CMOS Image Sensor Pixel Selection for Direction Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing direction measurement methods using two-dimensional sensors face challenges in stability and accuracy due to increased time requirements for reading out and processing, particularly in dynamic measuring tasks where rapid changes in object direction can cause the object to leave the field of view, leading to reduced measuring frequency and potential loss of tracking.
Innovation Solution
The method employs a combination of subwindowing and subsampling techniques to optimize the selection of pixels within a partial region of the image sensor, allowing for efficient data processing and maintaining measurement accuracy, even with high angular velocities or accelerations, by directly accessing individual pixels in CMOS image sensors and selecting a subset of pixels based on required accuracy and sensor timing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a two-dimensional image sensor is used for direction determination, then stability to interfering radiation is improved, but the time requirement for reading out and evaluating pixels increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the image sensor into multiple regions of interest (ROIs) and further segments the pixels within each ROI into subsets that are evaluated differently. This segmentation allows the system to process only relevant portions of the sensor data, reducing the overall reading and evaluation time while maintaining stability to interfering radiation through the use of multiple pixels for direction determination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and evaluates only specific pixels or pixel subsets that are most relevant for direction determination, rather than processing all pixels in the image sensor. This extraction approach significantly reduces the time requirement for data reading and evaluation while preserving the stability benefits of using a two-dimensional sensor array.
2Measurement precision
If all pixels in the image sensor are evaluated for direction determination, then measurement precision is improved, but the measuring frequency decreases due to increased processing time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by evaluating only selected pixels or pixel subsets rather than all pixels in the sensor. This approach maintains sufficient measurement precision for direction determination while significantly reducing processing time, thereby increasing the measuring frequency and enabling tracking of objects with high angular velocities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts which pixels are evaluated based on the specific measurement requirements and conditions. By adaptively selecting relevant pixel subsets, the system optimizes the balance between measurement precision and processing speed, allowing for higher measuring frequencies without sacrificing directional accuracy.
3Reliability
If the field of view is maintained to track a moving object, then tracking reliability is improved, but the object may leave the field of view during evaluation in dynamic measuring tasks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary identification of the object's position and motion characteristics before completing the full evaluation process. By using selected pixels to quickly determine directional changes, the system can anticipate and maintain tracking of high-speed objects, preventing them from leaving the field of view during the evaluation process.
Data Source
AI summary
An image depicting an object is recorded for the purpose of measuring the direction to said object, after which the object is to be surveyed. In order to achieve an optimum stability for rapid changes to the object's position, image sensors are used to analyze or download only a part of the available pixels. A selection of the analyzed image information, as above, uses information about the required measurement accuracy and the time performance of the image sensor. According to the invention, the limitation of the downloaded information can be achieved by the selection of a partial region of the image using the combination of a sub-sampling with a sub-windowing. A selection of image points for downloading within the partial region of the image can thus be achieved by the use of the determined omitted image information.