Image Capture Optical Accessories for Underwater Housing Exclusion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image capture systems face challenges in capturing high-quality images while excluding housing components from the field of view, particularly in land and underwater environments.
Innovation Solution
The system incorporates optical accessories that shift the field of view outwardly, creating blind areas to exclude housing components from the image capture, with adjustable distances between the lenses and the body to optimize image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the image capture apparatus uses a housing for protection, then the apparatus is protected, but the housing is inadvertently included in the captured content and reduces image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the housing from the field of view by introducing optical accessories (such as diverging lens elements or beam splitters) that redirect light paths. These accessories are positioned between the lens and the housing to create a blind spot or exclude the housing from the captured image, thereby removing the harmful element while preserving the protective function of the housing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces optical intermediaries (accessories with specific lens elements or beam splitters) between the imaging lens and the housing. These intermediaries act as mediators that modify the light path to prevent the housing from being captured while still allowing the housing to provide protection. The intermediaries create a spatial separation between the housing and the captured content.
2Loss of information
If the image capture apparatus increases the spacing between lenses and stitch points to eliminate housing from content, then housing is excluded, but image quality is reduced due to pixel sacrifice and loss of resolution
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing spacing between lenses and stitch points, the patent extracts the housing from the field of view using optical accessories. This approach eliminates the need to sacrifice pixels or reduce resolution, as the housing exclusion is achieved through optical path modification rather than geometric spacing changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the optical parameters (focal length, field of view angle, light path geometry) by introducing optical accessories with specific refractive indices and curvatures. This allows the housing to be excluded from the captured content without altering the spacing between lenses and stitch points, thereby preserving image quality and resolution.
3Loss of information
If optical accessories are introduced to shift field-of-view outwardly, then housing is excluded from captured content, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the optical system by introducing discrete optical accessories (individual lens elements or beam splitters) that can be independently positioned and configured. These segmented components work together to shift the field of view outwardly and exclude the housing, but each component remains relatively simple in design and can be manufactured separately.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent achieves housing exclusion by changing optical parameters (refractive index, focal length, field of view angle) through the introduction of optical accessories. These parameter changes are achieved through well-established optical design principles that, while increasing complexity, follow predictable patterns and can be optimized for minimal impact on overall system complexity.
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 solution effectively prevents housing components from being included in the image, maintaining image quality by avoiding pixel sacrifice and resolution loss, while enabling use in various environments.
Implementation Method 1
at least one optical accessory that is configured to overlie the at least one lens and thereby shift a field-of-view of the image capture apparatus outwardly away from the body
Data Source
AI summary
An image capture system that includes an image capture apparatus and at least one optical accessory. The image capture apparatus includes a body and at least one lens that is supported by the body so as to define a field-of-view for the image capture apparatus. The at least one optical accessory is configured to overlie the at least one lens and thereby shift the field-of-view outwardly away from the image capture apparatus so as to define at least one blind area that is configured such that the field-of-view is spaced from the body of the image capture apparatus.