3D Scanner Scan Volume Monitoring for Automatic Stable-Object Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 3D scanning technologies require significant user interaction, which slows down the scanning process and increases the time required for manual intervention, making it inefficient compared to the actual scan time.
Innovation Solution
A 3D scanner equipped with an optical scanning unit and a control unit that monitors the scan volume for object movement, automatically initiating scanning only when the object is determined to be at rest, using a light source and image acquisition units to record 2D images and analyze them to prevent scanning during object or foreign object motion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual user interaction is used to initiate scanning, then the scanning process can be controlled, but the time required for user interaction becomes comparable to the actual scan time, reducing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary monitoring of the scan volume to detect object placement and determine when the object is at rest before automatically initiating the scanning process. This preliminary detection action eliminates the need for manual user interaction to start scanning, thereby reducing user interaction time while maintaining controlled scanning initiation.
2Loss of time
If automatic scanning initiation is implemented, then user interaction time is reduced, but the system must accurately detect object stability to prevent scanning during motion, increasing system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the scan volume and provides feedback by detecting object movement through image analysis. When the object is determined to be at rest (no movement detected), the system feedback triggers automatic scanning initiation. This feedback mechanism enables automatic operation while maintaining simplicity by using existing image acquisition capabilities for motion detection.
3Extent of automation
If monitoring is performed to detect object at rest, then scanning can be automatically initiated at the right moment, but foreign objects in motion must also be detected to prevent erroneous scanning
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts its detection criteria by monitoring object movement over time. It determines whether an object is at rest by analyzing changes in its position across multiple image frames. This dynamic monitoring approach enables accurate differentiation between stationary objects ready for scanning and moving foreign objects, ensuring reliable automatic scanning initiation without erroneous triggers.
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 significantly reduces user interaction time, allowing for faster and more efficient scanning by automating the initiation of the 3D scanning process once the object is stable within the scan volume, thereby reducing overall scanning time and improving efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
an optical scanning unit comprising a light source arranged to project a beam of probe light into the scan volume
Implementation Method 2
an image acquisition unit arranged to record 2D images of light received from the object placed in the scan volume
Implementation Method 3
Many triangulation 3D scanners use a laser beam to probe the object surface and exploit a 2D camera to look for the location of the reflection of the laser beam. Depending on how far away the laser strikes a surface, the laser beam appears at different places in the camera's field of view.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is 3D scanning using a 3D scanner configured for detecting when the scanned object is at rest in the scan volume of the 3D scanner.