Individually Controllable Semiconductor Chip for Camera Lighting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional camera flashlights have a fixed emission characteristic, leading to overexposure of subjects in the foreground and insufficient backlighting, which cannot be effectively addressed without increasing storage capacity, computing power, and power consumption, and existing solutions with moving parts are complex, expensive, and energy-intensive.
Innovation Solution
A light-emitting semiconductor chip with individually controllable emission regions and an optical element that allows for variable illumination of a solid angle range, enabling adjustable beam profiles and spatially or temporally differentiated illumination without moving parts, reducing energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed emission characteristic flashlight is used, then the device structure is simple, but the subject in the foreground may be overexposed while the backlight is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The flashlight is divided into multiple independently controllable emission regions (first emission region, second emission region, third emission region) that can be activated separately. This segmentation allows different parts of the illumination device to serve different functions: central regions for foreground subjects and peripheral regions for background, thereby achieving adaptable illumination without complex mechanical structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention implements dynamic control of the emission regions through electronic switching mechanisms. The control unit can dynamically activate or deactivate specific emission regions based on imaging requirements, enabling the illumination characteristic to adapt to different scenes (portrait, landscape, close-up, etc.) without moving mechanical parts.
2Adaptability or versatility
If image sequence recording with different exposure levels is used, then the overexposure problem is solved, but the storage capacity and computing power requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of recording multiple complete image sequences with different exposures, the invention activates only the necessary emission regions for the current imaging scenario. This partial action approach achieves the desired exposure control while avoiding the storage overhead of multiple full image sequences, as only one optimally exposed image needs to be stored.
3Adaptability or versatility
If image sequence recording with different exposure levels is used, then the overexposure problem is solved, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention activates only the specific emission regions needed for the current imaging task rather than operating all regions at full power or recording multiple exposure sequences. This partial action significantly reduces power consumption while maintaining the ability to control exposure for different scene requirements.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a servo motor is used to change LED position in reflector, then the illuminated area can be adapted, but the device becomes complex and prone to errors
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a servo motor to physically reposition a single LED or reflector, the invention segments the light source into multiple independent emission regions. This allows illumination area adaptation through electronic selection of active regions rather than mechanical movement, eliminating complex mechanical components and improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical servo motor system with an electronic control system that activates different emission regions through electrical switching. This substitution eliminates moving parts, reduces mechanical complexity, and improves device reliability while achieving the same goal of adapting the illuminated area to different image sections.
5Adaptability or versatility
If a servo motor is used to change LED position in reflector, then the illuminated area can be adapted, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the energy-consuming servo motor system with a low-power electronic switching mechanism that controls which emission regions are activated. This substitution dramatically reduces power consumption while maintaining the ability to adapt the illumination area to different imaging requirements.
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 solution allows for efficient and adjustable illumination of a camera's field of view, minimizing overexposure and energy usage while maintaining a robust and simple design.
Implementation Method 1
The semiconductor chip contains an active zone provided for light generation, which in particular has a pn junction, a double heterostructure, a single quantum well structure and/or a multiple quantum well structure for generating radiation
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5A~5C
AI summary
A semiconductor chip (1) for a lighting device (10), a lighting device (10) for a camera, and methods for operating the same are described, wherein the semiconductor chip contains a plurality of individually controllable emission regions (2, 2A, 2B, 2B'). The independently operable emission regions (2, 2A, 2B, 2B') are arranged, in particular, on a substrate (3) of the semiconductor chip. The lighting device (10) comprises the light-emitting semiconductor chip (1) with the plurality of individually controllable emission areas (2, 2A, 2B, 2B') and an optical element (15) which is configured to shape light (210, 220) emitted from the emission areas (2, 2A, 2B, 2B') into a beam, wherein the lighting device (10) is configured such that different beam profiles of the beam can be set by means of the individually controllable emission areas (2, 2A, 2B, 2B').Furthermore, a method for operating a lighting device (10) or for operating a camera with such a lighting device (10) is specified.