Corrective Phase Mask for Optical Deconvolution in Under-Display Cameras
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Solution Overview
Problem
Images captured by cameras in electronic devices, particularly those disposed under a display, suffer from blurring due to interference from the display structure, necessitating computationally intensive deconvolution processes that strain system resources.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a physical optical element that performs deconvolution by manipulating light before it reaches the camera sensor, reducing the need for computational deconvolution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If computational deconvolution is used to remove blurring, then image quality is improved, but system resources and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces computational deconvolution algorithms with a physical optical element that performs deconvolution in the optical domain. The optical element manipulates light waves to reverse blurring effects before the image reaches the sensor, eliminating the need for power-intensive computational processing while maintaining image quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical element performs deconvolution operations in advance, before the blurred image is captured by the sensor. By pre-compensating for the display structure's blurring effects through optical manipulation, the system avoids the need for post-capture computational deconvolution, thereby reducing power consumption.
2Measurement precision
If computational deconvolution is used to remove blurring, then image quality is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes computational processing with optical manipulation to perform deconvolution in the optical domain. This physical approach eliminates the time-consuming computational algorithms, enabling real-time image capture without post-processing delays.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical element performs deconvolution in advance during the image capture process itself, rather than as a subsequent computational step. This preliminary optical action eliminates the time delay associated with post-capture processing, achieving real-time image acquisition.
3Area of stationary object
If camera is disposed under display to increase surface area, then device display area is improved, but image quality deteriorates due to blurring
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful blurring effect caused by the display structure into a beneficial outcome. By designing an optical element that specifically compensates for the display's point spread function, the system transforms the inherent blurring into a correctable condition, achieving sharp images despite the camera's placement under the display.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical element modifies the optical parameters of the light path to counteract the display structure's blurring effects. By changing the phase and amplitude characteristics of light through precise optical design, the system compensates for the display's interference patterns and restores image quality.
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
Reduces system cost, computational requirements, power consumption, and image reconstruction time by optically deblurring images without relying on computational methods.
Implementation Method 1
images captured by cameras in electronic devices, particularly those disposed under a display, suffer from blurring due to interference from the display structure
Implementation Method 2
a physical optical element that performs deconvolution by manipulating light before it reaches the camera sensor
Data Source
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AI summary
In one embodiment, a method of constructing a corrective phase mask for an optical element, includes propagating, for each of one or more wavelengths, a point source field from an object plane to a corrective mask plane to determine a source field and propagating, for each of the one or more wavelengths, the point source field from an image plane to the corrective mask plane to determine an image field. The method may further include determining, for each of the one or more wavelengths, a phase modulation field based on the source field and the image field; and determining a multi-wavelength phase modulation field based on combining the phase modulation field for each of the one or more wavelengths.