Foveal Camera Systems Using Segmented Imaging for Bandwidth Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional camera systems have limited field of view and face challenges in simultaneously providing wide and narrow fields of view, leading to unmonitored areas and difficulties in locating areas of interest, especially in surveillance applications where bandwidth limitations restrict the transmission of detailed imagery.
Innovation Solution
A camera system comprising a combination of narrow and wide field of view cameras, allowing for simultaneous display of foveal images with adjustable parameters such as color balance, compression, and focus, enabling multiple operators to select different views and reducing the need for mechanical field of view changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a conventional camera uses mechanical driving to point at desired areas outside its normal field of view, then the field of view coverage is improved, but monitoring reliability deteriorates due to unmonitored areas during slewing
Solution Approach 1:
The camera system is divided into multiple independent camera units, each with its own fixed field of view. This segmentation allows simultaneous coverage of multiple areas without mechanical movement, eliminating blind spots during slewing and improving monitoring reliability while maintaining comprehensive field of view coverage.
2Measurement precision
If a conventional camera switches between wide and narrow field of view, then resolution for area of interest is improved, but location of desired area deteriorates due to movement and time delays
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses multiple camera units with fixed fields of view, where each camera continuously captures its designated area. This eliminates the need to switch between wide and narrow views, providing constant resolution for areas of interest without time delays or loss of track during transitions.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple camera units are pre-positioned to capture different areas of interest simultaneously. This preliminary arrangement ensures that when an area becomes relevant, its image is already being captured and is immediately available, eliminating search time and maintaining continuous monitoring.
3Measurement precision
If bandwidth is increased to transmit detailed narrow field of view imagery, then image quality is improved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging task is segmented across multiple camera units, each capturing a portion of the scene. This allows transmission of detailed imagery only for specific areas of interest from dedicated cameras, rather than requiring high bandwidth for the entire field of view, thus improving image quality while managing bandwidth requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
Different camera units are optimized for specific local areas or types of imagery (e.g., thermal, visible, infrared). This local specialization allows high-quality detailed imaging where needed without requiring all cameras to operate at maximum bandwidth, reducing overall system complexity and cost.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are disclosed for providing foveal images. For example, high and low resolution images can be combined to provide foveal images. Parameters other than resolution can vary between the larger and smaller images of the foveal image. Real, artificial, 2D and 3D images can be used in any desired combination to form foveal images. The use of such foveal images can substantially enhance the ability of viewers to accurately and reliably interpret the content of images and provide reduce bandwidth for image transmission.