Single Sensor Camera for Low-Light Imaging Without Prism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image shooting technologies in low-illuminance environments face challenges in obtaining high-quality images due to the need for accurate calibration of light-splitting prisms and multiple image sensors, leading to high production costs and low yield rates.
Innovation Solution
A camera with a single image sensor having multiple channels, each independently controlled with different brightness adjustment parameters, collects and processes both infrared and visible light beams without a light-splitting prism, ensuring pixel-level alignment and avoiding channel interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a light-splitting prism and two image sensors are used to capture infrared and visible light separately, then image quality in low-illuminance environments is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of capturing infrared and visible light into a single image sensor by using different wavelength response channels. The first channel captures infrared light while the second channel captures visible light, eliminating the need for separate sensors and light-splitting prisms. This integration maintains image quality while significantly simplifying the device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The single image sensor is designed with multi-functional capabilities to handle both infrared and visible light wavelengths simultaneously through its different channels. This universal approach allows one component to perform the work previously requiring multiple specialized components, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining performance.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a light-splitting prism and two image sensors are used, then infrared and visible light can be captured simultaneously, but production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple light processing functions into a single image sensor with wavelength-selective channels. Instead of manufacturing and assembling multiple separate components (prism, two sensors), the invention uses one sensor that can differentiate and process both infrared and visible light wavelengths, significantly reducing production costs while maintaining versatility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a light-splitting prism and two image sensors are used, then infrared and visible light beams can be processed independently, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges infrared and visible light processing into a single sensor platform where independent channel processing is achieved through electronic wavelength selection rather than optical splitting. This eliminates the need for precise mechanical alignment and calibration of prisms and multiple sensors, as the single sensor's channels are inherently aligned at the pixel level, dramatically reducing manufacturing precision requirements.
4Reliability
If a light-splitting prism and two image sensors are used, then high-quality image fusion is achieved, but yield rate decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges infrared and visible light capture into a single sensor, eliminating alignment and calibration issues that cause manufacturing defects. Since all channels share the same sensor substrate and pixel grid, perfect spatial alignment is inherent, removing a major source of manufacturing failures and improving yield rate while maintaining high-quality image fusion capability.
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
This solution simplifies the camera structure, improves yield rates, reduces production costs, and produces high-quality images in low-illuminance environments by independently controlling channels for infrared and visible light beam processing.
Implementation Method 1
the optical module collects a first light beam, and obtains a second light beam including an infrared light beam and a visible light beam based on the first light beam
Implementation Method 2
the image sensor performs, based on a brightness adjustment parameter corresponding to the first channel, photoelectric conversion on the infrared light beam that is in the second light beam and that is irradiated to the first channel, to obtain a first electrical signal
Data Source
AI summary
A first light beam can be collected by using an optical module. A second light beam can be obtained based on the first light beam. An image sensor can perform photoelectric conversion on the infrared light beam that is in the second light beam and that is irradiated to the first channel to obtain a first electrical signal. Photoelectric conversion can be performed on the visible light beam that is in the second light beam and that is irradiated to the second channel to obtain a second electrical signal. An initial image can be generated based on the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal. A color image and a grayscale image can be sent to an image processor. The image processor can receive the color image and the grayscale image. Fusion processing can be performed on the color image and the grayscale image to obtain a fused image.