Depth Camera Interchangeability System
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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 parameters, limiting their compatibility with applications.
Innovation Solution
A depth camera interchangeability system that converts native depth images from unsupported cameras into virtual depth images with compatible parameters, allowing compatibility with a generic virtual depth camera, thereby enabling use with various depth cameras, including those using structured light, time of flight, or stereo vision technologies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If depth cameras with different parameters are used to capture depth images, then the versatility and adaptability of depth imaging systems is improved, but the compatibility between depth image consumers and depth image producers deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a depth image producer that acts as an intermediary between the actual depth camera and the depth image consumer. This producer receives native depth images from cameras with various parameters (structured light, time of flight, stereo vision) and transforms them into a standardized format that the consumer can process, thereby mediating the compatibility issue between diverse camera types and fixed consumer requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes parameters by transforming depth images from different camera parameter sets into a unified parameter format. The depth image producer adjusts parameters such as depth range, resolution, and coordinate systems to match the consumer's expectations, enabling seamless integration of cameras with originally incompatible parameters
2Adaptability or versatility
If depth images are converted between different camera formats, then the adaptability of the system is improved, but the processing complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The depth image producer performs preliminary transformation actions by establishing a standardized parameter set in advance that matches common consumer requirements. This pre-defined transformation framework reduces the complexity of on-the-fly conversions by providing a predictable, pre-planned parameter mapping strategy rather than requiring complex real-time calculations for each conversion scenario
Data Source
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AI summary
Compatibility between a depth image consumer and a plurality of different depth image producers is provided by receiving a native depth image having unsupported depth camera parameters that are not compatible with a depth image consumer, and converting the native depth image to a virtual depth image having supported virtual depth camera parameters that are compatible with the depth image consumer. This virtual depth image is then output to the depth image consumer.