Compound Active Illumination Imaging System for Wide FOV Gesture Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Active illumination cameras with wide field of view (FOV) for gesture tracking and 3D imaging face challenges in providing sufficient illumination due to limited light intensity and heat dissipation issues, which are costly to address while maintaining image quality and resolution.
Innovation Solution
A compound active illumination imaging system combines multiple cameras with intersecting optical axes to create an enlarged FOV, enhancing light collection efficiency and registration capacity without introducing optical distortions, thereby achieving a wide view angle and improved imaging performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If the camera uses a single lens with small effective focal length and large photosensor to achieve wide field of view, then the field of view angle is improved, but the light collecting efficiency and illumination intensity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the imaging system into multiple component cameras, each with its own lens and photosensor. By segmenting the wide FOV requirement across multiple cameras with moderate FOV each, each camera can maintain adequate light collecting efficiency while the composite system achieves the desired wide overall field of view.
2Illumination intensity
If the camera increases light source intensity to compensate for limited illumination in wide FOV, then the illumination intensity is improved, but heat dissipation and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the illumination task across multiple component cameras, each camera uses a moderate intensity light source that generates acceptable heat levels. The combined illumination coverage from multiple cameras provides sufficient total light for the wide FOV without requiring any single light source to operate at excessive intensity and temperature.
3Shape
If the camera uses multiple component cameras to achieve wide FOV, then the field of view angle is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple component cameras into a unified compound camera system with a single coordinate system. By combining the imaging data from multiple cameras and processing it through a unified coordinate transformation framework, the system achieves wide FOV functionality while managing complexity through integration rather than treating cameras as separate independent systems.
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 a wide view angle FOV with enhanced light collecting efficiency and registration capacity, maintaining image resolution and reducing the need for costly design compromises, while ensuring effective illumination and accurate imaging.
Implementation Method 1
transmit light to illuminate a scene and image the scene with light that is reflected from the transmitted light
Implementation Method 2
image the scene with light that is reflected from the transmitted light by features in the scene
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment of the invention provides an active illumination imaging system comprising a first camera and a second camera, each having an optical axis and a field of view (FOV) characterized by a view angle in a plane that contains the optical axis and wherein the optical axes of the cameras intersect at an intersection region common to their FOVs at an angle substantially equal to half a sum of their view angles.