Optical Chamber Self-Calibration for Tunable-Focus Cameras
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Tunable lens camera systems suffer from unpredictable ageing drift, leading to focus distance inaccuracies and performance degradation, requiring frequent manual calibration by skilled technicians, which is inefficient and costly.
Innovation Solution
An automated focus calibration process within the camera system, utilizing an optical chamber with an illumination source and optical detector, allows for self-calibration without external setup or technician intervention, updating the calibration look-up table to maintain focus accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual calibration by skilled technicians is performed, then focus distance accuracy is restored, but device complexity and operational cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The camera system performs automatic self-calibration using an integrated optical chamber, illumination source, and detector. The system autonomously executes calibration routines without requiring external technician intervention or specialized equipment, thereby restoring focus accuracy while reducing operational complexity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical chamber serves multiple functions: it acts as both the calibration target environment and the measurement device housing. The illumination source and detector are integrated into the camera system itself, enabling the system to perform both imaging and self-calibration functions without requiring separate dedicated calibration equipment.
2Measurement precision
If frequent calibration is performed to counteract ageing drift, then focus accuracy is maintained, but loss of time and productivity decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs calibration at periodic intervals automatically, utilizing the integrated optical chamber and detector to execute quick calibration routines that minimize disruption to normal operations while maintaining focus accuracy despite ageing drift.
Solution Approach 2:
The autonomous self-calibration capability allows the system to perform maintenance operations without requiring shutdown or intervention, thereby maintaining focus accuracy while minimizing impact on productivity and operational efficiency.
3Ease of operation
If automated self-calibration is implemented, then ease of operation improves, but device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The calibration components (optical chamber, illumination source, detector) are merged with the camera system's existing structure. The optical chamber integrates with the housing, the illumination source combines with the imaging lighting system, and the detector shares the sensor array, thereby improving ease of operation without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Each component serves dual purposes: the optical chamber provides both imaging and calibration functions, the illumination source supports both normal imaging and calibration routines, and the detector performs both image capture and focus measurement during self-calibration, thereby achieving automated operation without excessive complexity increase.
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 system maintains optical stability and performance by automatically correcting focus drift, ensuring accurate focus without manual intervention, thus enhancing efficiency and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
The illumination signal is reflected from a reflective element as a reflected illumination signal back through a second axis via the camera receiving lens
Implementation Method 2
The camera receiving lens is configured to enable light external of the optical chamber to be focused onto the camera sensor
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An in-chamber device and method for calibrating a tunable-focus camera system may include an optical chamber that includes a housing, camera sensor, camera receiving lens, and illumination source. The housing may define an aperture, and the camera sensor may be disposed within the housing. The camera receiving lens may be disposed in the aperture and configured to enable light external of the optical chamber to be focused onto the camera sensor. The illumination source may be configured to output an illumination signal that is incident the camera receiving lens along a first axis via the camera receiving lens. The illumination signal may be reflected from a reflective element as a reflected illumination signal back through a second axis via the camera receiving lens so as to enable the reflected illumination signal to be sensed. The optical chamber may be used to automatically calibrate the tunable-focus camera system periodically or aperiodically.