Dual Optical Module Image Capture Assembly for Distortion Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wide-viewing-angle photography often results in significant image distortion, especially at the edges, and close-up photography exacerbates this issue, making distortion correction difficult for portable electronic devices due to high computing power requirements.
Innovation Solution
An image capture assembly using two optical modules with smaller field-of-views that overlap to create a combined image frame with reduced distortion, allowing for easier image correction and lower processing loads, while also enabling flexible aspect ratio adjustments for different display screens.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a wide-angle lens set with high field-of-view is used to capture images, then the angle-of-view is widened, but significant image distortion occurs especially at edges and in close-up photography
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single wide-angle imaging function into multiple standard-angle lens sets (e.g., first lens set and second lens set) that capture overlapping image frames. By segmenting the wide field-of-view into multiple standard-angle views and merging them, the system achieves wide-angle coverage while maintaining lower distortion characteristics of individual standard-angle lenses.
2Manufacturing precision
If image distortion correction is applied to correct distorted images, then image quality is improved, but high computing power is required which is difficult for portable electronic devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by capturing images with multiple standard-angle lens sets that inherently produce less distortion. Instead of correcting heavily distorted wide-angle images through computationally intensive algorithms, the system pre-captures multiple lower-distortion images that can be merged with simpler processing, reducing the computing power burden on portable devices.
3Length of moving object
If close-up photography is performed with wide-angle lens, then small object distance is achieved, but image distortion becomes much worse and difficult to correct
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by using multiple standard-angle lens sets positioned to capture overlapping fields of view at close object distances. Each standard-angle lens maintains better distortion characteristics at close range compared to a single wide-angle lens, and the segmented views are merged to achieve the desired close-up effect with reduced distortion.
4Device complexity
If a single optical module is used for wide-viewing-angle photography, then device complexity is low, but image distortion is significant
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple image frames captured by standard-angle lens sets to create a composite wide-angle image. By combining multiple lower-distortion standard-angle views into a single wide-field-of-view image, the system achieves wide-angle photography with reduced distortion without requiring a complex single wide-angle optical module.
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 solution significantly reduces image distortion in close-range captures, simplifies image correction, and decreases computational processing demands, making it suitable for portable devices, and allows for adaptable display resolutions.
Implementation Method 1
The first optical module is adapted to capture an image in a first field-of-view to project the image on the first image sensor, such that the first image sensor generates a first image frame
Implementation Method 2
The second optical module is adapted to capture another image in a second field-of-view to project the another image on the second image sensor, such that the second image sensor generates a second image frame
Data Source
AI summary
An image capture assembly includes a first optical module, a first image sensor, a second optical module, a second image sensor, and a data processing circuit. The first optical module captures an image in a first field-of-view and projects the image on the first image sensor, such that the first image sensor generates a first image frame. The second optical module captures another image in a second field-of-view and projects the another image on the second image sensor, such that the second image sensor generates a second image frame. The data processing circuit merges the first image frame and the second image frame in a longitudinal direction, to generate a combined image frame. The vertical resolution and the horizontal resolution of the combined image are configured in accordance with an aspect ratio of a display screen.