Imaging Device with Variable Resolution Zones for Wide Angle Face Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing imaging devices face a trade-off between achieving a wide view angle and maintaining high image resolution, particularly for critical regions like a person's face, leading to degraded image quality and analysis precision when increasing the view angle.
Innovation Solution
The imaging device employs an optical system with a free-form lens and a pixel-dense image sensor, where specific regions on the imaging surface have higher resolutions than others, allowing for high-resolution image capture of important areas while maintaining a wide view angle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a wide view angle is achieved by increasing the field angle, then the coverage area is improved, but the image resolution and quality are degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating multiple resolution zones within the imaging surface. The first region (central area) provides high resolution for critical subjects like faces, while the second region (peripheral area) provides lower resolution for background or less critical areas. This allows the system to achieve wide coverage while maintaining high resolution where needed most.
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging surface is segmented into distinct regions with different resolution characteristics. The patent divides the field of view into a first region with higher resolution and a second region with lower resolution, allowing each segment to serve its specific function optimally.
2Measurement precision
If the number of pixels is increased to improve image resolution, then the image quality is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniformly increasing pixel density across the entire sensor, the patent applies higher pixel density only in the first region where high resolution is critical. The second region uses lower pixel density, reducing the total pixel count and device complexity while maintaining adequate resolution for peripheral areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by providing excessive resolution (higher pixel density) only in the first region where it is most needed, rather than uniformly across the entire imaging surface. This optimizes resource allocation.
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 configuration enables precise analysis of critical regions, such as a person's face, with improved image quality and increased precision, even at wide view angles, by varying the magnification ratio based on the view angle.
Implementation Method 1
The imaging device employs an optical system with a free-form lens and a pixel-dense image sensor
Data Source
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AI summary
An object of the present disclosure is to increase resolution of a part required for sensing while achieving a wide view angle. An imaging device according to the present disclosure includes an image sensor and an optical system. An imaging surface of the image sensor includes a first region and a second region different from the first region. The optical system forms a subject image on the imaging surface so as to cause resolution of an image in the first region to be higher than resolution of an image in the second region. The first region is arranged so as to include a region where an image of a person's face is formed on the imaging surface.