Foveal-Outer Imaging System with Variable Pixel Density
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Solution Overview
Problem
Visual displays face challenges in achieving uniform pixel density across a full field of view, limiting the quality of images generated, especially in surveillance and infrared imaging systems.
Innovation Solution
An imaging system that processes signals to generate a foveal display region with higher pixel density and an outer display region with lower pixel density using a 1:n and 1:m mapping ratio, respectively, allowing for efficient use of image data and increased resolution and field-of-view.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If uniform pixel density is applied across the full field of view, then the outer display region achieves sufficient detail, but the foveal display region cannot provide higher resolution due to limited total pixels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different pixel densities to different regions of the display: the foveal display region uses high pixel density for detailed central viewing, while the outer display region uses lower pixel density for peripheral context. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by optimizing resolution where the human eye focuses most (foveal region) while maintaining adequate coverage across the full field of view with variable quality.
2Measurement precision
If high pixel density is provided across the entire display, then resolution is maximized, but data transmission and processing requirements become excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The system transmits and processes high-resolution image data only for the foveal display region where detailed information is needed, while transmitting lower-resolution data for the outer display region. This local quality approach significantly reduces the total data volume required for transmission and processing while maintaining high pixel density in the critical foveal area, thus resolving the contradiction between resolution and data quantity.
3Measurement precision
If the display is optimized for central foveal viewing, then resolution in the foveal region improves, but the outer display region coverage is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a foveal display region with high pixel density for detailed central viewing and an outer display region with lower pixel density for peripheral context. By allocating more pixels to the foveal region and fewer to the outer region, the system achieves high foveal resolution while still maintaining a visible outer display region, thus resolving the contradiction between foveal resolution and outer region coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a multi-resolution display system that adds a dimension of variable pixel density across the display area. Instead of uniform two-dimensional pixel distribution, the system creates a gradient or stepped pixel density structure where the foveal region has higher density and the outer region has lower density. This dimensional change in pixel distribution allows simultaneous optimization of both foveal resolution and outer region coverage.
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, an imaging system includes a processing system and a display generator. The processing system is operable to process a signal received from a camera to yield foveal data for a foveal display region and outer data for an outer display region. The outer data have a reduced pixel density with respect to the pixel density of the foveal data. The display generator is operable to generate the foveal display region from the foveal data according to a 1:n mapping ratio, and generate the outer display region from the outer data according to a 1:m mapping ratio, where m is greater than n.