device thickness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the capturing system into two independent capturing devices (first capturing device with positive refractive power lens and second capturing device with negative refractive power lens), each responsible for specific focal length ranges. This segmentation eliminates the need for mechanical lens movement while achieving optical zoom through computational processing of images from both devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical lens movement system with a dual-camera system where optical zoom is achieved through computational methods by combining images from a wide-angle camera and a telephoto camera. This substitutes mechanical zoom with computational zoom, eliminating moving parts and reducing device thickness.
2Adaptability or versatility
If dual-camera assembly is used to achieve optical zoom, then zoom capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs both capturing devices to share common components including the same image processing unit, control unit, and computational algorithms. The first capturing device (wide-angle) and second capturing device (telephoto) both contribute to the same imaging output, with the system automatically selecting and processing images from either device based on the required focal length, thereby reducing overall system complexity despite having multiple cameras.
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 enables high-quality optical zoom while maintaining the miniaturization of the device, reducing aberrations and ensuring excellent imaging quality across various field-of-views, thus meeting the requirements for portable imaging devices.
Implementation Method 1
the first lens system may include at least one lens having a refractive power, and a lens closest to an object side has a positive refractive power
Implementation Method 2
the second lens system may include at least one lens having a refractive power, and a lens closest to an object side has a negative refractive power
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure discloses an electronic imaging device including a first capturing device and a second capturing device. The first capturing device includes a first lens system and a first electronic photosensitive element located on an imaging plane of the first lens system. The second capturing device includes a second lens system and a second electronic photosensitive element located on an imaging plane of the second lens system. The first capturing device and the second capturing device are located at a same side of the electronic imaging device, and a field-of-view of the first capturing device is different from a field-of-view of the second capturing device. A total effective focal length fT of the first lens system and a total effective focal length fW of the second lens system satisfy fT/fW>3.3.