Multi-ISLA Image Capture Device for Extended Depth of Field
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Solution Overview
Problem
Single lens, fixed focus image capture devices face constraints in light collecting power and depth of field, where increasing aperture or sensor size to improve low light imaging capabilities often results in reduced depth of field.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an image capture device with multiple integrated sensor lens assemblies, each with a different optical prescription and focal distance, and an image processor to combine images from these sensors, achieving an extended depth of field through focused stacking computational techniques.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If aperture size is increased to improve light collecting power, then low light imaging capabilities are improved, but depth of field is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the imaging system into multiple ISLAs, each with different optical prescriptions and focal distances. Each ISLA captures images with different depth of field characteristics, and the image processor combines these segmented images to produce a final image with extended depth of field, resolving the contradiction between aperture size and depth of field.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extends the depth of field by adding another dimension to the optical path lengths. By configuring sensors at different optical path lengths from the optical element, the system captures images at different focus planes, and computational techniques combine these to achieve extended depth of field without compromising light collecting power.
2Illumination intensity
If sensor size is increased to improve light collecting power, then low light imaging capabilities are improved, but lens focal length must increase, reducing depth of field
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a single large sensor that would require a long focal length lens, the patent segments the sensing function across multiple smaller ISLAs with different optical prescriptions. This allows each sensor to operate with shorter focal lengths while collectively achieving the light collecting power and extended depth of field through image combination.
3Quantity of substance
If aperture size is increased to improve light collecting power, then low light imaging capabilities are improved, but depth of field is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges images captured by multiple ISLAs with different optical path lengths and focal distances. The image processor combines these images to produce a final image that has both high light collecting power (achieved through multiple sensors capturing light simultaneously) and extended depth of field (achieved through computational fusion of images from different focus planes).
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 allows for improved low light imaging capabilities without reducing the depth of field, enabling larger apertures and increased focus range while maintaining a wide depth of field.
Implementation Method 1
The first sensor may be configured to receive the image from the optical element via a first ray path having a first optical path length. The second sensor may be configured to receive the image from the optical element via a second ray path having a second optical path length.
Implementation Method 2
an image capture device with multiple integrated sensor lens assemblies, each with a different optical prescription and focal distance
Data Source
AI summary
An image capture device having a first integrated sensor lens assembly (ISLA), a second ISLA, and an image processor is disclosed. The first and second ISLAs may each include a respective optical element that have different depths of field. The first and second ISLAs may each include a respective image sensor configured to capture respective images. The image processor may be electrically coupled to the first ISLA and the second ISLA. The image processor may be configured to obtain a focused image based on a first image and a second image. The focused image may have an extended depth of field. The extended depth of field may be based on the depth of field of each respective optical element.