Multi-Camera Document Scanning System with Hot Spot-Free Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current scanning devices for ID cards and business cards are limited by high cost, large size, slow scanning rates, and short mechanical life due to high amortization rates, and they struggle with maintaining image quality and preventing illumination hot spots.
Innovation Solution
The use of multiple low-cost CMOS cameras with overlapping fields of view, combined using specialized algorithms to correct for distortions and deformations, and a novel illumination method that directs light sources away from the camera's field of view to prevent hot spots, allowing for efficient data extraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single high-resolution CMOS camera is used, then image quality is improved, but cost and device size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the imaging task into multiple segments by using several low-resolution CMOS cameras instead of one high-resolution camera. Each camera captures a portion of the document, and the images are later combined through image processing algorithms to reconstruct the full high-resolution document image, thereby reducing individual camera requirements and overall system cost
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple low-resolution images from separate cameras into a single high-resolution composite image through electronic image processing. The combining process includes alignment, distortion correction, and seamless stitching of adjacent image regions to produce a unified document image that matches or exceeds the quality of a single high-resolution camera
2Productivity
If mechanical scanning mechanisms are used, then document scanning is achieved, but reliability decreases due to high amortization rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical scanning mechanisms with a static multi-camera optical system. Instead of moving parts that physically scan or transport the document, the system uses multiple fixed cameras positioned to simultaneously capture different portions of the document, eliminating mechanical wear and improving reliability while maintaining scanning capability
3Illumination intensity
If light sources are positioned for optimal illumination, then document visibility is improved, but illumination hot spots are created
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different illumination strategies to different spatial regions by positioning light sources at specific locations relative to each camera's field of view. The illumination is optimized locally for each camera angle, ensuring adequate document visibility in each captured region while avoiding direct light reflection into camera lenses that would create hot spots in the final composite image
Data Source
AI summary
A camera system for imaging a document, the camera system including at least 2 adjacently disposed image sensors with coupling optics. The adjacently disposed image sensors are configured to acquire respective image frames of at least a portion of the document, thereby obtaining a set of corresponding two-dimensional image frames. The system further includes a processor for processing the corresponding two-dimensional image frames. The processor is facilitated to combine the corresponding two-dimensional image frames into a single image frame.