Calibration Plate with Encoded Patterns for Multi-Device Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing calibration methods for image capturing devices are inadequate for calibrating multiple devices and do not effectively address image distortions, lens aberrations, and position relationships, particularly in large-area and high-definition applications, lacking flexibility and precision in optoelectronics and machine vision industries.

Innovation Solution

A calibration plate with both regular calibration patterns and graphically encoded patterns is used to calibrate image distortions, lens aberrations, and image center positions, allowing for the determination of relative positions and orientations of multiple image capturing devices, and establishing a global coordinate system through a method involving photography and data processing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a conventional calibration plate with matrix dot pattern is used, then image calibration for a single image capturing device can be performed, but it cannot calibrate relative positions and mechanical movement positions of multiple image capturing devices

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecalibration applicability to multiple devicesVSAvoidposition calibration accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The calibration plate is divided into multiple independent calibration graphs, each containing a calibration pattern and encoded position information. This segmentation allows each graph to be independently processed by different image capturing devices, enabling multi-device calibration while maintaining precise position measurement through the encoded data in each segment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The calibration plate serves as an intermediary object between multiple image capturing devices and the target measurement space. It contains embedded calibration patterns and position information that mediate the calibration process, allowing devices to determine relative positions and mechanical movement positions through image capture and processing of the plate's features.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Area of stationary object

If the calibration plate contains the entire graph for large-area calibration, then relative positions of multiple image capturing devices can be calibrated, but the image capturing devices cannot capture the entire calibration plate at once

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecalibration plate areaVSAvoidcalibration processing efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The large calibration plate is segmented into multiple smaller calibration graphs, each containing a calibration pattern and position information. This allows image capturing devices to capture multiple graphs in parallel or sequentially, significantly improving processing efficiency while maintaining the ability to calibrate large-area applications through the collective information from all graphs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of requiring devices to capture the entire calibration plate at once, the system uses partial captures of individual calibration graphs. Each graph contains sufficient calibration information for its local region, and the complete calibration results are synthesized from these partial results, achieving efficient calibration without requiring full-plate captures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Measurement precision

If graphically encoded patterns are added to record position information, then relative positions and orientations of multiple image capturing devices can be determined, but the calibration plate design becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveposition and orientation calibration accuracyVSAvoidcalibration plate design complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The calibration pattern and position information encoding are merged into a single integrated calibration graph structure. The encoded position information is directly incorporated within the visual pattern itself, allowing simultaneous acquisition of calibration data and position information in a single image capture, thereby reducing overall system complexity despite the enhanced functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS9749621B2Calibration plate for calibrating a plurality of image capturing devices and method for calibrating a plurality of image capturing devices

Publication Date: 2017.08.29 METAL INDS RES & DEV CENT

AI summary

A calibration plate and a method for calibrating image capturing devices are provided. The calibration plate includes: a plate having a front face and a rear face; a plurality of calibration patterns formed at the front face of the plate, arranged in a regular manner, and used to calibrate image distortions, lens aberrations, and image center positions for the image capturing devices; and a plurality of graphically encoded patterns formed at the front face of the plate, the graphically encoded patterns being different from each other, and the graphically encoded patterns having information providing the positions of the calibration patterns.