Hemispherical Camera Fill Light Layout to Avoid Lens Refraction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Hemispherical cameras experience poor shooting effects due to light refraction issues caused by dust and dirt on the transparent spherical cover, which affects the light entering the lens and degrades image quality.

Innovation Solution

The light supplementing lamp is designed with a reflecting element and lamp cover arranged on opposite sides of the lamp source, adjusting the light irradiation area to align with the camera's video monitoring area, ensuring minimal light entry into the lens and preventing blockage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If light supplementing lamps are arranged around the lens with a transparent spherical cover, then the light supplementing area is increased, but dust and dirt on the cover cause light refraction that enters the lens and degrades image quality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight supplementing areaVSAvoidlight refraction from dust and dirt
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the light supplementing function from the traditional arrangement around the lens and relocates it to a separate light supplementing lamp positioned at the end of the optical axis. This separation removes the harmful refraction effect caused by dust on the spherical cover while maintaining the light supplementing area, as the lamp provides dedicated illumination without interfering with the lens optical path.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a light isolating device as an intermediary between the lens and the light supplementing lamp. This device prevents light from the supplementing lamp from entering the lens directly, thereby eliminating the refraction problem caused by dust and dirt on the transparent cover while still allowing the lamp to provide necessary illumination for the monitoring area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a light isolating device is arranged between the lens and light supplementing lamp, then light entry into the lens is prevented, but the transparent spherical cover still causes refraction when contaminated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage qualityVSAvoidrefraction angle change due to dust and dirt
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the light supplementing function from the contaminated transparent spherical cover area and relocates it to a dedicated light supplementing lamp positioned at the optical axis end. This separation ensures that the supplementing light does not pass through the dust-covered cover, eliminating the refraction angle change problem while maintaining reliable image quality through the light isolating device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Strength

If light supplementing lamps are surrounded by protective covers, then the lamps are protected, but the covers refract light and cause it to enter the lens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelamp protectionVSAvoidlight refraction from protective cover
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the light supplementing lamp from the protective transparent spherical cover that causes refraction problems. The lamp is positioned at the end of the optical axis with its own dedicated structure, separating the protection function from the light supplementing function. This eliminates the harmful refraction effect while the lamp remains protected through its own structural design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 design effectively prevents light from entering the lens, maintaining image quality by redirecting light away from the lens component, even when dust or dirt is present on the transparent hood.

Implementation Method 1

the reflecting element is arranged opposite to the lamp source, so that the light supplementing source generated by the lamp source irradiates on the reflecting element, and the light supplementing source is reflected by the reflecting element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

the light supplementing source, after reflected by the reflecting element, is transmitting outward through the lamp cover

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight transmission: Light

Implementation Method 3

when dust and dirt are attached to the transparent spherical cover, the refraction angle of the light emitted by the light supplementing lamp changes

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentEP4198627B1Light supplementing lamp for hemispherical camera and hemispherical camera
Publication Date: 2026.04.15 HANGZHOU HIKVISION DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY CO LTD
  • EP4198627B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4198627B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4198627B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

The present disclosure provides a light supplementing lamp for a hemispherical camera and the hemispherical camera. The light supplementing lamp for the hemispherical camera includes a lamp source configured for generating a light supplementing source; a reflecting element configured for reflecting a light supplementing source generated by the lamp source; a lamp cover configured for transmitting a light supplementing source reflected by the reflecting element, so that a light supplementing area of the light supplementing lamp is suitable for a video monitoring area of the hemispherical camera; wherein, the reflecting element and the lamp cover are respectively arranged at two sides of the lamp source, and the reflecting element is arranged opposite to the lamp source.