Modular Digital Cinema Camera System for Scalable Image Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current digital cinema cameras are complex, lack compatibility with existing infrastructure, and fail to efficiently capture and process high-resolution images, especially for stereo 3D and multi-camera content, with limited network management, metadata integration, and flexible image processing capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A digital camera system that captures scalable resolution, bit-depth, and frame rate images using modular imaging modules, synchronized exposure, and readout cycles, with unified software control, enabling transmission over industry-standard cabling, metadata management, and flexible storage and processing for 2D and 3D content creation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If digital cinema cameras use multiple sensor prism blocks to capture 2K or 4K image data, then image resolution and quality are improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The camera system divides the imaging function into separate sensor units, each capturing specific color channels (red, green, blue) using individual image sensors. This segmentation allows each sensor to operate independently with optimized optics, reducing the complexity compared to a single multi-sensor prism block while achieving the same 2K or 4K resolution through computational synthesis.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/optical prism block system with a digital processing approach. Instead of using physical prisms to split and recombine light paths, the system uses separate image sensors to capture color information and then synthesizes the final image through digital processing, eliminating complex optical components.
2Speed
If digital cinema cameras implement dedicated hardware functions for video processing and compression, then processing speed is improved, but adaptability and upgrade capability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The camera system employs a universal processing architecture where a single processor can perform multiple functions including raw image data processing, color space transformations, compression, and format conversion. This multi-functional design allows the same hardware to handle various imaging tasks and adapt to different output requirements without requiring dedicated hardware for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamic processing capabilities where the processor can adaptively adjust processing parameters, select different compression algorithms, and modify output formats based on real-time requirements. This dynamic approach enables the system to optimize performance for different scenarios while maintaining flexibility for future upgrades and new applications.
3Productivity
If digital cinema cameras use proprietary compression schemes, then processing efficiency is improved, but image quality and compatibility are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The camera system supports multiple compression parameters and formats, allowing the processor to dynamically select compression strength, bit depth, and output format based on the specific imaging requirements. This enables optimization of the balance between processing efficiency and image quality preservation, while maintaining compatibility with standard formats for broad compatibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A digital camera system includes an optical assembly to gather light from a desired scene, a modular imaging subsystem aligned with the optical assembly, and an image processing, recording and display subsystem.