Single Image Sensor Control for Mixed Mode Capsule Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current capsule camera systems for gastrointestinal tract imaging face challenges in capturing high-quality 3D images due to power constraints and movement issues, as structured light technology requires significant power and is not well-suited for dynamic environments, leading to reduced frame rates and inaccurate depth information.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that utilize a single image sensor to capture mixed-type images, determining energy-based frame times for special and regular images based on perceived light energy, allowing for a mixed-frame distance that is smaller than the average frame period, enabling efficient capture of structured-light and regular images while maintaining a lower overall frame rate, and allowing for quick switching between modes based on activity detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If structured light technology is used to capture 3D images, then depth information accuracy is improved, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic capture of structured light images interspersed with regular images, rather than continuous structured light capture. This allows depth information to be updated periodically when needed, reducing overall power consumption while maintaining measurement precision at critical moments
Solution Approach 2:
The image capture sequence is segmented into alternating structured light images and regular images. This segmentation allows the system to distribute the high-power structured light captures throughout the sequence rather than concentrating them, enabling power management while preserving depth information accuracy where needed
2Measurement precision
If structured light technology is used for 3D imaging, then depth information is obtained, but frame rate decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The frame sequence is segmented to include both structured light images and regular images at alternating positions. This allows the system to maintain a higher overall frame rate by distributing structured light captures throughout the sequence, preventing frame rate degradation while still providing depth information
Solution Approach 2:
Structured light images are captured periodically within the frame sequence rather than continuously. This periodic approach ensures depth information is obtained at regular intervals while maintaining high frame rate for the overall image sequence
3Measurement precision
If multiple cameras are used for 3D triangulation, then depth information is captured, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the functions of multiple cameras into a single camera by alternating between structured light images and regular images in time. This temporal merging achieves 3D triangulation capability without the physical complexity of multiple simultaneous cameras
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from spatial multiplicity (multiple cameras side-by-side) to temporal multiplicity (single camera capturing different image types at different times). This dimensional change from space to time reduces device complexity while maintaining depth information capture capability
4Measurement precision
If structured light images and regular images are captured at different times, then both image types are obtained, but frame synchronization becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system establishes a predetermined alternating pattern for capturing structured light images and regular images before actual capture begins. This preliminary arrangement ensures that both image types are obtained with known temporal relationships, preventing loss of synchronization information while maintaining image quality
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for capturing an image sequence using a capsule camera are disclosed. According to the present invention, a first energy-based frame time for the special images is determined based on first light energy perceived by the image sensor and a second energy-based frame time for the regular images is determined based on second light energy perceived by the image sensor. The capsule camera captures the image sequence comprising one or more sets of mixed-type images by configuring the capsule camera to cause a mixed-frame distance between the first energy-based frame time for one special image in a target set of mixed-type images and the second energy-based frame time for one regular image in the target set of mixed-type images smaller than an average frame period.