Adaptive ToF Module Selective Emitter Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional Time of Flight (ToF) devices face inefficiencies in measuring distance and depth information due to power loss when dealing with small objects, as they project light to unnecessary areas, and are sensitive to illumination noise in structured light methods, while stereo methods are slow and computationally intensive.
Innovation Solution
A ToF module with a light transmitter and receiver that adapts illumination based on the size and position of the object, using a controller to selectively drive emitters to optimize power usage and reduce unnecessary illumination, and an object recognition device that analyzes size, position, distance, and depth information to assist in autofocusing and user validation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If uniform light is projected to a particular angle of view by employing a surface light source in conventional ToF devices, then distance and depth information can be measured, but power loss occurs when the object is small in size due to projection to unnecessary areas
Solution Approach 1:
The light source is divided into multiple independently controllable emitters arranged in an array. Each emitter can be selectively activated based on the detected object's position and size, segmenting the illumination task to avoid projecting light to unnecessary areas and reduce power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts which emitters are activated based on real-time detection of object position and size. This dynamic adaptation allows the illumination pattern to match the actual object characteristics, preventing energy waste on empty spaces while maintaining measurement precision.
2Measurement precision
If all emitters are driven at high illumination to ensure sufficient light for small objects, then measurement precision is maintained, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different emitters are activated selectively based on the local requirements determined by object position and size. Rather than uniformly illuminating the entire field of view, only the specific emitters corresponding to the object's location are activated, providing locally optimized illumination quality while reducing overall power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial action by activating only the necessary subset of emitters required to illuminate the detected object, rather than all emitters. This partial activation maintains sufficient measurement precision for the target object while avoiding excessive power consumption from unnecessary illumination.
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
Minimizes power consumption and enhances autofocusing capabilities in photography devices, provides optimal service in smart devices, and enables accurate user validation without separate security devices by adaptively controlling illumination and focus based on object size and position.
Implementation Method 1
the time of flight (TOF) method is a method in which waves such as electromagnetic radiation and ultrasonic waves are emitted to an object, and a round-trip time of reflected light is measured to acquire a distance and a depth of the object
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a ToF module and an object recognition device using the ToF module. The ToF module according to the present invention is a time of flight (ToF) module for measuring distance and depth information in a ToF manner, and comprises: a light transmitting unit for outputting light to an object; and a light receiving unit for receiving light reflected from the object, wherein the light transmitting unit comprises: a light source including a package of a plurality emitters; an emitter driving unit for selectively driving at least one emitter of the plurality of emitters; and a drive control unit for primarily controlling the driving of the plurality of emitters and, in accordance with the reflected light received by the light receiving unit, secondarily selecting at least one emitter of the plurality of emitters and controlling the driving thereof.