Moving Image Sensor Sampling to Reduce Camera Aliasing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Digital cameras face aliasing artifacts due to a single sample per light collecting element, leading to jagged or saw-toothed appearances in high-contrast areas, which can be mitigated by increasing the number of physical light collecting elements but at the cost of higher manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system where the image sensor moves in a predetermined pattern, using piezoelectric actuators to reposition light collecting elements to capture multiple samples at various positions, effectively increasing virtual resolution without adding physical elements, and combining these samples to generate higher quality images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the number of physical light collecting elements is increased to reduce aliasing artifacts, then image quality is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the image sensor movable rather than static. The sensor is repositioned in a predetermined pattern during exposure to capture multiple samples at different positions, effectively increasing the virtual resolution and reducing aliasing artifacts without adding more physical light collecting elements. This dynamic approach allows a single sensor array to perform the function of multiple static sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the copying principle by creating multiple virtual samples from a single physical sensor array. Through dithering patterns and multiple exposures, the system generates multiple copies of the image data from the same physical elements, effectively increasing the resolution and reducing aliasing without requiring additional physical light collecting elements.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the number of physical light collecting elements is increased to reduce aliasing artifacts, then aliasing reduction is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the image sensor movable rather than static. The sensor is repositioned in a predetermined pattern during exposure to capture multiple samples at different positions, effectively increasing the virtual resolution and reducing aliasing artifacts without adding more physical light collecting elements. This dynamic approach allows a single sensor array to perform the function of multiple static sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses periodic action through dithering patterns that systematically vary the sensor positions during exposure. The sensor follows a predetermined periodic pattern to capture multiple samples, which when combined, reduce aliasing artifacts. This periodic movement creates the effect of having more sampling points without physically adding more sensor elements.
3Measurement precision
If multiple samples are captured per light collecting element through sensor movement, then virtual resolution is increased, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of moving physical sensors with an electronic/digital system. Instead of physically moving each light collecting element, the system moves the entire sensor array in a predetermined pattern and uses computational methods to process the multiple samples. This substitution reduces the mechanical complexity and energy consumption associated with moving individual sensor elements while achieving the same virtual resolution increase.
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 approach doubles the resolution of the camera image sensor while maintaining cost-effectiveness by bypassing the need for additional physical light collecting elements, improving image quality and reducing aliasing artifacts.
Implementation Method 1
piezoelectric actuators reposition the image sensor to enable the light collecting elements to collect light in the plurality of positions
Data Source
AI summary
Implementations generally increase the virtual resolution of a camera sensor. In some implementations, a method includes moving an image sensor in a predetermined pattern, wherein the image sensor includes an array of light collecting elements, and wherein each light collecting element of the sensor array cycles through a plurality of positions in the predetermined pattern. The method further includes capturing a plurality of samples of light at each light collecting element, wherein each light collecting element captures a plurality of the samples in a cycle of movement in the predetermined pattern. The method further includes converting each sample captured at each position into a value. The method further includes generating at least one image from an aggregate of values converted from the samples of light.