Spherical Imaging Surface for Deformation-Free 3D Scene Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional flat projection surface based imaging methods suffer from issues such as picture deformation, blurring, photon loss, and inability to capture complete three-dimensional scenes, leading to poor image quality and lack of vivid three-dimensional representation.
Innovation Solution
An imaging apparatus with a spherical imaging surface where light is perpendicular to all parts of the imaging surface, combined with optical lens adjustments and auxiliary lenses to ensure precise alignment, and a method involving matrix formation and restoration to create a spherical image.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a flat projection surface is used for imaging, then the imaging process is simple and straightforward, but picture deformation, blurring, and photon loss occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a spherical projection surface instead of a flat one. The spherical shape allows light rays from all directions to converge at the center of the sphere, eliminating the need for complex stitching and reducing deformation. The spherical geometry naturally captures three-dimensional spatial relationships, improving image quality while maintaining imaging simplicity through the unified spherical projection model.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional flat projection to three-dimensional spherical projection. By adding the radial dimension (distance from the center of the sphere), the imaging system can capture complete three-dimensional scene information without the limitations of flat surface projection, thereby eliminating photon loss and blurring issues.
2Device complexity
If a flat photosensitive surface is used, then the camera structure is simple, but photon loss increases and picture becomes blurred
Solution Approach 1:
The spherical photosensitive surface is positioned at the center of the spherical projection surface, allowing light rays from all directions to converge perpendicularly onto the surface. This geometric arrangement maximizes photon capture efficiency across the entire surface, eliminating the photon loss that occurs in flat surface imaging where peripheral areas receive oblique or no light.
3Ease of operation
If flat projection surface imaging is used, then the imaging method is conventional and easy to implement, but three-dimensional representation is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements complete three-dimensional projection by using a spherical surface that captures spatial information in all directions (360 degrees horizontally and vertically). The spherical coordinate system (azimuth and elevation angles) preserves complete three-dimensional scene information, allowing accurate reconstruction of spatial relationships without information loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The spherical projection surface naturally represents three-dimensional space by mapping scene points to spherical coordinates. This geometric approach preserves depth, angle, and distance information more accurately than flat projection, enabling vivid three-dimensional representation while maintaining ease of implementation through standard spherical imaging techniques.
4Area of stationary object
If conventional stitching methods are used to create panoramic images, then multiple planar images can be combined, but picture dislocation and rigid color transition occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple imaging directions into a unified spherical projection surface. Instead of capturing separate planar images and stitching them together, the spherical surface simultaneously captures light from all directions, naturally integrating the entire scene into one coherent image without dislocation or color transition issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The spherical geometry provides a continuous, seamless projection surface that eliminates the abrupt transitions and alignment errors inherent in stitching multiple planar images. The spherical coordinate system ensures smooth color transitions and accurate spatial relationships across the entire panoramic view.
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 spherical projection surface method achieves high-definition, deformation-free images with accurate three-dimensional representation, overcoming photon loss and enabling clear, vivid three-dimensional displays without deformation or stitching defects.
Implementation Method 1
angles between all parts of the spherical imaging surface and light emitted by an image source at an intersection of the imaging surface are 90°
Implementation Method 2
an optical lens combination and an auxiliary lens, where the optical lens combination and the auxiliary lens are located on a path of the light, a direction and the path of the light emitted by the image source are changed by changing attributes and layout of the optical lens combination
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are an imaging apparatus and method, and a device. The imaging apparatus includes an imaging element with an imaging surface of a spherical structure, where angles between all parts of the spherical imaging surface and light emitted by an image source at an intersection of the imaging surface are 90°, and plurality of imaging units are regularly arranged on the imaging surface. The imaging element is used to completely, intactly and accurately obtain a scene image, and the obtained image is displayed by using the display device whose display surface has the same structure as and is corresponding to a reverse spherical display surface, such that a highly vivid three-dimensional picture completely consistent with a scene is presented, thereby overcoming the defect that the highly vivid three-dimensional scene picture is difficult to obtain and present by a flat projection surface based imaging method.