Modular Camera Array with Equilateral Triangle Layout
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional camera arrays, often arranged in one-dimensional strips or two-dimensional rectangular grids, suffer from insufficient overlapping fields of view and redundancy, leading to inefficiencies and robustness issues in depth extraction and high dynamic range applications.
Innovation Solution
A modular camera array with cameras arranged in a two-dimensional equilateral triangle or non-orthogonal configuration, reducing the number of cameras required while enhancing robustness and scalability, and allowing for efficient sampling of light fields and depth calculations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If cameras are arranged in traditional one-dimensional strips or two-dimensional rectangular grids, then the array structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the overlapping fields of view between individual cameras are insufficient and redundancy occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from traditional one-dimensional strips or two-dimensional rectangular grids to a three-dimensional volumetric arrangement of cameras. This dimensional expansion enables cameras to be positioned at multiple depths and angles, creating sufficient overlapping fields of view while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through modular assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs asymmetric camera positioning within the array, where cameras are strategically placed at non-uniform intervals and orientations rather than in symmetric grid patterns. This asymmetric arrangement optimizes field of view overlap and eliminates redundancy while keeping the overall structure manageable and manufacturable.
2Measurement precision
If the number of cameras in the array is increased to improve depth extraction accuracy, then depth map accuracy improves, but manufacturing costs and computational overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the spatial parameters of camera arrangement, specifically the baseline distances and angular orientations between cameras. By optimizing these geometric parameters, the system achieves high depth extraction accuracy with a reduced number of cameras, thereby lowering manufacturing costs and computational requirements while maintaining measurement precision.
3Adaptability or versatility
If cameras are arranged on a convex hull to maximize field of view coverage, then scene sampling capability improves, but redundancy and occlusions increase leading to reduced efficiency and robustness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic adjustability to the camera array configuration, allowing cameras to be positioned and oriented optimally for different scene sampling requirements. This dynamic capability enables efficient scene coverage without the redundancy and occlusion problems of fixed convex hull arrangements, improving both adaptability and processing efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
Devices, systems and methods employing modular camera arrays are described. A two-dimensional array of cameras may be arranged in a non-rectangular array. A first camera, a second camera, and a third camera in the array may be located approximately equidistant from each other, and/or may be arranged approximately in an equilateral triangle, an isosceles triangle, a scalene triangle, and/or a right triangle.