Concentric Acoustic Active Sensor Aligning Camera and Microphone Axes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing acoustic active sensor devices face challenges in accurately acquiring both position and image information of a target object due to misalignment between camera and microphone arrays, leading to deviations in positional relationships.
Innovation Solution
The acoustic active sensor device includes a camera unit, an acoustic actuator with a sound generation unit, and a sound detection unit, where the sound generation and detection units are disposed concentrically centered on the camera unit, ensuring aligned center axes and allowing for accurate image information acquisition by matching the positional relationship with the target object.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the camera unit and microphone array are disposed side by side, then the device structure is simple, but the positional relationship between camera and microphone array deviates, causing inaccurate image information acquisition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the camera unit and microphone array into a single integrated acoustic active sensor device with a shared housing and common coordinate system. The camera unit and microphone array are positioned to share the same optical axis and center point, eliminating positional deviations while maintaining structural simplicity through unified design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a side-by-side two-dimensional arrangement to a concentric three-dimensional arrangement where the microphone array is positioned at the center with the camera unit surrounding it. This spatial reconfiguration ensures that both sensors share the same center point and optical axis, resolving positional alignment issues.
2Device complexity
If the sound generation unit and sound detection unit are disposed separately, then the functional modules are independent, but the positional relationship with the target object cannot be accurately specified
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the sound generation unit (speaker) and sound detection unit (microphone array) into a single integrated acoustic active sensor device with a shared housing and common coordinate system. This merging ensures that both units share the same center point and optical axis, enabling accurate specification of target object positions while maintaining functional independence through separate signal processing channels.
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
This configuration enables precise acquisition of image information by synchronizing the sound generation, detection, and camera axes, allowing for accurate specification of the target object's position and enhancing the analysis of both low and high-frequency components in reflective sounds.
Implementation Method 1
an acoustic actuator having a sound generation unit that generates a sound
Implementation Method 2
a sound detection unit including a plurality of microphones that detect a reflective sound of a sound generated by the sound generation unit
Data Source
AI summary
This acoustic active sensor device comprises: a camera unit; an acoustic actuator having a sound generation unit that generates a sound; and a sound detection unit having a plurality of microphones which detect a reflective sound of the sound generated by the sound generation unit. The sound generation unit and the sound detection unit are disposed around the outer circumference of the camera unit and are centered thereon.