Angle-Error Correction Algorithm for Optical Motion Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Optical pointing devices face reliability issues in detecting motion on surfaces with periodic lines, which can cause misreporting of motion along one axis as motion along the other axis, especially when used on desks with wood or other periodic materials, leading to decreased accuracy in motion displacement calculations.

Innovation Solution

The 'Angle Error Correction' algorithm is implemented, which counts the total number of detected diagonals and compares it to a threshold to enable correction, discarding erroneous motion features by checking for consistent inflection types in neighboring locations along the axis and perpendicular locations, thereby improving motion detection accuracy on surfaces with periodic lines.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If standard edge direction algorithms are used for motion detection, then the device can operate on any surface, but motion detection accuracy deteriorates when used on surfaces with periodic lines (such as wood desks)

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompatibility with various surfacesVSAvoidmotion displacement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The algorithm applies different processing rules to different regions of the photodetector array based on local edge characteristics. By analyzing the specific pattern of positive and negative edges at each location and comparing with neighboring regions, the system adapts its motion detection behavior to local surface characteristics, thereby maintaining accuracy on periodic surfaces while preserving general versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors the detected edge patterns and uses feedback from comparing current frame edges with previous frame edges to identify periodic line artifacts. When periodic patterns are detected, the algorithm adjusts its motion calculation by discarding spurious edge inflections and relying more on consistent edge direction data, thereby correcting measurement errors in real-time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If edge inflection conditions are used to detect motion, then motion detection is enabled, but erroneous motion features are generated due to periodic surface patterns

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemotion detection capabilityVSAvoidmotion feature accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The algorithm extracts and separates useful motion information from harmful periodic pattern artifacts. By identifying edge inflections that correspond to actual object motion versus those caused by periodic surface lines, the system extracts only the relevant motion signals for calculation while discarding spurious features generated by the surface pattern.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system adds a temporal dimension to the analysis by comparing edge inflections across multiple successive frames. Motion features that persist consistently across frames are identified as genuine, while those that appear and disappear in sync with periodic surface patterns are rejected. This temporal filtering dimension effectively separates real motion from surface-artifact-induced false detections.

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

The algorithm significantly enhances the reliability of motion detection by reducing errors caused by periodic surface features, ensuring accurate calculation of motion displacement along both axes, even on surfaces with interfering patterns like wood desks.

Implementation Method 1

an optical sensing device including a photodetector array for measuring the varying intensity pattern of a portion of a surface which is illuminated with radiation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotoelectric Effect: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentEP1710664B1Angle-error correction algorithm
Publication Date: 2015.07.22 EM MICROELECTRONIC-MARIN
  • EP1710664B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1710664B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP1710664B1 patent drawingFigure 4a~4b

AI summary

There is described a method for measuring relative motion between an illuminated portion of a surface (S) and an optical sensing device comprising a photodetector array (100), which includes a plurality of rows and columns of pixels respectively aligned along first and second axes (X, Y), the method allowing to determine a measurement of the relative motion between the optical sensing device and the illuminated portion of the surface based on a comparison of motion features extracted from light intensity patterns obtained with the photodetector array, wherein said method includes a checking process between two light intensity patterns for discarding erroneous motion features due to the surface design.