Depth Camera Interchangeability via Emulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional still images and movies are inadequate for accurately assessing the relative depths of surfaces in a scene, and existing depth cameras produce depth images with incompatible formats and parameters, limiting application compatibility.
Innovation Solution
A depth camera interchangeability system that processes native depth images from various cameras into emulation depth images compatible with a generic virtual depth camera, allowing applications to work with multiple depth camera technologies, including structured light, time of flight, and stereo vision, without requiring specific support for each camera type.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If applications are designed to support multiple depth camera types, then compatibility and versatility improve, but device complexity and development cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a depth image consumer as an intermediary component that sits between depth image producers (different camera types) and applications. This consumer receives native depth images from various camera types, processes them into a unified format, and supplies them to applications. This mediator approach allows applications to remain simple while supporting multiple camera types through the standardized interface provided by the depth image consumer.
Solution Approach 2:
The depth image consumer is designed with universal functionality to handle multiple depth camera types (structured light, time of flight, stereo vision) through a single unified interface. By implementing a standardized set of methods and protocols, the consumer can process depth images from different sources without requiring separate processing paths for each camera type, thereby reducing overall system complexity.
2Manufacturing precision
If applications are designed for a specific depth camera type, then manufacturing precision and performance are optimized, but adaptability to other camera types deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs parameter changes by transforming depth images from different camera types into a unified coordinate system and format. The depth image consumer adjusts parameters such as coordinate systems, data types, and processing methods based on the input camera type, then outputs standardized depth images that maintain processing accuracy while being compatible with multiple camera types.
3Measurement precision
If new depth camera technologies are adopted, then measurement precision and capabilities improve, but backward compatibility with existing applications deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The depth image consumer performs preliminary processing of native depth images from new camera technologies, converting them into the expected format before they reach existing applications. This preliminary transformation ensures that applications continue to work reliably with new camera types without requiring modifications to the applications themselves, thus maintaining backward compatibility while enabling advanced measurement capabilities.
Data Source
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AI summary
Compatibility between a depth image consumer and a depth image producer is provided by receiving a native depth image having an unsupported type that is not supported by a depth image consumer, and processing the native depth image into an emulation depth image having a supported type that is supported by the depth image consumer. This emulation depth image is then output to the depth image consumer.