3D Endoscope Polarization Mosaic Filter Light Sensitivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional 3D endoscopes with single-vision systems suffer from poor image sensitivity due to opaque portions in the light transmitting section, limiting their effectiveness in capturing high-quality 3D images, especially in dark environments.
Innovation Solution
A 3D image shooting apparatus and endoscope that utilize a polarized light source with multiple plane polarized light rays of different angles, an image capturing section with a lens and image sensor, and an incoming light transmitting section with transparent and polarization filter areas, allowing for the generation of multi-viewpoint images through arithmetic processing without opaque portions, thereby maximizing light usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a conventional single-vision system with opaque portions in the light transmitting section is used, then the device structure is simpler, but the image sensitivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The light transmitting section is segmented into multiple regions: a transparent area for passing light to the image sensor, and polarization filter areas with polarization filters having different transmission axis directions. This segmentation allows different portions of the same section to serve different functions - light transmission and polarization filtering - thereby maintaining structural simplicity while improving image sensitivity through effective light utilization.
2Loss of information
If a stereo vision system with two lens-image sensor sets is used, then 3D shape information can be obtained, but the device complexity and difficulty of matching characteristics increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single lens-image sensor set is divided into multiple functional areas through the polarization mosaic filter structure. The polarization filter areas are arranged to receive light from different openings, and the polarization filters are oriented at different angles to distinguish between left and right viewpoint images. This allows a single sensor set to capture multi-viewpoint information that would otherwise require multiple sensors, reducing device complexity while preserving 3D shape information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a polarization dimension to the imaging system. By using polarization filters with different transmission axis directions arranged in specific patterns, the system encodes spatial information (left/right viewpoint distinction) into the polarization state of light. This adds a new dimension of information encoding that allows a single lens-image sensor to capture multi-viewpoint data, avoiding the need for multiple physical sensors.
3Adaptability or versatility
If polarization filters are arranged in a polarization mosaic filter structure, then multi-viewpoint images can be captured with a single lens-image sensor set, but the light transmission efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the light transmitting section have different optical properties: the transparent area has high light transmission with no polarization filtering, while the polarization filter areas contain polarization filters with specific transmission axis directions. This local differentiation allows the system to optimize for both functions - maximum light transmission in the transparent area and polarization-based spatial information encoding in the filter areas - thereby reducing overall light loss while maintaining multi-viewpoint capture capability.
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 solution enhances image sensitivity and eliminates time lag, enabling the capture of high-quality 3D images with improved light efficiency and sensitivity, even in low-light conditions, allowing for effective observation of surface microfacets.
Implementation Method 1
a polarized light source section that sequentially illuminates an object with two or more kinds of plane polarized light rays, of which the planes of polarization define mutually different angles
Implementation Method 2
an image sensor that outputs, through photoelectric conversion, a pixel signal based on the image produced by the lens
Implementation Method 3
a polarization filter that has a vertical polarization transmission axis is provided for the opening 1304a and a polarization filter that has a horizontal polarization transmission axis is provided for the opening 1304b
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, an element 106 transform, with a voltage, non-polarized light into plane polarized light with an arbitrary plane of polarization. A synchronizer 112 gives the plane of polarization control element 106 an instruction to rotate the plane of polarization, thereby getting the plane of polarization of the illumination rotated and casting that polarized light toward the object. At the same time, the synchronizer 112 sends a shooting start signal to an image sensor 110, thereby getting video. The synchronizer 112 performs these processing steps multiple times. A captured video signal is sent to an image processing processor 108, where LL, RR and CC images are separately generated as images of light rays that have passed through left and right polarizing areas and the central non-polarizing area and left and right parallax signals are generated and sent to a 3D display section 122.