Terrestrial Camera Network for Wide-Scale Sky Light-Field Imaging
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current spaceborne and airborne imaging systems for atmospheric radiance have limited spatial and angular resolution, are expensive, and require complex and costly equipment, making them unsuitable for wide-scale, scalable, and efficient sky imaging.
Innovation Solution
A network of multiple terrestrial cameras positioned at known locations, each equipped with a lens to capture sky images and a processor for wireless communication, jointly processed by a server to produce a wide-scale light field image of the sky, using geometric and radiometric calibration, and static sun blockers to eliminate direct sunlight and ensure comprehensive sky coverage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If spaceborne and airborne instruments are used to image atmospheric radiance, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the sky imaging task into multiple segments by deploying numerous simple terrestrial cameras at different locations rather than using a single complex spaceborne instrument. Each camera captures a portion of the sky, and the combined data from multiple cameras creates a comprehensive light field image, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses multiple copies of simple, inexpensive terrestrial cameras instead of one complex spaceborne instrument. By replicating the camera unit across many locations and combining their outputs through computational processing, the system achieves high measurement precision while keeping individual device complexity low.
2Measurement precision
If spaceborne instruments are used for sky imaging, then measurement precision is improved, but scalability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the imaging function across multiple independent terrestrial cameras rather than relying on a single spaceborne instrument. This segmentation enables scalable deployment - cameras can be added or removed from the network without affecting the fundamental system architecture, while maintaining high angular resolution through computational integration of multiple viewpoints.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal imaging platform using standard terrestrial cameras that can be deployed in various configurations and locations. The same camera hardware serves multiple purposes: capturing sky images, providing multiple viewpoints for light field reconstruction, and enabling scalable expansion. The computational processing framework is also universal, handling data from any number of cameras.
3Measurement precision
If existing sky-imaging systems are deployed, then measurement precision is improved, but cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive, delicate spaceborne instruments with numerous inexpensive terrestrial cameras that can be manufactured at low cost. These simple camera units can be mass-produced and deployed widely, achieving high measurement precision for cloud-base mapping through their collective data rather than through individual instrument complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses multiple copies of low-cost camera hardware instead of one expensive spaceborne instrument. By replicating inexpensive camera units across many locations and combining their outputs computationally, the system achieves high measurement precision while keeping the total cost lower than deploying a single high-performance spaceborne system.
4Device complexity
If terrestrial cameras are used for sky imaging, then device complexity is reduced, but coverage area is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the coverage areas of multiple terrestrial cameras by positioning them at different locations and combining their images through computational processing. The union of all camera fields of view creates a comprehensive sky coverage area that exceeds what any single camera could capture, while maintaining the simplicity of using standard terrestrial camera hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the sky coverage task across multiple terrestrial cameras positioned at different locations. Each camera captures a portion of the sky within its field of view, and the segmented coverage areas are combined through image processing to create a complete wide-scale light field image, resolving the contradiction between device simplicity and coverage area.
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 approach enables high spatio-temporal resolution three-dimensional imaging of the atmosphere, overcoming the limitations of existing systems by providing a scalable, cost-effective, and efficient method for cloud mapping and atmospheric analysis.
Implementation Method 1
a lens directed towards the sky and configured to capture one or more images of the sky
Implementation Method 2
the cameras are provided with a static sun blocker... configured to block the Sun's rays from directly illuminating said lens of said one camera
Data Source
AI summary
A system for wide-scale light field imaging comprising: a network of multiple terrestrial cameras positioned at multiple known locations, where each of the cameras comprises a wide-angle lens directed towards the sky and configured to capture one or more images of the sky, and a processor configured to operate a wired and/or wireless communications infrastructure for transmitting the captured images; and a server configured to receive the wirelessly transmitted images and jointly process the received images, thereby producing a wide-scale light field image of the sky.