Adjustable Stereo Camera Mounting for Precise Optical Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
In stereoscopic viewing systems, misalignment of dual cameras due to mechanical variation, temporal drift, user-specific interpupillary distance, and perspective distortion leads to perceptual artifacts like double imaging, incorrect depth cues, motion sickness, and reduced immersion.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable stereoscopic camera system with movable and rotatable mounting plates allows for precise alignment of cameras along the y-axis and rotation about the x and z-axes, using a spring-loaded mechanism for adjustments, and optionally electromechanical actuators, to simulate natural human eye convergence at 4.6 degrees, minimizing computational corrections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If cameras are fixed in a rigid mounting structure, then device complexity is reduced, but alignment precision deteriorates due to mechanical variation and temporal drift
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements adjustable mounting plates that can be dynamically repositioned along the y-axis and rotated about the x and z-axes. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the system to compensate for mechanical variation and temporal drift in camera alignment, resolving the contradiction between fixed structure simplicity and alignment precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the positional parameters of the cameras by allowing the mounting plates to move along specific axes and rotate about specific axes. This parameter adjustment enables precise alignment compensation without requiring a completely complex remounting system, balancing precision improvement with acceptable device complexity.
2Measurement precision
If cameras are angled at 4.6 degrees to simulate human eye convergence, then stereoscopic accuracy for near-field objects is improved, but vertical parallax and keystone distortion increase in the background and far field
Solution Approach 1:
The patent allows dynamic adjustment of camera orientation by enabling rotation about the x and z axes. This dynamic capability permits the system to optimize the convergence angle for near-field objects while compensating for the resulting vertical parallax and keystone distortion in the background, resolving the contradiction between near-field depth accuracy and far-field geometric fidelity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If computational reprojection is used to correct camera misalignment, then alignment flexibility is improved, but processing overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces computational reprojection methods with a mechanical adjustment system. By physically repositioning the cameras along the y-axis and rotating them about the x and z-axes, the system achieves alignment correction through mechanical means rather than computational processing, thereby reducing processing overhead while maintaining alignment flexibility.
4Adaptability or versatility
If fixed camera baseline is used, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to user-specific interpupillary distance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic positioning of cameras along the y-axis and rotation about the x and z-axes. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the system to adapt to varying interpupillary distances of different users without requiring a completely complex reconfigurable mounting system, thereby improving adaptability while keeping device complexity at acceptable levels.
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustable stereoscopic camera system includes a first camera (210) mounted to a first mounting plate (220); and a second camera (250) mounted to a second mounting plate (260). The first mounting plate (220) is movable along a y axis in an x, y, z coordinate system and rotatable in α and γ directions about the x and z axes where α, β, and γ indicate directions of rotation about the x, y, and z axes respectively.