Image Pickup Apparatus Vignetting Detection for Gas and Liquid Environments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image pickup apparatuses face vignetting issues when capturing images in gas environments, leading to misinterpretation of faults and unnatural image displays due to the difference in refractive indices between gas and liquid, which existing technologies fail to adequately address.
Innovation Solution
An image pickup apparatus with an optical system that detects vignetting to differentiate between gas and liquid environments, using a judging portion to generate distinct display data for each, thereby avoiding misinterpretation of vignetting as a fault and ensuring accurate image representation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the image pickup apparatus is used in liquid environment, then the refractive index difference causes vignetting in the image, but this vignetting is misinterpreted as a fault condition
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus dynamically adjusts the vignetting determination threshold based on the detected environment (gas or liquid). The judging portion switches between a first threshold for gas environments and a second threshold for liquid environments, allowing the system to adapt its fault detection criteria to the current operating conditions and avoid misinterpretation of normal vignetting as faults.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the parameter used for vignetting determination (the threshold value) based on the environment type. By storing multiple threshold values corresponding to different environments (gas and liquid) and selecting the appropriate threshold based on environment detection, the system accurately distinguishes between normal vignetting caused by refractive index differences and actual fault conditions.
2Measurement precision
If the image pickup apparatus captures images in gas environment, then vignetting occurs due to refractive index differences, but existing technologies cannot distinguish this from fault conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The judging portion is segmented into multiple processing paths: one for gas environment judgment and another for liquid environment judgment. Each path uses environment-specific threshold values for vignetting determination. This segmentation allows accurate measurement in each environment without requiring a single complex judgment system that would need to handle all possible conditions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the lens portion is configured larger for waterproof packing, then the apparatus can operate in liquid, but strobe light is blocked causing vignetting
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the harmful effect of vignetting (caused by the larger lens portion blocking strobe light in liquid environments) into a useful indicator. By detecting the characteristic vignetting pattern and identifying the liquid environment, the system uses this previously problematic phenomenon as a basis for accurate environment detection and appropriate threshold selection, thereby eliminating the misinterpretation of vignetting as a fault.
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 effectively distinguishes between image pickup in gas and liquid environments, preventing misinterpretation of vignetting as a fault and ensuring natural image displays by generating appropriate display data based on vignetting detection, thus enhancing user experience and accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
an image pickup device configured to photoelectrically convert the optical image to generate an image signal
Data Source
AI summary
An image pickup apparatus is an image pickup apparatus capable of acquiring an image of an object in gas and in liquid, the image pickup apparatus including: an image pickup optical system; an image pickup device; a controlling portion configured to make an in-gas judgment if a vignetting portion is detected in an image signal and make an in-liquid judgment if a vignetting portion is not detected in the image signal; and a display data generating portion configured to generate certain display data corresponding to in-gas image pickup if the in-gas judgment is made and generate other display data corresponding to in-liquid image pickup if the in-liquid judgment is made.