Multi-aperture Camera Modules for Optical Zoom
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Solution Overview
Problem
Compact mobile electronic devices face challenges in implementing optical zooming due to mechanical limitations and digital zooming often results in image blurring, necessitating a multi-aperture imaging system that can achieve high optical zoom performance with multiple camera modules while maintaining a small size.
Innovation Solution
A multi-aperture imaging system comprising a long-focal length, mid-focal length, and wide-angle camera module, where each module has a designated position based on its focal length and field of view, with overlapping fields of view to enhance coordination and switching performance, and a periscope camera module for long zoom capabilities without increasing device size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If mechanical zooming solution is utilized, then optical zooming performance is improved, but the height of the camera increases making the device thick and heavy
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging system is divided into multiple independent camera modules, each with different focal lengths (wide-angle, mid-focal length, and long-focal length modules). This segmentation allows the system to achieve optical zooming by switching between modules rather than using mechanical zooming, thereby reducing camera height while maintaining optical zooming performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-camera mechanical zooming approach to a multi-camera array arrangement. By distributing camera modules across different spatial positions and orientations, the system achieves optical zooming capabilities without increasing the vertical height of the camera assembly.
2Length of stationary object
If digital zooming solution is utilized, then device size is reduced, but image quality deteriorates with blurring during enlarging process
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses multiple camera modules with different focal lengths (wide-angle, mid-focal length, and long-focal length) to capture images at different zoom levels. This segmentation allows the system to provide high-quality optical zoom images without relying on digital zooming, thus maintaining image quality while keeping the device compact.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical zooming system with a multi-camera module switching system. Instead of mechanically moving lens elements to achieve zoom, the system switches between multiple fixed-focal-length camera modules, thereby eliminating the need for mechanical zooming while maintaining optical quality and reducing device size.
3Measurement precision
If multiple camera modules are arranged to achieve high zoom ratio, then optical zooming performance is improved, but the arrangement complexity and difficulty of coordinating fields of view increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an asymmetric arrangement of camera modules with different focal lengths (wide-angle, mid-focal length, and long-focal length modules) positioned at specific locations. This asymmetric configuration optimizes the overlapping fields of view between modules, facilitating smooth transitions and reducing arrangement complexity while maintaining high optical zooming performance.
Solution Approach 2:
Each camera module is assigned a specific focal length and positioned at a designated location to capture images of different depths of field. The wide-angle module captures broad scenes, the mid-focal length module captures intermediate views, and the long-focal length module captures detailed close-ups. This local quality differentiation simplifies the overall arrangement by giving each module a specialized function.
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-aperture imaging system and application thereof are provided. The multi-aperture imaging system includes a long-focal length camera module, a mid-focal length camera module and a wide-angle camera module. The long-focal length camera module has a field of view-FOV3. The mid-focal length camera module has a field of view-FOV2. The wide-angle camera module has a field of view-FOV1. They satisfy the condition of FOV1>FOV2>FOV3. Besides, a portion of the field of view area of FOV1 is covered by a portion of the field of view area of FOV2, while a portion of the field of view area of FOV2 is covered by a portion of the field of view area of FOV3, so as to enable a better zooming performance.