Shared Scanning Mirror Camera for Stray Light Blocking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aerial camera systems face challenges such as difficulty fitting long focal length lenses and matched aperture mirrors in configured spaces, inefficiencies in spacing due to circular yaw correction gimbal requirements, and low-quality images like blurriness and vignetting.
Innovation Solution
A camera system with a scanning mirror structure featuring a first mirror portion and a second low-reflective portion around its periphery, coupled with a drive mechanism to rotate the mirror based on scan angles, captures oblique images by reflecting and blocking light at specific angles, ensuring high-quality image capture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a scanning mirror structure with low reflective material around the periphery is used, then light blocking at extreme scan angles is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mirror structure applies different reflective properties to different regions: the central first mirror portion maintains high reflectivity for optimal image capture, while the peripheral second portion uses low reflective material to block stray light at extreme scan angles. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by addressing specific spatial zones with appropriate optical properties.
2Manufacturing precision
If long focal length lenses are used to improve image quality, then manufacturing and fitting difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from relying solely on long focal length lenses (one-dimensional solution) to incorporating a two-dimensional mirror structure with selective reflectivity zones. This dimensional expansion allows light path control without requiring excessively long lenses, thereby improving image quality while reducing mechanical fitting constraints.
3Manufacturing precision
If aperture mirrors are matched to long focal length lenses, then image quality improves, but spacing inefficiencies increase
Solution Approach 1:
The aperture mirror is segmented into functionally distinct regions: a central highly reflective portion for primary light collection and a peripheral low reflective portion for stray light management. This segmentation allows the mirror to perform multiple functions within a compact area, improving spacing efficiency while maintaining 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
The system addresses inefficiencies in spacing and image quality issues, producing high-quality oblique images with reduced blurriness and vignetting, enabling efficient creation of orthomosaics and textured 3D models.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one first mirror portion is configured to reflect light from the object area over a set of scan angles selected to produce the set of oblique images
Implementation Method 2
the at least one second portion is configured to block light that would pass around the first mirror portion and be received by the camera at scan angles beyond the set of scan angles
Implementation Method 3
the camera includes a lens to focus an imaging beam reflected from the at least one surface of the scanning mirror structure to an image sensor of the camera
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is directed to a camera configured to capture a set of oblique images along a scan path on an object area; a scanning mirror structure including at least one surface for receiving light from the object area, the at least one surface having at least one first mirror portion at least one second portion comprised of low reflective material arranged around a periphery of the first mirror portion, the low reflective material being less reflective than the first mirror portion; and a drive coupled to the scanning mirror structure and configured to rotate the scanning mirror structure about a rotation axis based on a scan angle. The at least one second portion can be configured to block light that would pass around the first mirror portion and be received by the camera at scan angles beyond the set of scan angles.