Image Pickup Apparatus Temperature Correction for Distance Accuracy
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image pickup apparatuses struggle to accurately measure distances due to temperature changes, which affect the lens array's focal length and magnification, leading to inaccuracies in parallax and subject distance calculations.
Innovation Solution
An image pickup apparatus with a lens array, temperature sensor, and correction coefficient generator that corrects image pickup signals based on temperature-detected magnification correlation coefficients, accounting for changes in focal length, refractive index, and barrel extension or shrinkage to maintain accurate distance measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If temperature changes occur, then the lens array deforms and the interval between optical axes changes, but the distance calculation becomes inaccurate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism by detecting temperature changes with a temperature sensor and using this information to correct image pickup signals. The correction coefficient generating portion creates correction coefficients based on temperature-detected magnification changes, which are then applied to compensate for thermal deformation effects on distance measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of magnification correction by generating temperature-dependent correction coefficients. These coefficients adjust the image pickup signals based on the detected temperature, effectively compensating for the thermal expansion or contraction of the lens array and maintaining accurate distance measurements across varying temperature conditions.
2Temperature
If temperature changes occur, then the focal length and magnification change, but the parallax calculation becomes inaccurate
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses temperature sensor feedback to detect focal length and magnification changes, then applies correction coefficients to the image pickup signals. This feedback loop ensures that parallax calculations remain accurate despite temperature-induced optical parameter variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts magnification parameters through temperature-dependent correction coefficients. By modifying the magnification correction based on detected temperature changes, the system compensates for focal length variations and maintains accurate parallax calculation across different thermal conditions.
3Device complexity
If no temperature correction is applied, then the device structure remains simple, but the distance measurement accuracy deteriorates under temperature changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a feedback-based correction system that uses temperature sensor data to generate correction coefficients. This adds moderate complexity to the device structure but significantly improves distance measurement accuracy by compensating for thermal effects through software-based signal correction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical temperature compensation mechanisms with an electronic/software-based correction system. By using temperature sensors and correction coefficients to adjust image pickup signals digitally, the system achieves accurate temperature compensation with minimal structural complexity.
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
The solution enables high-accuracy distance measurement by compensating for temperature-induced changes in magnification, ensuring precise parallax calculation and distance determination even under varying temperature conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a temperature sensor disposed in a vicinity of the lens array to detect a temperature
Implementation Method 2
the light beams having passed through the openings 902-1 to 902-4 of the iris member 902 are refracted by the lenses 903-1 to 903-4
Data Source
AI summary
An image pickup apparatus of the present invention includes: a lens array having a plurality of lenses; a plurality of image pickup regions (123) disposed to correspond to the plurality of lenses one-to-one and each including a light receiving surface substantially perpendicular to a direction in which an optical axis of the corresponding lens extends; a temperature sensor (126) disposed in the vicinity of the lens array to detect a temperature; a correction coefficient generating portion (142) configured to generate, based on the temperature, correction coefficients including correction coefficients correlated to magnifications of images taken in the image pickup regions; and a correction calculating portion (143, 144) configured to correct, based on the correction coefficients, image pickup signals generated in the image pickup regions and calculate a parallax using the corrected image pickup signals.