Depth Camera Optical Path Merging for Shadow Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing depth camera systems and RGB-D camera systems face challenges such as space constraints on electronic devices like smartphones due to multiple outwardly-facing optical components, increased complexity in manufacturing, and difficulties in aligning depth and color images acquired from different viewing angles, which affect image quality and device aesthetics.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves a monocular or binocular depth camera system with a reduced number of outwardly-facing optical components, utilizing a semi-transparent mirror and dichroic mirror to share illumination and detection paths, and incorporating a second detector for visible light to generate RGB-D images from a single viewpoint, thereby simplifying the optical design and reducing shadow regions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple outwardly-facing optical components are installed on the front panel for depth camera and RGB-D systems, then depth and color imaging capabilities are achieved, but the screen-to-body ratio is reduced and device aesthetics are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the illumination optical path and detection optical path into a shared optical channel. The same optical component (lens or window) serves both for emitting illumination light and for collecting reflected light, eliminating the need for separate outwardly-facing optical components for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical component (lens or window) performs multiple functions: it acts as both the illumination exit and detection entrance. This multi-functional design reduces the number of required optical components on the front panel, thereby increasing the screen-to-body ratio while maintaining both depth and color imaging capabilities.
2Adaptability or versatility
If at least two lenses or windows are installed in the front panel for depth camera components, then illumination and detection functions are achieved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the illumination optical path and detection optical path so that they share common optical components. Instead of requiring separate lenses or windows for illumination and detection, the same component serves both purposes, reducing the number of parts and simplifying the assembly process.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical component is designed to be multi-functional, serving both as an illumination exit and a detection entrance. This universality reduces the total number of components that need to be manufactured, procured, and assembled, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple outwardly-facing optical components are installed on the front panel, then depth camera functionality is achieved, but waterproofing becomes more difficult due to increased liquid-sealed seams
Solution Approach 1:
By combining the illumination and detection optical paths into a single shared path, the patent reduces the number of optical components that require sealing. Fewer components mean fewer seams that need to be liquid-sealed, thereby simplifying the waterproofing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-functional optical component reduces the total count of parts requiring sealing interfaces. This universality directly reduces the number of liquid-sealed seams needed, making waterproofing easier to achieve and maintain.
4Adaptability or versatility
If depth images and RGB images are acquired from different viewing angles, then separate depth and color detection is achieved, but extra processing steps are required for image alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the viewing paths by using the same optical component for both illumination and detection. This ensures that the depth image and color image are captured from the same viewpoint, eliminating the need for complex alignment processing between images taken from different angles.
5Measurement precision
If separate illumination and detection optical paths are used, then depth measurement accuracy is improved, but shadow regions increase due to occlusion and viewing angle differences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the illumination and detection paths into a single optical path, ensuring that the illumination light and the reflected light travel through the same optical component. This eliminates occlusion issues and viewing angle differences that cause shadow regions, while maintaining depth measurement accuracy.
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 approach minimizes shadow regions in captured images, eliminates the need for extra image processing steps, simplifies manufacturing, and allows for a more compact and aesthetically pleasing design by reducing the number of outwardly-facing components, enhancing the screen-to-body ratio and image quality.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing a semi-transparent mirror and dichroic mirror to share illumination and detection paths
Implementation Method 2
utilizing a semi-transparent mirror and dichroic mirror to share illumination and detection paths
Implementation Method 3
The optical emitter may emit light in a first spectral band
Implementation Method 4
The first detector may be configured to detect light in the first spectral band and generate a first detection signal in response to the detected light
Data Source
AI summary
Electronic device depth camera systems having a reduced number of outwardly-facing optical components are disclosed. Monocular depth camera systems, including basic depth camera systems as well as RGB-D camera systems, have exactly one window on a housing panel of the device through which light is transmittable out of and into the device housing. An optical emitter and detector(s) are located within the device housing. Binocular RGB-D camera systems have exactly two outwardly-facing optical components on the housing panel. One of the components, such as an optical emitter or an exit window, is associated with illumination light leaving the device, and the other optical component is an entrance window associated with transmitting detection light into the housing.