Dual Sensor Video Camera Reducing Color Aliasing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Digital video cameras face challenges with color aliasing in high-frequency images using single sensor cameras and high production costs and noise issues in 3-sensor cameras, where existing solutions either degrade image quality or increase manufacturing complexity.
Innovation Solution
A dual-sensor video camera system comprising a color filter array (CFA) sensor with a low-pass filter and a panchromatic sensor, utilizing a beam splitter to direct light to both sensors, and computational elements to produce an output image with luminance information from the panchromatic sensor and chrominance information from the CFA sensor, allowing for electronic alignment and reduced manufacturing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a low-pass filter is overlayed over the sensor in a single sensor camera, then color aliasing is reduced, but fine detail is destroyed and all images become fuzzier
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the sensor system into two separate sensors: a CFA sensor for capturing color information and a panchromatic sensor for capturing luminance information. This segmentation allows each sensor to be optimized for its specific function, with the panchromatic sensor capturing sharp luminance details without color filter interference, while the CFA sensor captures color information. The beam splitter directs light to both sensors simultaneously, eliminating the need for a low-pass filter overlay while maintaining both color aliasing reduction and image sharpness.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a beam splitter is used to split light into three beams for three sensors, then color aliasing is eliminated and image quality is improved, but the amount of light reaching each sensor is reduced and signal-to-noise ratio is lowered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the luminance capture function from the color filter array by introducing a separate panchromatic sensor. The beam splitter directs light to both the CFA sensor and the panchromatic sensor, allowing each sensor to receive sufficient light for its specific purpose. The panchromatic sensor, lacking color filters, can capture luminance information with high signal-to-noise ratio, while the CFA sensor captures color information. This extraction eliminates the need for three sensors and reduces the light division problem.
3Manufacturing precision
If three sensors are precisely mechanically aligned in a 3-sensor camera, then corresponding sensor sites match the same pixels, but manufacturing cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of three sensors into a dual-sensor system by combining a CFA sensor and a panchromatic sensor. The beam splitter enables both sensors to capture information from the same optical path, eliminating the need for precise mechanical alignment of three separate sensors. The computational elements process images from both sensors to produce the final output, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining image quality.
4Loss of information
If demosaicing algorithm is used to estimate missing color components, then color information is reconstructed, but spurious colors appear in images with high frequency information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a panchromatic sensor as an intermediary that captures luminance information without color filter interference. This intermediary sensor provides clean luminance data that can be combined with CFA sensor data to produce final images. The beam splitter enables the panchromatic sensor to act as a mediator between the incoming light and the CFA sensor, providing reference information that helps eliminate spurious colors while maintaining color information completeness through the computational processing of both sensors.
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 dual-sensor camera reduces color aliasing and maintains image sharpness while being less expensive to produce, with improved signal-to-noise ratio and reduced manufacturing complexity compared to traditional systems.
Implementation Method 1
a beam splitter configured to split an incoming light beam into two beams
Implementation Method 2
The CFA sensor includes a low-pass filter. The low-pass filter limits how quickly the image information can change
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments of a dual-sensor video camera are disclosed. The dual-sensor video camera includes a color filter array (CFA) sensor, which has a low-pass filter. The dual-sensor video camera also includes a panchromatic sensor. A beam splitter directs an incoming light beam to both sensors. An output image is produced based on image information from the two sensors. The output image includes luminance information based on the image information from the panchromatic sensor and chrominance information based on the image information from the CFA sensor.