Multi-Camera Monoimaging Using Lower Resolution Sensor for Focus
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Solution Overview
Problem
The integration of two high megapixel cameras in mobile devices increases cost, power consumption, and size, making it challenging to capture high-quality stereoscopic 3D images and video while maintaining user convenience during focus calibration.
Innovation Solution
A multi-camera device configuration where a second camera has a lower resolution than the first camera, allowing for enhanced automatic focus, exposure, and color balancing, with the lower resolution camera determining optical configurations faster and with less power consumption, enabling continuous and smooth imaging performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If two high megapixel cameras are used to capture high quality S3D images and video, then image quality is improved, but device cost and power consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the camera system into two cameras with different resolutions: a first camera with high megapixel capacity for capturing high quality S3D images and video, and a second camera with lower resolution for determining optical configuration. This segmentation allows each camera to be optimized for its specific function, reducing overall power consumption while maintaining high image quality capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The lower resolution second camera acts as an intermediary that determines optical configuration parameters (focus, exposure, color balance) which are then applied to the high resolution first camera. This intermediary approach allows the system to achieve fast and accurate optical settings without requiring both cameras to be high resolution, thereby reducing power consumption.
2Measurement precision
If two high megapixel cameras are used to capture high quality S3D images and video, then image quality is improved, but device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The camera system is segmented into two cameras with different resolutions, allowing the second camera to be smaller and less bulky. This segmentation enables the device to maintain high image quality capability through the first camera while reducing overall device size by using a smaller second camera for auxiliary functions.
3Measurement precision
If focus calibration is performed during camera operation, then focus accuracy is improved, but imaging performance becomes blurred or distorted
Solution Approach 1:
The lower resolution second camera serves as an intermediary that performs focus calibration and determines optical configuration independently. The first camera continues capturing images at high resolution without interruption. The second camera's optical configuration determinations are then applied to the first camera, ensuring focus accuracy is improved while imaging performance remains reliable and uninterrupted.
Solution Approach 2:
The second camera performs optical configuration determination in advance before the first camera captures images. This preliminary action allows the high resolution first camera to maintain continuous imaging performance while benefiting from accurate focus calibration performed beforehand by the second camera.
4Use of energy by moving object
If a second camera with lower resolution is used to determine optical configuration, then power consumption is reduced, but configuration accuracy may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The lower resolution second camera acts as an intermediary that determines optical configuration parameters. Although it has lower resolution, it is specifically optimized for determining optical properties such as focus position, exposure settings, and color balance. These configuration determinations are then transferred to the high resolution first camera, achieving both low power consumption and sufficient configuration accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
Each camera is assigned different quality characteristics appropriate to its function: the first camera has high resolution for capturing images, while the second camera has lower resolution but is optimized for determining optical configuration. This local quality differentiation allows the system to achieve accurate optical configuration determination without requiring both cameras to be high resolution, thereby reducing power consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for enhanced automatic monoimaging. Embodiments of the present invention are operable for configuring a first camera based on a configuration determination by a second camera. The method includes capturing a first image with the first camera and determining an optical configuration based on an optical measurement performed by a second camera. In one embodiment, the second camera comprises a lower resolution sensor than a sensor of the first camera. The method further includes sending the optical configuration from the second camera to the first camera and adjusting a configuration of the first camera based on the optical configuration. The method further includes capturing a second image with the first camera. The first image and the second image may be preview images.