Pixelated Shutter Imaging for Depth of Field and Horizon Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional three-dimensional stereoscopic imaging systems face issues with maintaining a constant horizon when rotated, and there is a need for an imaging system that can adjust light levels to generate high-resolution images with greater depth of field and be conducive to fluorescent light imaging.
Innovation Solution
An imaging device with a shutter formed of pixels that can be actuated to define inner and outer zones, allowing control of light levels and adjust between greater depth of field and greater image quality modes, and incorporate orientation detection to maintain a constant horizon.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single channel imaging system is used with pupil splitting, then the device complexity is reduced, but the image quality and depth of field cannot be simultaneously optimized
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging system is divided into multiple zones (inner zone and outer zone) within the single channel, with each zone having different aperture sizes. The inner zone provides a smaller aperture for greater depth of field, while the outer zone provides a larger aperture for higher image quality. This segmentation allows the system to maintain simplicity while achieving multiple imaging modes.
Solution Approach 2:
The shutter zones are configured to be dynamically adjustable, allowing the system to switch between different aperture configurations (inner zone only, outer zone only, or both zones open). This dynamic capability enables the system to adapt between depth of field mode and image quality mode as needed.
2Illumination intensity
If more light is provided to the image sensor, then image quality is improved, but the depth of field is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The aperture is segmented into inner and outer zones with different light transmission characteristics. The inner zone provides a smaller aperture that reduces light amount but increases depth of field, while the outer zone provides a larger aperture that increases light amount but reduces depth of field. By selectively opening or closing zones, the system can optimize the trade-off between light amount and depth of field.
3Area of stationary object
If the imaging device is rotated about the optical axis, then the field of view is expanded, but the horizon orientation becomes unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter zones are dynamically controlled based on the rotation angle of the imaging device. As the device rotates, the controller adjusts which zones are open or closed to compensate for the changing orientation and maintain a stable horizon. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to expand the field of view through rotation while preserving horizon stability.
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging device for obtaining an image of an interior of a body of a patient includes a lens assembly, a shutter formed of a plurality of pixels and a controller configured to actuate the plurality of pixels of the shutter to define a plurality of zones, the plurality of zones including an inner zone and an outer zone, each of the plurality of zones configured to be opened and closed. The controller further actuates the shutter so as to open and close the inner zone and outer zone to control the amount of light from the lens assembly onto an image sensor.