Blur-Based Optical Position Detection for Low-Power 3D Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing 3D sensing methods face challenges such as high computational power requirements, energy consumption, mechanical stability issues, and inaccuracies due to changes in the distance between illumination sources and sensors, which limit their use in real-time applications and outdoor/mobile environments.
Innovation Solution
A detector system using a matrix of optical sensors with a blurring function optimization to determine object positions, employing a blurring function to estimate distances and reduce computational demands, while maintaining accuracy and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If triangulation methods using structured light or stereo cameras are used, then 3D sensing capability is achieved, but computational power requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and utilizes only the essential information needed for depth determination by analyzing the blur characteristics of reflected light patterns. Instead of performing full correspondence matching between multiple images, the system extracts blur metrics from single images, significantly reducing computational requirements while maintaining 3D sensing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary calibration to establish the relationship between blur metrics and depth information before actual measurement. This pre-computed mapping allows the system to determine depth directly from blur characteristics without requiring complex real-time computations during operation.
2Measurement precision
If complex computational algorithms are employed to solve correspondence problems, then measurement accuracy is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex computational algorithms with a simplified optical-mechanical approach. By using the physical blur effect as a direct indicator of depth, the system eliminates the need for energy-intensive correspondence matching algorithms while maintaining measurement accuracy through the natural optical phenomenon of depth-dependent blur.
3Measurement precision
If fixed relative position of illumination source and sensor is maintained, then triangulation accuracy is improved, but mechanical stability becomes problematic in mobile environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental measurement parameter from angular triangulation to depth-dependent blur analysis. This parameter change allows the system to determine depth without requiring fixed geometric relationships between components, enabling accurate measurements even when the relative positions of illumination sources and sensors vary in mobile environments.
4Measurement precision
If multiple sensors with fixed relative distance are used, then depth determination capability is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the blur analysis method universally applicable to various sensor configurations. The same blur-based depth estimation algorithm can be used whether one or multiple sensors are employed, and whether the sensors are fixed or mobile. This universality reduces device complexity by eliminating the need for different processing algorithms for different hardware configurations.
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 system provides reliable and efficient object positioning with low technical resources, overcoming computational and mechanical limitations of traditional 3D sensing methods.
Implementation Method 1
an optical sensor, the optical sensor being configured to detect at least one light spot generated by at least one light beam propagating from the object towards the detector
Implementation Method 2
determining at least one longitudinal coordinate z of the object by evaluating the nonlinear sum signal S'
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A detector (110) for determining a position of at least one object (112) is proposed.The detector (110) comprises - at least one sensor element (130) having a matrix (132) of optical sensors (134), the optical sensors (134) each having a light-sensitive area(136), wherein the sensor element (130) is configured to determine at least one reflection image(142); -at least one evaluation device(146), wherein the evaluation device (146) is configured to select at least one reflection feature of the reflection image(142) at at least one first image position(148)in the reflection image (142), wherein the evaluation device (146) is configured for determining at least one longitudinal coordinate z of the selected reflection feature by optimizing at least one blurring function fa, wherein the evaluation device (146) is configured to determine at least one reference feature in at least one reference image (168) at least one second image position (154) in the reference image (168) corresponding to the at least one reflection feature, wherein the reference image (168) and the reflection image (142) are determined at two different spatial configurations, wherein the spatial configurations differ by a relative spatial constellation, wherein the evaluation device (146) is configured to determine the relative spatial constellation from the longitudinal coordinate z and the first image position (148) and the second image position (154).