Multi Camera Zoom System Using Rotated Monochrome Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional smartphone cameras with zoom functions face issues of reduced image resolution due to pixel cropping and unsightly design thickness when using electronic signal processing or dual cameras, respectively.
Innovation Solution
A zoom camera system comprising two cameras with a color image sensor and a monochrome image sensor, where the monochrome sensor's pixel arrangement is rotated 45 degrees, combined with interpolation and cropping mechanisms to maintain high image quality and thin design, allowing for effective zooming without resolution loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If electronic signal processing is used to achieve zoom function, then the smartphone can maintain a thin design, but the image resolution decreases due to pixel cropping
Solution Approach 1:
The image sensor is divided into two separate sensors: a color image sensor and a monochrome image sensor. Each sensor captures different types of information (color and luminance respectively), which are then processed and combined to achieve high-resolution zoomed images without pixel cropping, thereby maintaining both thin design and image resolution
Solution Approach 2:
The monochrome sensor is rotated by 45 degrees relative to the color sensor, creating a different spatial dimension for pixel arrangement. This rotational transformation allows the system to leverage the higher sensitivity of monochrome pixels for luminance information while maintaining the color information from the color sensor, effectively adding a dimensional aspect to the image capture process
2Measurement precision
If a telephoto lens with long focal length is used to achieve zoom function, then image quality is maintained, but the smartphone exterior appearance deteriorates due to increased thickness
Solution Approach 1:
The optical zoom mechanism (mechanical lens system with long focal length) is replaced with a sensor-based solution. By using a monochrome sensor with higher sensitivity and rotating its pixel arrangement by 45 degrees, the system achieves effective zoom without requiring a long focal length telephoto lens, thereby maintaining a thin smartphone design while preserving image quality
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of sensor sensitivity by introducing a monochrome sensor (which has higher sensitivity than color sensors) and rotates its pixel arrangement by 45 degrees. This parameter change allows the system to achieve better image quality for zoomed images without increasing lens length, effectively substituting optical parameters with sensor-based parameters
Data Source
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AI summary
An aspect of the present invention provides a zoom camera comprising: a first camera including a first lens and a color image sensor covered with color filters located in front of square pixels;a second camera including a second lens and a mono color image sensor having square pixels, with a pixel arrangement of the mono color image sensor rotated by 45 degrees with respect to a pixel arrangement of the color image sensor;a first interpolation means for interpolating signals outputted from the color image sensor, converting the interpolated signals into color difference signals, and outputting the color difference signals;a second interpolation means for interpolating signals outputted from the mono color image sensor and outputting interpolated luminance signals;a first cropping means for cropping the color difference signals;a second cropping means for cropping the interpolated luminance signals;and a color image signal processing means for fusing the cropped color difference signals and the cropped luminance signals.