Multi-Luminosity Camera with Adaptive Optical Filter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing camera systems struggle to adaptively adjust camera settings and LED lighting to varying subject distances and light conditions, especially in dynamic environments, leading to difficulties in capturing images that can be perceived by the human eye across wide luminance conditions and sudden lighting changes.
Innovation Solution
A multi-luminosity image acquiring device that employs a binary luminosity multiplexing method, using transmittance adjustment of an optical filter and intensity adjustment of infrared lighting, to fuse images and enhance visibility in various lighting environments. This device includes a camera unit, a lighting unit with modulated infrared lamps, an optical filter unit, a luminosity multiplexing unit, and an image processing unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the sensitivity of the camera sensor is increased to capture images in dark environments, then the ability to shoot in low illuminance is improved, but the image quality and visual perception capability deteriorate due to oversaturation and loss of detail in bright areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic adjustment of the optical filter's transmittance based on real-time illuminance detection. The control unit modifies the filter's light transmission properties adaptively, allowing the system to maintain optimal exposure across varying light conditions without compromising image quality or visual perception capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the transmittance parameter of the optical filter dynamically. By adjusting this physical parameter in response to illuminance levels, the camera can capture both dark and bright areas with appropriate exposure, preventing oversaturation while maintaining detail visibility
2Device complexity
If fixed camera settings and LED lighting are used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to varying subject distances and light conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback control system where illuminance sensors and distance sensors continuously monitor environmental conditions, and the control unit adjusts LED lighting intensity and optical filter transmittance accordingly. This closed-loop feedback enables adaptive response to varying conditions without requiring complex manual intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-adjustment of lighting and filtering parameters based on sensor inputs. The control unit automatically modifies operational parameters without external intervention, enabling the device to adapt to different shooting conditions while maintaining relatively simple hardware architecture
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate systems are used for visible light and infrared imaging, then the adaptability to different lighting conditions is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines visible light and infrared imaging capabilities into a single integrated system. By merging these functions and sharing common components such as the optical filter, sensor, and control unit, the system achieves multi-luminosity adaptability while avoiding the complexity and cost of completely separate imaging systems
Solution Approach 2:
The optical filter and camera sensor are designed to handle both visible light and infrared wavelengths. This multi-functional design allows a single component to serve multiple purposes across different spectral ranges, reducing the need for separate specialized systems while maintaining adaptability to various lighting conditions
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
The device achieves image fusion capable of visually identifying and recognizing objects in diverse lighting environments, overcoming underexposure or overexposure issues, and responding in real-time to changes in external light conditions, while being easily manufacturable using low-cost sensors.
Implementation Method 1
an optical filter unit disposed on a front surface of the camera unit and configured to adjust a transmission amount of light incident on the camera unit
Implementation Method 2
a lighting unit disposed around the camera unit, the lighting unit including a first infrared lamp configured to modulate and emit infrared light depending on a distance from the subject
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a device and a method for acquiring multi-luminosity images, wherein images having multiple luminosities in visible-ray and infrared wavelength domains can be captured and synthesized by using optical filter transmittance adjustment and infrared lighting strength adjustment. The device may comprise: a camera unit for photographing a predetermined subject and acquiring images thereof; a lighting unit disposed on the periphery of the camera unit, the lighting unit comprising a first infrared lamp for modulating and emitting infrared light according to the distance from the subject and a second infrared lamp for modulating and emitting infrared light according to the photography environment; an optical filter unit disposed on the front surface of the camera unit so as to adjust the amount of transmission of light directed to the camera unit; a lamp control unit for controlling the first infrared lamp such that infrared light is modulated on the basis of the distance from the subject; a luminosity multiplexing unit for producing a light multiplexing signal so as to control infrared light modulation by the second infrared lamp and the transmittance of the optical filter unit on the basis of the photography environment; and an image processing unit for synthesizing and processing multiple captured images.