3D Calibration Body with Selective Mark Activation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing 3D calibration bodies for optical imaging systems face challenges in achieving accurate spatial calibration across different depths and zoom levels, as calibration marks can shadow lower structures, impairing accuracy and requiring extensive reconstruction efforts.

Innovation Solution

A 3D calibration body with a transparent body and selectively activatable/deactivatable calibration marks, arranged in layers or light guides, allows for optimal configuration to avoid shadowing and ensure accurate calibration at various depths and zoom levels by activating/deactivating marks as needed, using display technologies or light guides with evanescent fields.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If calibration marks are placed at different depths in a transparent calibration body, then 3D spatial calibration is enabled, but upper calibration marks shadow lower calibration marks, impairing measurement precision

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespatial calibration accuracyVSAvoidshadowing effect

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The calibration body dynamically adapts its transparency properties based on the required calibration depth. By making transparency adjustable rather than fixed, the system can optimize visibility for marks at different depths, reducing shadowing effects while maintaining 3D calibration capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The optical parameters of the calibration body (specifically transparency) are changed based on the calibration requirements. This allows the calibration body to be optimized for viewing marks at specific depths by adjusting transparency parameters, thereby reducing shadowing and improving measurement precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If multiple calibration elements are placed at different distances to achieve 3D calibration, then spatial calibration is possible, but reconstruction of relationships between recordings requires significant time and reduces accuracy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespatial calibration accuracyVSAvoidcalibration time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple calibration marks at different depths are merged into a single integrated transparent calibration body. This unified structure eliminates the need to separately position and reconstruct multiple independent calibration elements, significantly reducing calibration time while maintaining spatial calibration accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The calibration body is pre-configured with calibration marks at precisely defined depths and positions. This preliminary arrangement of all calibration marks in their final positions eliminates the need for time-consuming reconstruction of spatial relationships during the calibration process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If a uniform pattern is used for calibration elements, then the pattern can be matched to the resolution of the imaging system, but a compromise is required that is unsatisfactory for overall calibration quality, especially for zoom systems

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepattern resolution matchingVSAvoidoverall calibration quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

Different regions of the calibration body have different transparency properties optimized for their specific depth and function. This local optimization allows each region to provide the best possible calibration quality for its specific purpose, eliminating the need for a compromise uniform pattern

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The calibration pattern is extended from a single 2D plane into the 3D depth dimension. By distributing calibration marks at multiple depths with locally optimized transparency, the system achieves high calibration quality across all zoom levels without requiring a compromise in pattern design

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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

This solution enables quick and accurate spatial calibration of optical imaging systems across different depths and zoom levels, preventing shadowing and ensuring sufficient calibration quality without covering lower lying structures, thus enhancing the precision and efficiency of the calibration process.

Implementation Method 1

light guides with evanescent fields

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEvanescent fields:

Implementation Method 2

light guides with evanescent fields

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTotal internal reflection: Total Internal Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS11803045B23D calibration body, calibration method for the spatial calibration of an optical imaging system, calibration element and calibration method for calibrating an optical imaging system

Publication Date: 2023.10.31 CARL ZEISS MEDITEC AG

AI summary

A 3D calibration body for spatial calibration of an optical imaging system includes a transparent body and calibration marks embedded in a volume of the transparent body. At least some of the calibration marks are selectively activatable and deactivatable, wherein an activated calibration mark is visible in the visible spectral range and a deactivated calibration mark is not visible in the visible spectral range.