Imaging Apparatus Using Frustum Mirror for Bright Image Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing imaging technologies face challenges in capturing bright images without using expensive large-diameter lenses, which are costly and increase the size of the apparatus, leading to reduced portability and light utilization efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An imaging apparatus and method that utilize a circular or rectangular frustum-shaped mirror surface and a random mask to guide and modulate incident light, allowing it to enter an imaging element as diffused light, enhancing light utilization efficiency without the need for a large lens, and reconstructing images through signal processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a large-diameter lens is used to improve light utilization efficiency, then the optical efficiency is improved, but the lens cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The incident light is divided into multiple light beams by a beam splitting element, and each light beam is projected to a different region on the imaging element. This segmentation allows the use of a smaller lens while still capturing sufficient light by distributing it across multiple imaging regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a microlens array to project light beams to different spatial regions on the imaging element, adding a spatial dimension to light distribution. This allows efficient light collection without requiring a large aperture lens.
2Use of energy by moving object
If a large-diameter lens is used to improve light utilization efficiency, then the optical efficiency is improved, but the apparatus size increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the light path using beam splitting elements and microlens arrays, the system achieves efficient light collection with a compact optical path, avoiding the need for a large-diameter lens that would increase apparatus size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs nested optical components including beam splitting elements, microlens arrays, and imaging elements arranged in a compact configuration, allowing efficient light collection within a small form factor.
3Use of energy by moving object
If a beam splitting element is used to divide incident light, then light utilization efficiency is improved, but the resolution is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates multiple copies of the light beam pattern through the microlens array, with each microlens producing a focused copy of the light distribution. This allows resolution to be recovered through computational reconstruction from the multiple copied patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses computational reconstruction algorithms that process the multiple light beam patterns captured by the imaging element to recover the original image with high resolution, providing feedback-based resolution enhancement.
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 the capture of brighter images with improved light utilization efficiency, reducing the need for expensive lenses and allowing for more compact imaging apparatus designs, while maintaining image quality at various distances from the subject.
Implementation Method 1
a guide section configured to guide incident light from a subject to an imaging element
Implementation Method 2
incident light from a subject to an imaging element
Implementation Method 3
utilize a circular or rectangular frustum-shaped mirror surface and a random mask to guide and modulate incident light, allowing it to enter an imaging element as diffused light
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an imaging apparatus and an imaging method that permit capture of a bright image without using an expensive large-diameter lens. A mirror surface having an opening portion larger in area than an imaging element is formed at a former stage of the imaging element. The mirror surface concentrates light from a subject surface. The imaging apparatus captures an image formed by light that directly enters the imaging element and light that is reflected by the mirror surface and reconstructs a final image from the captured image. The present disclosure is applicable to an imaging apparatus.