Camera-Based Visibility Enhancement in Atmospheric Suits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Atmospheric suits, such as those used in space or hazardous environments, face challenges in visibility due to factors like depth perception issues and intense shadowing, which can be dangerous and inconvenient for the wearer.
Innovation Solution
A real-time camera-based system is integrated into the atmospheric suit, featuring a camera to view the environment, a display device to show the image, and an input device such as a microphone, second camera for gesture detection, or eye tracking, allowing the wearer to adjust camera features like magnification and contrast control through various inputs, enabling improved visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If a camera-based system is integrated into the atmospheric suit to improve visibility, then visibility and depth perception are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions (camera system, display device, input device, and controller) into an integrated visibility enhancement system within the atmospheric suit. The camera, display, and control components are merged into a unified system that works together to provide real-time image enhancement and adjustment, resolving the contradiction by creating a cohesive system rather than separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera-based system serves multiple functions: capturing images of the external environment, enhancing visibility through real-time processing, providing depth perception aids, and allowing various input methods (audio, gesture, eye tracking) for control. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by delivering comprehensive visibility improvement across multiple operational aspects.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If real-time image enhancement features are applied to improve visibility, then visibility and depth perception are improved, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies image enhancement features in real-time as images are captured and displayed, using periodic processing aligned with the camera frame rate. This approach provides continuous visibility improvement while managing energy consumption by processing images only when needed for display updates, rather than maintaining constant enhancement processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts camera features (magnification, contrast, brightness) based on real-time conditions and wearer input. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize energy usage by applying enhancement features only when and where needed, rather than using maximum processing power continuously, thus balancing visibility improvement with energy conservation.
3Ease of operation
If multiple input devices are integrated for controlling camera features, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system integrates multiple input devices (microphone for audio commands, second camera for gesture detection, eye tracking camera) that can all control the same camera features. This multi-functional input system allows the wearer to choose the most convenient input method for their situation, significantly improving ease of operation while the unified control architecture manages the complexity of having multiple input modalities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides self-service through automatic feature adjustment based on wearer input, reducing the need for manual configuration. The controller automatically processes input from any device and adjusts camera features accordingly, allowing the system to serve itself in managing complexity while providing multiple convenient input options to the wearer.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for visibility in an atmospheric suit includes a camera arranged to view an environment outside the atmospheric suit and a display device to display an image obtained by the camera. An input device obtains input from a wearer of the atmospheric suit. A controller changes a feature of the camera based on the input. The image obtained by the camera and displayed by the display device is modified based on the feature.