Patent Publication Number: US-2019191110-A1

Title: Apparatuses, systems, and methods for an enhanced field-of-view imaging system

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Imaging systems are used in a wide variety of applications to capture images, video, and other information characterizing a scene or objects within the scene. Imaging systems can utilize a wide variety of lenses that have unique optical characteristics, such as wide-angle lenses, that will allow more of the scene to be captured without having to move the camera far away from the scene. Ultra-wide-angle lenses, like fisheye lenses, can create panoramic or hemispherical images. At the same time, imaging systems have generally utilized rectangular film or image sensors to capture information through such lenses. The mismatch between rectangular photosensitive areas and the image circle produced by such lenses imposes certain trade-offs. Accordingly, such wide-angle imaging systems have not been entirely satisfactory. 
     SUMMARY 
     As will be described in greater detail below, the instant disclosure describes imaging systems that may overcome or that may mitigate the problem of mismatch between rectangular image sensors and the image circle generated by wide angle lenses, such as fisheye lenses. Such imaging systems may include an imaging device. An exemplary imaging device may include an image sensor with an imaging area that receives light to generate an image from the received light. The imaging device may also include an optics system that produces an image circle over the image sensor from light received from a scene. The image circle may exceed at least one dimension of the imaging area of the image sensor. The imaging device may also include a positioning system coupled to the image sensor to move, e.g., pan or tilt, the image sensor with respect to the optics system, such that the image sensor may capture a portion of the image circle that exceeds the at least one dimension of the imaging area. 
     In some implementations, the optics system may include a fisheye lens. The imaging area may include an array of imaging subsensors. Each imaging subsensor of the array of imaging subsensors may be coupled to a positioning component included in the positioning system. Each individual positioning component may be independently moveable. The image sensor may include a flexible connector that flexes to accommodate movement of the image sensor. The imaging device may further include an image processor, which may receive a first image generated while the image sensor is positioned in a first pose and a second image generated while the image sensor is positioned in a second pose. The image processor may combine the first image and the second image to generate a composite image that includes image information from more of the image circle provided by the optics system than either the first image or the second image. The optics system may include a polarization filter. 
     In another example, a method for capturing an extended portion of the image circle generated by a wide-angle lens may include receiving light through an optics system that produces an image circle that exceeds at least one dimension of an imaging area of an image sensor. The method may also include activating a positioning system coupled to the image sensor to move the image sensor to an altered pose that receives light from a different portion of the image circle and capturing an image while the image sensor is positioned in the altered pose. 
     In some implementations, the method may further include capturing another image while the image sensor is positioned in a default pose provided by the positioning system in the absence of activation energy. The method may further include combining a first image and a second image into a composite image. The method may further include processing the first image with an imaging processor to identify a target object in the image, determining a movement of the identified target object, and activating the positioning system to move the image sensor based on the movement of the identified target object. The identified target object in the image may be a face. Activating the positioning system coupled to the image sensor to move the image sensor to an altered pose may include activating a first positioning component to move a first subsensor in a first direction and activating a second positioning component to move a second subsensor in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction. An image may include an image portion with a first resolution and an image portion with a second resolution that is different than the first resolution. Implementations of the described techniques may include or involve hardware, a method or process, or computer software on a computer-accessible medium. 
     In another example, a system may include a housing and an imaging device, positioned within the housing, having an image sensor with an imaging area that receives light to generate an image from the received light. The system may also include a lens that produces an image circle on the image sensor, the image circle exceeding at least one dimension of the imaging area of the image sensor. The system may also include a positioning system coupled to the image sensor to move the image sensor with respect to the lens such that the image sensor captures a portion of the image circle that exceeds the at least one dimension of the imaging area. 
     In some implementations, the lens may include a fisheye lens. The imaging area may include an array of imaging subsensors. Each imaging subsensor of the array of imaging subsensors is coupled to an individual positioning component included in the positioning system. 
     In some examples, the above-described method may be encoded as computer-readable instructions on a computer-readable medium. For example, a computer-readable medium may include one or more computer-executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a computing device, may cause the computing device to generate an image from light received by an image sensor through an optics system that produces an image circle that exceeds at least one dimension of an imaging area of the image sensor, to activate a positioning system coupled to the image sensor to move the image sensor to an altered pose that receives light from a different portion of the image circle, and to capture an image while the image sensor is positioned in the altered pose. 
     Features from any of the above-mentioned embodiments may be used in combination with one another in accordance with the general principles described herein. These and other embodiments, features, and advantages will be more fully understood upon reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings illustrate several exemplary embodiments and are a part of the specification. Together with the following detailed description, these drawings demonstrate and explain various principles of the instant disclosure. 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an imaging device in an imaging environment, according to some aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  presents exemplary views of imaging device configurations showing the image circles provided by optics systems relative to an image sensor included in the imaging device. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional diagram of the imaging device of  FIG. 1 , according to some aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a top view diagram of an image sensor, according to some aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C  are cross-sectional drawings showing controlled movement of the image sensor of  FIG. 4 , according to some aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is a top view diagram of another image sensor, according to some aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C, and 7D  are cross-sectional drawings showing controlled movement of the image sensor of  FIG. 6 , according to some aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 8  presents exemplary views of imaging device configurations showing the image circles provided by optics systems relative to a positionable image sensor included in the imaging device, according to some aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 9  is a flowchart of a method of capturing an extended portion of an image circle, according to some aspects of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     Throughout the drawings, identical reference characters and descriptions indicate similar, but not necessarily identical, elements. While the exemplary embodiments described herein are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. However, the exemplary embodiments described herein are not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the instant disclosure covers all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the appended claims. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     The present disclosure is generally directed to apparatuses, systems, and devices that permit an image sensor to capture more of the image circle produced by an optics system. To capture more information from the image circle, the image sensor may be moved, by panning and/or tilting. In some instances, the entire imaging area may be moved together, while in other instances the imaging area may be formed from an array of individual components or subsensors. The present disclosure is also generally directed to methods of utilizing such imaging devices. As will be explained in greater detail below, embodiments of the instant disclosure may be operated to track an object or a face by manipulating the image sensor, even when the imaging device that houses the image sensor remains in a fixed position. Computer-vision can be used to identify an object within an imaging area and a positioning system coupled to the image sensor can be controlled to move the image sensor to follow the identified object, allowing for computer-directed computer-vision. 
     The following will provide, with reference to  FIGS. 1-9 , detailed descriptions of exemplary apparatuses, systems, and methods. The drawings demonstrate how embodiments of the present disclosure can increase the imageable portion of the image circle when the image circle exceeds at least one dimension of the image sensor being used to capture images. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an imaging device  100  in an imaging environment, according to some aspects of the present disclosure. As shown, the imaging device  100  is oriented to capture image information from an imaging environment, referred to as the local area  110 . The imaging device  100  may be secured within the local area  110 , in some embodiments. For example, the imaging device  100  may be a camera, such as a surveillance camera that is attached or secured to a wall, an overhang, a pole, etc., within the environment. In other implementations, the imaging device  100  may be a component of a smartphone that is used to capture images of a user and/or capture images of the local area  110  at the direction of the user. The imaging device  100  may be an image-capture camera, as used in photography, a depth-sensing camera, or any other suitable image-acquisition device. The imaging device  100  may also be a head-mounted display, in some embodiments, and may include a display in addition to other expressly depicted components. 
     The local area  110  may represent an area that is visible to the imaging device  100  and from which the imaging device  100  may capture image information. While the local area  110  may include many different objects (people, animals, structures, vehicles, plants, etc.) an exemplary object  112  is included for purposes of describing aspects of the present disclosure. As described in greater detail herein, the imaging device  100  may include an image capture device  102  that is configured to receive light from the local area  110  and produce corresponding digital signals that form or can be used to form images, such as still images and/or videos, of the local area  110  and the exemplary object  112 . For example, the image capture device  102  may capture an image of the exemplary object  112  as it moves according to the arrow  114  within the local area  110 . 
     Some embodiments of the imaging device  100  may include an image processor  104 . The image processor  104 , which may be integrated into the image capture device  102  in some embodiments and external in others, may receive digital signals from the image capture device  102 , and may process the digital signals to form images or to alter aspects of generated images. Additionally, some embodiments of the image processor  104  may use artificial intelligence (AI) and computer-vision algorithms to identify aspects of the local area  110 . For example, the image processor  104  may identify objects and/or features in the local area, such as one or more individuals or one or more faces. 
     Depending on certain characteristics of the image capture device  102 , the image capture device  102  may be able to capture a greater or lesser portion of the local area  110  in front of and/or surrounding the image capture device  102 . In other words, the image capture device  102  may have a different field of view depending on characteristics, such as the focal length, the aperture diameter, placement, etc.  FIG. 1  depicts a larger field of view  120  and a smaller field of view  122 , relative to each other. Such embodiments of the image capture device  102  may capture a correspondingly greater or lesser amount of the scene represented by the local area  110 . 
       FIG. 2  presents exemplary views of image capture device configurations showing the image circles provided by the optics systems thereof relative to an image sensor area  200  provided by embodiments of the image capture device  102 . In some instances, the image sensor area  200  may be defined by a two-dimensional resolution measured in terms of the number of pixels included in a sensor array formed on the surface of an image sensor or measured in terms of a physical area. 
     The optics system (i.e. lens, apertures, filters, and/or other structures and devices positioned between the local area  110  and the image sensor area  200 ) included in the image capture device  102  may produce an image circle on the surface of the image sensor. The portion of the image circle that is coincident with the image sensor area  200  may be captured by the image sensor, while the portion of the image circle that extends beyond the edges of the image sensor area  200  may not be captured by the image sensor. Depending on the configuration of the optics system included in the image capture device  102 , the optics system may produce the image circle  202 A on the image sensor, such that the entire image circle  202 A fits within the image sensor area  200 . As shown, the diameter of the image circle  202 A may be approximately the same as the length of the minor axis of the image sensor area  200 , which may be rectangular in shape, rather than square. In this example, the entire field of view included in the image circle  202 A may be captured, while a substantial portion of the image sensor area  200  remains unused. The image circle  202 B may have an outer diameter that is approximately the same as the length of the major axis of the image sensor area  200 . While this configuration utilizes a greater portion of the image sensor area  200 , there are still portions of the image circle  202 B that may not be captured by the image sensor that provide the image sensor area  200 . The image circle  202 C may have a diameter that is approximately equal to the diagonal dimension of the image sensor area  200 . Other embodiments may have an image circle  202 C with a diameter that exceeds the diagonal dimension of the image sensor area  200 . In such embodiments, the full area of the image sensor area  200  may be utilized to capture an image or images of the field of view. However, a significant portion of the image circle  202 C may not be captured in images obtained using a conventional image sensor having the depicted image sensor area  200 . 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional diagram of an image capture device  300  that may provide an embodiment of the image capture device  102  of  FIG. 1 , according to some aspects of the present disclosure. As illustrated, the image capture device  300  includes an optics system  310  and an image sensor  320  coupled together by a sensor package or housing  322 . The housing  322  may include electrical connections extending between the back of the image sensor  320  and the back side of the housing  322 . Embodiments of the optics system  310  may include a plurality of lenses, apertures, filters, etc., that provide an optical pathway by which light from the local area  110  may reach the image sensor  320 , which captures the light and encodes corresponding images. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the optics system  310  may include several lenses, including the lenses  312 ,  314 , and  316 . These lenses may individually or collectively provide a “fisheye” lens or ultra-wide-angle lens, in some embodiments. The inclusion of a fisheye lens  312  in the optics system  310  may permit the image capture device  300  to capture wide panoramic or hemispherical images of the local area  110 . In some embodiments, one or more of the lenses  312 ,  314 , and  316  may be or may include a polarization filter to limit the polarization of light passing therethrough. The comparisons of image sensor area  200  to the image circles shown in  FIG. 2  may be the result of configurations of image capture devices that utilize fisheye lenses. The optics system  310  may permit the image sensor  320  to capture images that correspond to the field of view  120  of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  is a top view diagram of an embodiment of the image sensor  320  of  FIG. 3 , according to some aspects of the present disclosure.  FIG. 4  shows that the image sensor  320  includes an imaging area  402  and a circuitry area  404 . The imaging area  402  may include an array of individual pixels extending in x- and y-directions that respond to incident light to generate an electrical responsive signal that can be interpreted to generate images. The pixels may be formed from photodiodes, photoresistors, or other photosensitive elements and may be CMOS devices, CCD devices, etc. The circuitry area  404  contains electronic circuitry that enables the reading or collection of images from the imaging area  402 . The circuitry area  404  may further include image processing circuitry to apply functions such as auto-white balance, color correction, etc. In some embodiments, the circuitry area  404  may include control circuitry that actuates mechanisms to position the image sensor  320 . Such mechanisms may include a positioning system having a plurality of individual positioning components. In  FIG. 4 , positioning components  406 A,  406 B,  406 C, and  406 D, collectively referred to as positioning components  406 , are provided to enable positioning or posing of the image sensor  320 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the positioning components  406  may secure the image sensor  320  to the housing  322  in some embodiments. The positioning components  406  may include one or more MEMS actuators, voice coil motors, or any other suitable actuation mechanism or mechanisms that can bend, expand, and/or contract to move the image sensor  320  and its imaging area  402  in x-, y-, and/or z-directions and/or to tilt the imaging area  402 . By moving the imaging area  402  by raising/lowering, panning, and/or tilting, the amount of the image circle produced by an optics system and reproduced in an image or images can be increased. The position and orientation of the imaging area  402  may be referred to as the pose of the imaging area  402 . 
       FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C  are cross-sectional drawings showing controlled movement of the image sensor of  FIGS. 3 and 4 , according to some aspects of the present disclosure.  FIG. 5A  shows that the image sensor  320  is coupled to the housing  322  by positioning components  506 A and  506 B, which may be in an identical state of actuation. While the positioning components may be provided by many different actuation mechanisms, the positioning components shown in  FIGS. 5A-C  operate by expansion and/or contraction. The image sensor  320  may be coupled to additional electronics, such as the image processor  104  by a flexible connector that contacts the back surface of the image sensor  320  and includes a plurality of flexible leads. In  FIG. 5B , the image sensor  320  is shifted or panned in the x-direction by an expansion of the positioning component  506 A and a corresponding contraction of the positioning component  506 B. As shown, the positioning component  506 A expands by a length or distance D 1 . The distance D 1  may be 10 microns, 50, microns, 100 microns, or more in some embodiments. The positioning component  506 B may decrease in length by a distance D 2  that is substantially the same as the distance D 1 , when the image sensor  320  is to be panned but not tilted. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5C , the image sensor  320  may be tilted by expanding the positioning component  506 A by a distance, like the distance D 1 , while producing a smaller contraction or no contraction in the opposite positioning component, positioning component  506 B. The increase in the length of the positioning component  506 A without the corresponding decrease in length of the positioning component  506 B results in a z-direction change of the left side of the image sensor  320  as shown in  FIG. 5C . This can be observed in  FIG. 5C  by the change in angle A 1 , which represents a tilt angle of the image sensor  320 . In some embodiments, the positioning component  506 B may be activated in the same way as the positioning component  506 A to produce an overall movement of the image sensor  320  in the z-direction. Actuation of the positioning components  506 A and  506 B may cause individual pixels included in the image sensor  320  to be moved relative to an image circle provided by the optics system  310  of  FIG. 3 . This may enable the image sensor  320  to capture an increased portion of the image circle, effectively enhancing the field of view available to the image sensor  320 . 
       FIG. 6  is a top view diagram of an image sensor  600 , according to some aspects of the present disclosure. The image sensor  600  includes an imaging area  602  that is comparable to the imaging area  402  of  FIG. 4 . The image sensor  600  includes an array of individually actuatable imaging subsensors  604 . As shown, the subsensors  604  may have a generally rectangular shape, although other embodiments of the image sensor  600  include subsensors  604  having different shapes, such as square, triangular, etc. The subsensors  604  may each include an array of pixels extending across the surface of the subsensors  604 . Embodiments of the image sensor  600  may include arrays of various sizes. For example, an embodiment of the image sensor  600  may include a 2×2 array of subsensors  604 , while another embodiment of the image sensor  600  may include a 128×128 array of subsensors  604 . Additional embodiments may have more or fewer subsensors  604  in the array. 
       FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C, and 7D  are cross-sectional drawings showing controlled movement of the image sensor  600  of  FIG. 6 , according to some aspects of the present disclosure.  FIG. 7A  depicts the image sensor  600  in a resting or default state in which each of the subsensors  604  is positioned parallel to the xy-plane.  FIG. 7A  further depicts a plurality of positioning components, including an exemplary positioning component  702 . The image sensor  600  may include one positioning component  702  for each subsensor  604 , in some embodiments. Other embodiments may include different numbers of positioning components  702  and subsensors  604 . The positioning components  702  may be provided by mechanical structures or MEMS structures that can bend each positioning component out of alignment with the z-axis. For example, the MEMS structures utilized in the manipulation of digital micromirror devices in digital light projection (DLP) technology may be used as positioning components. By bending, the positioning component  702  may reorient the corresponding subsensors  604 . 
     The image sensor  600  may include flexible connectors that permit the individual subsensors  604  to remain in electrical communication with a controller or image processor to obtain image data to generate one or more images. As shown in  FIG. 7A , the flexible connectors may be provided in a flexible substrate  704  disposed between the positioning components  702  and the corresponding subsensors  604 . The flexible substrate  704  may be formed from a flexible material, such as silicone or polyimide, and may include electrical leads extending therethrough that provide for communication between the individual subsensors  604  and associated circuitry provided in a circuitry area, like the circuitry area  404  of  FIG. 4 , or in an external image processor, like the image processor  104  of  FIG. 1 . The flexible substrate  704  may provide for the collection of information from the subsensors  604  and the control of the subsensors  604  even when the positioning components  702  cause a change in the relative position of two or more proximate subsensors. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7B , all of the positioning components  702  may be actuated to cause the subsensors  604  to tilt toward the −y-direction, and as shown in  FIG. 7C , the positioning components  702  may be actuated to cause the subsensors  604  to tilt in the −x-direction. The positioning component  702  may be actuated individually to provide for individual positioning of the subsensors  604 . As shown in  FIG. 7D , some of the positioning component  702  may be actuated to change the positions of the corresponding subsensors  604 , while others of the positioning components  702  may remain in a default position.  FIG. 7D  shows that the subsensors  604  located on the outer edge of the array may be tilted outwardly, while the central subsensors  604  have no tilt. In other embodiments, the positioning component  702  may be actuated to cause the subsensor  604  located on the outer edge of the array to be tilted inwardly or to cause one side of the array to be tilted inwardly while subsensors on the other side of the array are tilted outwardly. 
     When actuators, like the positioning components  406  of  FIG. 4, 506  of  FIG. 5 , and  702  of  FIG. 7 , are activated to change the position of an entire imaging area or of portions thereof, the control signals may be recorded in memory included in the circuitry area  404  or elsewhere in other embodiments. An image processor, like the image processor  104  of  FIG. 1 , may utilize the actuation information and the received image information from each of the pixels to generate an image having different areas of resolution. For example, image data obtained from the subsensors  604  on the outer edge of the imaging area shown in  FIG. 7D  may have a lower resolution than the image data obtained from subsensors  604  of the central area. In other embodiments, the subsensors  604  of the central area may be tilted toward each other to produce a higher resolution portion of an image. 
     Information included in an image may be used to direct the positioning of subsensors  604 . For example, the image processor  104  may identify the object  112  in the local area  110  and generate control signals that cause the positioning components of an imaging device to actuate in response to the object  112 . In some embodiments, the positioning components, such as the positioning components  702 , may be actuated to tilt some or all of the subsensors  604  toward the portion of the imaging array that is receiving the light corresponding to the object  112 . 
     In some instances, the image processor  104  may cause the image sensor  320  or  600  to provide a higher resolution image relative to the object  112 , which may be a face, a tool, a symbol of interest, etc., by directing that the positioning components  702  orient subsensors  604  toward the object  112 . In other instances, the image processor may cause some of the positioning components  702  to move so as to follow the object  112  as it moves according to the arrow  114 , also of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 8  presents exemplary views of imaging device configurations showing the image circles provided by optics systems relative to an image sensor area associated with the imaging device, according to some aspects of the present disclosure. The actual x- and y-dimensions of the imaging area  402  are represented. The image circle  802 A has an outer diameter approximately equal to the major axis of the imaging area  402 . By actuating positioning components  702 , the effective x- and y-dimensions of an image sensor can be extended beyond the actual dimensions, as represented by the effective imaging area  804 , which may capture significantly more of the information provided by the image circle  802 A. 
     Similarly, the image circle  802 B may have an outer diameter approximately equal to the diagonal of the imaging area  402 , such that the imaging area  402  captures a smaller portion of the information included in the image circle  802 B than of the image circle  802 A. By selective actuation of included positioning components, information from the effective imaging area  804  may be captured, which may be significantly greater than the actual dimensions of the imaging area  402 . 
       FIG. 9  is a flow diagram of an exemplary computer-implemented method  900  for capturing an extended portion of an image circle. The steps shown in  FIG. 9  may be performed by any suitable computer-executable code and/or computing system in connection with an imaging system, including the system(s) illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 3-8 . In one example, one or more of the steps shown in  FIG. 9  may represent an algorithm whose structure includes and/or is represented by multiple sub-steps, examples of which will be provided in greater detail below. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , at step  902  one or more of the systems described herein may receive light through an optics system that produces an image circle that exceeds at least one dimension of an imaging area of an image sensor. For example, light may be received by an imaging area  402  ( FIG. 4 ) of an image sensor  320  through the optics system  310  of  FIG. 3 . The optics system  310  may be a fisheye lens system or include a fisheye lens. 
     At step  904 , one or more of the systems described herein may capture a first image while the image sensor is positioned in a default pose. For example, the image sensor  320  may be in a default position as shown in  FIG. 7A , in which a positioning system is not activated. 
     At step  906 , one or more of the systems described herein may activate a positioning system coupled to the image sensor to move the image sensor to an altered pose that receives light from a different portion of the image circle than is received by the image sensor in a default pose. For example, the positioning components  406 ,  506 , or  702  of a positioning system may pan, tilt, raise, or lower the image sensor  320 , as shown in  FIGS. 5A-C  and/or  FIGS. 7A-D . 
     At step  908 , one or more of the described systems may capture a second image while the image sensor is positioned in the altered pose. The circuitry in the circuitry area  404  or another controller may trigger the capture of the first and second images. After the first and second images have been captured, the image processor  104  or another component described herein may combine the images to produce a composite image. Such a composite image may have a larger resolution, measured in pixels, than either the first image or the second image. This composite image may capture a larger portion of an image circle than a single image captured in the default pose, as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     Some embodiments of the method  900  may further include steps of processing the first image with an imaging processor to identify a target object in the image, determining a movement of the identified target object, and activating the positioning system to move the image sensor based on the movement of the identified target object. In this way, the method  900  may provide for tracking of the object  112  in the local area  110  as the object moves around. 
     In some embodiments, the step of activating a positioning system coupled to the image sensor to move the image sensor to an altered pose may further include activating a first positioning component to move a first subsensor in a first direction and activating a second positioning component to move a second subsensor in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction, as shown in  FIG. 7D . The first subsensor and the second subsensor may be moved toward each other or away from each other. The first and second subsensors may be disposed proximate each other in an array of subsensors or may be disposed on opposite sides of the array. In some embodiments, the actuation of positioning components may produce an image that has a portion with a first resolution and a portion with a second resolution that is different than the first resolution. 
     As detailed above, the processing and computing devices and systems described and/or illustrated herein broadly represent any type or form of computing device or system capable of executing computer-readable instructions, such as those contained within the modules described herein. In their most basic configuration, these computing device(s) may each include at least one memory device and at least one physical processor. 
     The term “memory device,” as used herein, generally represents any type or form of volatile or non-volatile storage device or medium capable of storing data and/or computer-readable instructions. In one example, a memory device may store, load, and/or maintain one or more of the modules described herein. Examples of memory devices include, without limitation, Random Access Memory (RAM), Read Only Memory (ROM), flash memory, Hard Disk Drives (HDDs), Solid-State Drives (SSDs), optical disk drives, caches, variations or combinations of one or more of the same, or any other suitable storage memory. 
     In addition, the term “physical processor,” as used herein, generally refers to any type or form of hardware-implemented processing unit capable of interpreting and/or executing computer-readable instructions. In one example, a physical processor may access and/or modify one or more modules stored in the above-described memory device. Examples of physical processors include, without limitation, microprocessors, microcontrollers, Central Processing Units (CPUs), Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) that implement softcore processors, Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), portions of one or more of the same, variations or combinations of one or more of the same, or any other suitable physical processor. 
     Although illustrated as separate elements, the modules described and/or illustrated herein may represent portions of a single module or application. In addition, in certain embodiments one or more of these modules may represent one or more software applications or programs that, when executed by a computing device, may cause the computing device to perform one or more tasks. For example, one or more of the modules described and/or illustrated herein may represent modules stored and configured to run on one or more of the computing devices or systems described and/or illustrated herein. One or more of these modules may also represent all or portions of one or more special-purpose computers configured to perform one or more tasks. 
     In addition, one or more of the modules described herein may transform data, physical devices, and/or representations of physical devices from one form to another. For example, one or more of the modules recited herein may receive image data in the form of one or more images to be transformed, transform the image data, output a result of the transformation to generate composite images or images having multiple resolutions, use the result of the transformation to enhancement of the field of view of an image sensor, and store the result of the transformation to so that the enhanced images can be used by an image processor or other system. Additionally or alternatively, one or more of the modules recited herein may transform a processor, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, and/or any other portion of a physical computing device from one form to another by executing on the computing device, storing data on the computing device, and/or otherwise interacting with the computing device. 
     The term “computer-readable medium,” as used herein, generally refers to any form of device, carrier, or medium capable of storing or carrying computer-readable instructions. Examples of computer-readable media include, without limitation, transmission-type media, such as carrier waves, and non-transitory-type media, such as magnetic-storage media (e.g., hard disk drives, tape drives, and floppy disks), optical-storage media (e.g., Compact Disks (CDs), Digital Video Disks (DVDs), and BLU-RAY disks), electronic-storage media (e.g., solid-state drives and flash media), and other distribution systems. 
     Embodiments of the instant disclosure may include or be implemented in conjunction with an artificial reality system. Artificial reality is a form of reality that has been adjusted in some manner before presentation to a user, which may include, e.g., a virtual reality (VR), an augmented reality (AR), a mixed reality (MR), a hybrid reality, or some combination and/or derivatives thereof. Artificial reality content may include completely generated content or generated content combined with captured (e.g., real-world) content. The artificial reality content may include video, audio, haptic feedback, or some combination thereof, any of which may be presented in a single channel or in multiple channels (such as stereo video that produces a three-dimensional effect to the viewer). Additionally, in some embodiments, artificial reality may also be associated with applications, products, accessories, services, or some combination thereof, that are used to, e.g., create content in an artificial reality and/or are otherwise used in (e.g., perform activities in) an artificial reality. The artificial reality system that provides the artificial reality content may be implemented on various platforms, including a head-mounted display (HMD) connected to a host computer system, a standalone HMD, a mobile device or computing system, or any other hardware platform capable of providing artificial reality content to one or more viewers. 
     The process parameters and sequence of the steps described and/or illustrated herein are given by way of example only and can be varied as desired. For example, while the steps illustrated and/or described herein may be shown or discussed in a particular order, these steps do not necessarily need to be performed in the order illustrated or discussed. The various exemplary methods described and/or illustrated herein may also omit one or more of the steps described or illustrated herein or include additional steps in addition to those disclosed. 
     The preceding description has been provided to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize various aspects of the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein. This exemplary description is not intended to be exhaustive or to be limited to any precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the instant disclosure. The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered in all respects illustrative and not restrictive. Reference should be made to the appended claims and their equivalents in determining the scope of the instant disclosure. 
     Unless otherwise noted, the terms “connected to” and “coupled to” (and their derivatives), as used in the specification and claims, are to be construed as permitting both direct and indirect (i.e., via other elements or components) connection. In addition, the terms “a” or “an,” as used in the specification and claims, are to be construed as meaning “at least one of.” Finally, for ease of use, the terms “including” and “having” (and their derivatives), as used in the specification and claims, are interchangeable with and have the same meaning as the word “comprising.”