Camera Exposure Mode Adaptation for Distance Measurement Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Optical distance measurement systems face accuracy degradation due to exposure issues when measuring multiple objects at different distances, with near objects causing overexposure and far objects causing underexposure, leading to poor signal-to-noise ratios in images, especially in varying ambient light conditions.
Innovation Solution
A camera system that determines exposure mode based on ambient light intensity, using a digital-overlap mode for high light conditions and a dual-conversion-gain mode for low light conditions, with a processor controlling the image sensor to capture and synthesize images to maintain high signal-to-noise ratios across different brightness levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single exposure mode is used in the imaging system, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision degrades when objects at different distances are present
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging system dynamically switches between different exposure modes (first exposure mode for bright regions, second exposure mode for dark regions) based on the ambient light conditions and object distances. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain high measurement precision for objects at various distances without requiring a permanently complex multi-mode system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes exposure parameters (exposure time, gain settings) based on detected ambient light intensity and object distance. By adjusting these parameters dynamically, the system achieves high measurement precision across different lighting conditions while keeping the base device complexity low.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the image sensor operates in a low power mode with reduced functionality, then the use of energy is reduced, but the signal-to-noise ratio degrades
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of ambient light intensity and trigger events while in low power mode. Based on these preliminary detections, it proactively switches to appropriate exposure modes before actual imaging begins, ensuring high signal-to-noise ratio is achieved without continuously operating at high power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The image sensor autonomously determines when to switch from low power mode to active exposure modes based on detected trigger events and light conditions. This self-service capability allows the system to maintain low power consumption during idle periods while automatically achieving high signal-to-noise ratio when imaging is required.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the camera switches exposure modes after waking up, then the adaptability to different lighting conditions is improved, but the loss of time occurs during mode switching
Solution Approach 1:
The camera performs preliminary detection of ambient light intensity and determines the appropriate exposure mode while still in low power mode, before actually switching modes. This preliminary preparation minimizes the time required for mode switching by having the decision already made, thus reducing loss of time while maintaining high adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from ambient light detection to rapidly determine and switch to the appropriate exposure mode. This feedback-driven approach allows the camera to adapt to different lighting conditions efficiently without excessive switching time, as the mode selection is directly guided by real-time light condition feedback.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided an imaging system including a camera and a control host. The camera identifies ambient light intensity and performs trigger event detection in a low power mode. When the camera detects a trigger event in the low power mode, the control host is woken up. The camera also determines an exposure mode according the ambient light intensity and informs the exposure mode to the control host such that an operating mode of the control host after being woken up matches the exposure mode of the camera.