3D Camera Illumination Apparatus with Central and Peripheral Reflectors
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Solution Overview
Problem
3D cameras face challenges in achieving homogeneous light distribution and compensating for edge area drop-off, leading to unreliable disparity estimation and measurement errors, especially in passive stereoscopy and time-of-flight methods.
Innovation Solution
A combination of a peripheral side reflector and a central reflector is used to redistribute light, ensuring a homogeneous intensity distribution by directing light from the center to the edges, thereby compensating for edge area drop-off and maintaining consistent geometric object resolution across the measurement field.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional lighting is used without edge compensation, then the device complexity is low, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to edge area drop-off
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating non-uniform lighting with intentionally enhanced intensity in peripheral areas. The lighting device is designed to provide higher illumination intensity at the edges of the field of view compared to the center, directly addressing the edge area drop-off problem and improving measurement precision in previously under-illuminated regions.
2Illumination intensity
If multiple LED light sources are used to compensate for edge area drop-off, then the illumination intensity in peripheral areas is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to power fluctuations and component tolerances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the illumination task between a single central LED light source and a reflective surface with specific geometric features. Instead of using multiple independent light sources that would introduce power fluctuations, the solution divides the lighting function into emission (single stable source) and redistribution (reflective surface), improving reliability while maintaining peripheral illumination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a reflective surface as an intermediary between the light source and the field of view. This mediator redistributes the light from a single stable LED source to achieve enhanced peripheral illumination without requiring multiple independent light sources, thereby maintaining power stability and reliability.
3Illumination intensity
If LED light sources with transmitting lenses are arranged to illuminate peripheral areas, then the illumination intensity distribution is improved, but the device complexity increases due to multiple optical components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the illumination function and the light redistribution function into a single integrated lighting device. The reflective surface is incorporated directly into the lighting device structure, combining multiple functions (illumination and edge enhancement) into one compact unit, thereby reducing device complexity while achieving uniform intensity distribution.
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 solution achieves a high degree of energy efficiency, effective edge area illumination, and reduced measurement errors, allowing for better object recognition and localization at the edge of the field of view, while minimizing the need for multiple optical reference paths and reducing the impact of power fluctuations.
Implementation Method 1
A combination of a peripheral side reflector and a central reflector is used to redistribute light, ensuring a homogeneous intensity distribution by directing light from the center to the edges
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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Figure 5~6b
AI summary
A lighting device (16) for a 3D camera (10) is described for generating an illumination area (22) with a homogeneous intensity distribution, but with increased intensity in the peripheral areas of the illumination area (22), wherein the lighting device (16) has at least one light source (26) with a main emission direction and a lateral reflector (30) rotating around the main emission direction (28). An additional central reflector (32) is arranged in the main emission direction (28) to redistribute central light components of the light emitted by the light source (26) outwards by reflection at the central reflector (32) and at the lateral reflector (30).