Panoramic Image Acquisition Using Prism and Single Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional panoramic image acquisition devices require multiple sensors and lenses, leading to non-identical image qualities, unsynchronized images, and high costs due to complex hardware and processing requirements.
Innovation Solution
A single-sensor panoramic image acquisition device using two ultra-wide-angle fish-eye lens modules with a prism to achieve a 360-degree view, where the image sensor captures synchronized images from both fields, reducing the need for multiple sensors and lenses and simplifying data processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If multiple sensors and lenses are used to acquire panoramic images, then the view angle coverage is improved, but the image quality consistency and synchronization are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The panoramic view field is divided into front and rear view fields, each captured by a separate fish-eye lens module. This segmentation allows each sensor to focus on a specific field of view, ensuring consistent imaging conditions while maintaining comprehensive 360-degree coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
A prism is introduced as an intermediary optical element to redirect and combine the optical signals from the two fish-eye lens modules onto the image sensor. The prism acts as a mediator that enables a single sensor to receive synchronized images from multiple lens directions, resolving the contradiction between wide coverage and image consistency.
2Area of moving object
If multiple sensors are used to cover different view fields, then the panoramic coverage is improved, but the hardware complexity and cost are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
Two fish-eye lens modules are merged with a single image sensor through the use of a prism. Instead of requiring separate sensors for front and rear view fields, the optical signals from both lenses are combined and directed to one sensor, reducing hardware complexity while maintaining comprehensive coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The single image sensor is designed to receive and process images from multiple directions simultaneously through the prism arrangement. This universal design allows one sensor to perform the function that would traditionally require multiple sensors, simplifying the overall system.
3Area of moving object
If multiple sensor chips with different sensitization parameters are used, then the view field coverage is improved, but the image synchronization and processing difficulty are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The view field is segmented into front and rear fields, each handled by a dedicated fish-eye lens module. This segmentation ensures that each optical path has consistent imaging parameters, making synchronization easier while maintaining comprehensive view field coverage.
4Device complexity
If a single sensor is used to capture panoramic images, then the cost and complexity are reduced, but the view angle coverage is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses optical dimensionality change by introducing the prism to redirect light paths. This allows a single sensor to receive images from multiple directions (front and rear view fields) simultaneously, achieving 360-degree coverage without requiring multiple sensors.
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 ensures unified image quality and synchronization across the panoramic field, reducing costs and complexity while maintaining high image resolution and stability.
Implementation Method 1
The imaging optical signals are reflected by the prism for respectively imaging at a left and a right areas of a sensor target face
Data Source
AI summary
A panoramic image acquisition device includes: fish-eye lens modules, an image sensor and a signal cable, wherein: there are two sets of the fish-eye lens modules, and optic axes thereof coincide with each other; the fish-eye lens modules are arranged at two ends of the optic axes; a prism is provided at a center of a line connecting two optic center of the fish-eye lens modules; and the image sensor is provided below the prism for acquiring images of the fish-eye lens modules. The panoramic image acquisition device of the present invention achieves complete image quality unification and full image synchronization of different view fields in a panoramic image. Meanwhile, the panoramic image acquisition device has only one channel of video output, which greatly simplifies data acquisition tasks and panorama stitching tasks of panoramic image post-treatment, so as to reduce difficulty and costs.