Imaging Apparatus Using Angular Deflection for Flexible Resolution
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional imaging systems face limitations in flexibility, as they often require trade-offs between image size, capture rate, contrast, resolution, and noise levels, making them less adaptable for various applications.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus employs a deflector to controllably deflect light by angular deflection, allowing for selection of image components within a field of regard, and a processor to compile these components into a composite image, enabling passive imaging without active illumination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional imaging systems are designed to capture images with high resolution, then image quality is improved, but the system size, cost, and power requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging system divides the field of regard into multiple selectable regions of interest. Instead of capturing the entire field with high resolution, the system segments and focuses computational resources on imaging only the selected regions, thereby achieving high resolution for specific areas while reducing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a traditional two-dimensional detector array to a spatial-temporal dimension approach. By using a single or reduced number of detectors combined with temporal sampling and computational processing, the system achieves high-resolution imaging without requiring large detector arrays, thus reducing system size
2Area of stationary object
If conventional imaging systems increase the field of view to capture more area, then coverage is improved, but the resolution and image quality deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically selects and adjusts the field of view based on regions of interest. The field of view is not fixed but can be changed in real-time to focus on specific areas, allowing the system to maintain high resolution while adapting the coverage area to operational needs
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of field of view dynamically rather than maintaining a fixed large field of view. By adjusting the field of view parameter to match the size of regions of interest, the system achieves high resolution imaging of specific areas without the need for large detector arrays required for wide-field high-resolution imaging
3Illumination intensity
If active illumination is used to improve image visibility, then image contrast is improved, but the system complexity, cost, and power requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and utilizes the passive thermal radiation naturally emitted by objects in the scene, eliminating the need for active illumination sources. By focusing on detecting the thermal energy that objects naturally emit, the system achieves image contrast without adding complex illumination hardware
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the objects' own thermal radiation as the illumination source. Objects illuminate themselves through their natural thermal emission, and the detector captures this self-emitted radiation. This self-service approach eliminates the need for external active illumination systems, reducing complexity while maintaining imaging capability
4Measurement precision
If the staretime for each image component is increased to improve signal-to-noise ratio, then detection sensitivity is improved, but the frame capture rate decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the imaging task into multiple passes over the same region of interest. Instead of requiring a single long staretime to achieve sufficient signal-to-noise ratio, the system performs multiple shorter observations and combines them computationally, thereby maintaining high detection sensitivity while enabling faster frame capture rates
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous observation of regions of interest by rapidly re-acquiring the same areas across multiple frames. This continuous useful action allows the system to accumulate signal over time through multiple passes rather than requiring a single long exposure, thereby maintaining sensitivity while increasing temporal sampling rate
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 approach enhances the flexibility of imaging systems, allowing for higher frame capture rates, increased signal-to-noise ratio, and extended range, while reducing size, cost, and power requirements.
Implementation Method 1
a deflector operable to deflect light incident thereon by a controllable angular deflection
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus and method for compiling an image is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a deflector, a detector, and a processor. The deflector is operable to deflect light incident thereon by a controllable angular deflection, and is arranged to receive light from a moveable field of view within a field of regard by controlling the angular deflection. The detector is arranged to receive deflected light and output an image component composed from the deflected light. The processor is arranged to control the angular deflection to select a part of the field of regard to be received at the detector, and to receive a sequence of such image components from the detector. The apparatus is configured to receive each image component passively, and the processor is operable to compile the sequence of image components to form a composite image of at least a part of the field of regard.