Variable Aperture Camera with Pixel Binning for Depth of Focus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional fixed-focus cameras with static apertures and pixel binning settings struggle to maintain optimal depth of focus across varying lighting conditions, leading to reduced performance in both high-light and low-light environments, which is critical for machine-vision applications like autonomous vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A camera system with a variable aperture and adjustable pixel binning levels, controlled by a controller to adapt to high-light and low-light conditions, allowing for enhanced depth of focus by adjusting aperture size and pixel binning accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a large static aperture is used to receive sufficient light in low-light conditions, then light reception is improved, but depth of focus is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a variable aperture that can dynamically adjust its size based on lighting conditions. In low-light conditions, the aperture opens larger to maximize light reception. In high-light conditions, the aperture closes to increase depth of focus. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between light reception and depth of focus that plagues static aperture systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the aperture size parameter in response to varying lighting conditions. By adjusting this physical parameter, the system optimizes both light reception and depth of focus for different environmental conditions, resolving the fundamental trade-off between these two parameters.
2Measurement precision
If a small static aperture is used to maintain depth of focus in high-light conditions, then depth of focus is improved, but light reception is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The variable aperture dynamically adjusts to a smaller size in high-light conditions, maintaining optimal depth of focus when abundant light is available. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction by adapting aperture size to lighting conditions rather than fixing it for one scenario.
3Measurement precision
If no pixel binning is used to maintain constant resolution, then image resolution is improved, but performance in low-light conditions is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements adjustable pixel binning that dynamically changes based on lighting conditions. In low-light conditions, higher levels of pixel binning are applied to improve signal-to-noise ratio and overall image quality. In high-light conditions, lower or no pixel binning is used to maintain maximum resolution. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between resolution and low-light performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the pixel binning parameter in response to lighting conditions, optimizing the balance between resolution and image quality across different environmental scenarios.
4Stability of the object's composition
If a fixed level of pixel binning is used to maintain constant resolution, then resolution consistency is improved, but adaptability to different lighting conditions is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes pixel binning adjustable rather than fixed, allowing the system to adapt to different lighting conditions while maintaining optimal performance. This dynamic capability resolves the contradiction between resolution consistency and adaptability.
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 system achieves improved depth of focus and depth of field across different lighting conditions, enhancing object detection and avoidance capabilities in machine-vision applications, particularly in autonomous vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
electrically capture image data (e.g., using a charge-coupled device (CCD) or complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) sensors)
Data Source
AI summary
Example embodiments relate to enhanced depth of focus cameras using variable apertures and pixel binning. An example embodiment includes a device. The device includes an image sensor. The image sensor includes an array of light-sensitive pixels and a readout circuit. The device also includes a variable aperture. Additionally, the device includes a controller that is configured to cause: the variable aperture to adjust to a first aperture size when a high-light condition is present, the variable aperture to adjust to a second aperture size when a low-light condition is present, the readout circuit to perform a first level of pixel binning when the high-light condition is present, and the readout circuit to perform a second level of pixel binning when the low-light condition is present. The second aperture size is larger than the first aperture size. The second level of pixel binning is greater than the first level of pixel binning.