Multi-camera imaging system, and compensation method for image reconstruction

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9681043-B2
Application number	US-201514692716-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 21, 2015
Priority date	Jul 30, 2014
Publication date	Jun 13, 2017
Grant date	Jun 13, 2017

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a multi-camera imaging system, and a compensation method for image reconstruction. The main components of the multi-camera imaging system are an image capturing module having a multi-lens module and a multi-sensor module, and a distance adjustment unit automatically adjusting the distance between the multi-lens and multi-sensor modules. Note that the distance adjustment unit conducts compensation performed on the change of the system's focal length caused by temperature in the system. The multi-camera imaging system further includes a position-sensing module which is used to sense a displacement or change of the distance made by the distance adjustment unit. A set of image reconstruction parameters corresponding to the displacement or the change of distance is then provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A multi-camera imaging system, comprising:
a multi-lens module, comprising a multiple-lens arrangement;
a multi-sensor module, comprising a multiple-sensor arrangement, wherein positions of the multiple image sensors one-by-one correspond to positions of the multiple lens;
a distance adjustment unit, being a temperature compensation mechanism configured to compensate the change of focal length due to temperature, used to adjust a distance between the multi-lens module and the multi-sensor module;
a position-sensing module, used to sense a displacement or a change of distance between the multi-lens module and the multi-sensor module; and
an image-reconstruction parameter generating unit used to generate image reconstruction parameters for image reconstruction according to the displacement or the change of distance between the multi-lens module and the multi-sensor module.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the multi-lens module is disposed on a movable member of a carrier mechanism; the multi-sensor module is disposed on an unmovable member of the carrier mechanism; the position-sensing module includes a Hall effect sensor disposed on the unmovable member of the carrier mechanism, and a magnetic element disposed on the movable member of the carrier mechanism; the temperature compensation mechanism enables the displacement or the change of distance between the multi-lens module and the multi-sensor module.

3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the position-sensing module is a strain gauge sensor disposed onto the temperature compensation mechanism, used to measure strain of the temperature compensation mechanism.

4. A compensation method for image reconstruction for a multi-camera imaging system according to claim 1 , comprising:
gaining the displacement and the change of distance between the multi-lens module and the multi-sensor module of the multi-camera imaging system; and
gaining a set of image reconstruction parameters for image reconstruction if the displacement or the change of distance is found.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the displacement or the change of distance between the multi-lens module and the multi-sensor module is obtained by measuring strain by a strain gauge sensor disposed onto the temperature compensation mechanism.

6. The method according to claim 5 , comprising a lookup table introduced to recording correspondence between the image reconstruction parameters and the displacement or change of distance between the multi-lens module and the multi-sensor module.

7. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the displacement or change of distance between the multi-lens module and the multi-sensor module is obtained by a Hall Effect sensor and a magnetic element disposed on the multi-camera imaging system.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein, providing a lookup table to record correspondence between the image reconstruction parameters and the displacement or change of distance between the multi-lens module and the multi-sensor module.

9. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising an image reconstruction module for performing image reconstruction with the image reconstruction parameters.

Assignees

• Lite On Electronics Guangzhou Ltd
• Lite On Technology Corp

Inventors

• Chen Jau-Yu
• Huang Chih-Hsiung

Classifications

• G02B27/0075 Primary

  with means for altering, e.g. increasing, the depth of field or depth of focus · CPC title

• H04N23/52

  Elements optimising image sensor operation, e.g. for electromagnetic interference [EMI] protection or temperature control by heat transfer or cooling elements · CPC title

• H04N23/55

  Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof · CPC title

• H04N23/60

  Control of cameras or camera modules · CPC title

• H04N23/45

  for generating image signals from two or more image sensors being of different type or operating in different modes, e.g. with a CMOS sensor for moving images in combination with a charge-coupled device [CCD] for still images · CPC title