Foveated Imaging Camera Module with Variable Resolution Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Digital camera modules capture images with constant resolution across the entire field of view, which is inefficient for capturing regions of high interest and low interest, leading to excessive file size and lack of detail enhancement in high-interest areas.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a camera module with foveated imaging capabilities, where the center region captures images at high resolution and peripheral regions at lower resolution, with dynamic reconfiguration options to adjust resolution based on detected objects of interest.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If digital camera modules capture images with constant resolution across the entire field of view, then all regions are captured with uniform detail, but file size becomes excessive and storage efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by capturing different regions of the image at different resolutions. The center region (foveated region) is captured at high resolution to maintain detailed quality where it matters most, while peripheral regions are captured at lower resolution to reduce overall file size. This non-uniform resolution approach optimizes the trade-off between image detail quality and storage efficiency.
2Manufacturing precision
If digital camera modules capture images with constant resolution across the entire field of view, then uniform detail is maintained, but regions of high interest are not enhanced relative to low interest regions
Solution Approach 1:
The system enhances adaptability by dynamically assigning different quality levels to different regions based on their importance. The foveated region (center) receives high-resolution capture for enhanced detail, while peripheral regions receive lower resolution. This allows the system to adapt to varying imaging requirements and emphasize regions of high interest.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by allowing the foveated region to be dynamically reconfigurable. The system can adjust which regions receive high-resolution capture based on detected objects of interest, making the imaging system adaptable to different scenarios and subjects rather than being fixed to a static resolution pattern.
3Productivity
If digital camera modules capture images with constant resolution, then processing is simplified, but image capture efficiency for regions of interest decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the image sensor into multiple regions with different resolution characteristics. The foveated region is segmented as a distinct area that receives high-resolution capture, while other regions are segmented for lower resolution. This segmentation allows efficient resource allocation and processing focused on regions of interest.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes parameter changes by varying the resolution parameter across different spatial regions of the image. Instead of using a single resolution parameter for the entire image, the system changes the resolution parameter locally based on region importance, improving capture efficiency while managing processing complexity through structured parameter variation.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device may have a camera module. The camera module may include a camera sensor capable of capturing foveated images. The camera sensor may be hardwired to capture foveated images with fixed regions of different quality levels or may be dynamically-reconfigurable to capture foveated images with selected regions of different quality levels. As one example, the camera module may be hardwired to capture a center region of an image at full resolution and peripheral regions at reduced resolutions, so that a user can merely center objects of interest in the image to capture a foveated image. As another example, the camera module may analyze previous images to identify objects of interest and may then reconfigure itself to capture the identified objects of interest at a high quality level, while capturing other regions at reduced quality levels.