Lensless Imaging Device Using Computational Reconstruction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional imaging devices rely on lenses to focus light onto image sensors, increasing complexity and cost, and are prone to issues like dust and imperfections on the sensor surface.
Innovation Solution
A lensless imaging system that uses a CMOS image sensor without passing light through a lens, leveraging space-variant point-spread functions and reconstruction evaluations, along with binary thresholding, to form images directly from raw data, potentially using scatterers on the sensor surface for enhanced reconstruction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a lens is used to focus light onto the image sensor, then image quality is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the lens from the imaging system, extracting the light-focusing function from the optical path. Instead of using a lens to focus light before it reaches the sensor, the system allows light to illuminate the sensor directly, and then uses computational algorithms to reconstruct the image from the raw sensor data, thereby simplifying the device while maintaining imaging capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical optical focusing system (lens) with a computational processing system. Rather than relying on physical optical elements to form an image, the system uses digital signal processing and reconstruction algorithms to create the final image from unfocused light patterns captured by the sensor
2Measurement precision
If a lens is used to focus light onto the image sensor, then image quality is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By removing the lens from the system, the patent eliminates the need for precision optical manufacturing and assembly. The imaging system can be manufactured using standard image sensors without requiring expensive optical components, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while still achieving functional imaging through computational methods
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a simplified imaging system that uses inexpensive, readily available components (standard image sensors without lenses) to achieve the imaging function. This approach trades the durability and optical quality of expensive lenses for the cost-effectiveness and ease of manufacturing of lensless systems
3Device complexity
If the image sensor is exposed directly to light without a lens, then device complexity is reduced, but image reconstruction difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical image formation process (where a lens directly projects a focused image onto the sensor) with a computational image reconstruction process. The system captures raw light intensity patterns without spatial focus information and then uses algorithms to infer and reconstruct the image, shifting the complexity from optical design to digital processing
4Ease of manufacture
If dust particles and imperfections on the image sensor are utilized for computational imaging, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but measurement precision may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of dust particles and sensor imperfections (which traditionally degrade image quality) into a beneficial computational feature. By incorporating these irregularities into the known system model used for image reconstruction, the algorithms can compensate for and even utilize the scattering effects to improve image recovery, thereby eliminating the need for expensive cleanroom manufacturing while maintaining image quality
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
Enables the creation of lighter, cheaper, and more versatile camera form factors with improved image reconstruction capabilities, utilizing existing sensor imperfections and eliminating the need for lenses, while maintaining high image quality and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The imaging system can further comprise an image sensor configured to be exposed to light from an object without passing the light through an overt image modification element
Data Source
AI summary
Technology is described for methods and systems for imaging an object (110). The method can include an image sensor (116) exposed to light (114) from an object (110) without passing the light through an image modification element. Light intensity of the light (114) can be stored as data in a medium. The image data can be analyzed at a processor (902) as a reconstructed image of the object (110).