Multi-focal Camera Lens Module for Compact Autofocus Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Camera phones with limited lens diameter struggle to achieve autofocus and focus-free imaging due to their wide depth-of-focus range, often rendering objects blurry unless at specific distances, making it difficult to capture clear images of subjects at varying focal lengths with a single photographing operation.
Innovation Solution
A multi-focal camera apparatus with a lens module comprising multiple lenses and an image-sensor module with sensing zones, allowing for the capture of multiple images with different focal lengths in a single operation, followed by view-angle correction and merging of image portions to generate focus-free and autofocus images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a camera phone uses a small lens diameter to maintain compact size, then the device remains portable and slim, but the depth-of-focus range becomes excessively wide causing objects at varying distances to appear blurry
Solution Approach 1:
The image sensor is divided into multiple sensing zones, each corresponding to a specific lens. Each zone captures images with different focal characteristics, allowing the system to segment the imaging function across multiple specialized regions rather than relying on a single lens-sensor pair
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-focal camera apparatus performs multiple functions simultaneously: it captures images at different focal lengths, achieves autofocus for specific distances, and generates focus-free images all in a single photographing operation, making the device versatile despite its compact lens
2Device complexity
If a camera phone uses a single lens with fixed focal length, then the device structure remains simple, but it cannot achieve autofocus function or capture clear images of objects at different distances
Solution Approach 1:
The lens module is segmented into multiple lenses with different focal lengths, and the image sensor is segmented into multiple sensing zones. This segmentation allows each lens-zone pair to specialize in capturing images at specific distances, providing adaptability without requiring complex moving lens mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of achieving focus adjustment through mechanical movement in one dimension (moving the lens), the patent adds a spatial dimension by arranging multiple lenses and sensing zones in a two-dimensional array, allowing focus selection through spatial correspondence rather than mechanical adjustment
3Manufacturing precision
If a camera phone captures images at multiple focal lengths using multiple photographing operations, then various focus requirements can be met, but the shooting time increases and user convenience decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple imaging functions into a single photographing operation. Multiple lenses and sensing zones work simultaneously to capture images at different focal lengths in one exposure, eliminating the need for sequential shooting and reducing time loss
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary organization of multiple sensing zones and their corresponding lenses before the photographing operation. This pre-arranged configuration ensures that all necessary focal lengths are captured simultaneously, and subsequent image processing can efficiently select or merge the appropriate focus regions without delay
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
Enables the realization of focus-free and autofocus imaging functions in camera phones by expanding the depth of focus and selecting the sharpest image portions, effectively capturing clear images of objects at various distances with a single photographing operation.
Implementation Method 1
a lens module which comprises a plurality of lenses that concentrate light incident thereupon
Implementation Method 2
an image-sensor module which comprises a plurality of sensing zones respectively corresponding to the lenses, and which obtains a plurality of images by converting incident light transmitted through the lenses into electrical signals using the sensing zones
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-focal camera apparatus and methods and mediums for generating a focus-free image and an autofocus image using the multi-focal camera apparatus are provided. The multi-focal camera apparatus includes a lens module which comprises a plurality of lenses that concentrate light incident thereupon, and an image-sensor module which comprises a plurality of sensing zones respectively corresponding to the lenses, and obtains a plurality of images by converting beams of light that transmit through the lenses into electrical signals using the sensing zones, wherein the lenses have the same optical properties and are different distances apart from the respective sensing zones.