Depth Measuring Head with Phase-Shifted Memory Cell Sets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing depth cameras require multiple shots of striped light images to synthesize a single depth map, resulting in low frame rates and inability to capture dynamic scenes in real-time with high precision.
Innovation Solution
Implement an image sensor with multiple memory cell sets that undergo phase-shifted exposure, allowing each set to capture a different phase-shifted striped light image during a single scan of linear light, thereby improving depth image synthesis speed without reducing resolution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple different striped light images are shot to synthesize a single depth map, then high-precision imaging is achieved, but the frame rate becomes low and real-time dynamic imaging cannot be met
Solution Approach 1:
The image sensor is divided into N memory cell sets, each responsible for capturing a specific phase-shifted striped light image. This segmentation allows parallel processing of multiple images simultaneously, achieving high precision depth imaging at high frame rates by distributing the capture workload across separate memory cell sets rather than sequentially capturing multiple images.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a temporal dimension by using phase-shifted exposure cycles (te) that are shifted by 2π/N relative to each other. This temporal multiplexing allows N different striped light images to be captured during a single scan of linear light, transforming a sequential process into a parallel temporal process and significantly improving frame rate while maintaining precision.
2Measurement precision
If multiple striped light images are captured sequentially, then depth map synthesis is achieved, but the imaging speed is slow and cannot capture moving objects in real-time
Solution Approach 1:
N memory cell sets are merged to work simultaneously in capturing N different phase-shifted striped light images during a single linear light scan. This merging of multiple capture operations into a single temporal window achieves both high precision and high speed, enabling real-time capture of moving objects without the sequential delays inherent in traditional methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The linear light continuously scans through the imaging area while N memory cell sets continuously capture phase-shifted images in parallel. This continuous operation without interruption maintains both measurement precision and imaging speed, ensuring that moving objects are captured in real-time without the gaps introduced by sequential image capture.
3Productivity
If phase-shifted exposure is used to capture multiple images in a single scan, then imaging speed is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each memory cell set in the image sensor is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a standard image capture element and as part of the phase-shifted exposure system. This universality allows the same basic memory cell structure to participate in multiple capture operations simultaneously, improving productivity without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the exposure cycle parameter (te) by introducing phase shifts of 2π/N between different memory cell sets. This parameter change enables the same physical hardware to function in multiple roles, capturing N different phase-shifted images simultaneously without adding complex mechanical or optical components, thus improving synthesis speed with minimal increase in device complexity.
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 enables rapid acquisition of N striped light images in a single scan, enhancing the imaging speed and suitability for capturing moving objects while maintaining image resolution.
Implementation Method 1
an image sensor including N memory cell sets, each memory cell set exposed in an exposure switch cycle te that is phase-shifted by 2π/N relative to each other
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a depth data measuring head, a measuring device and a measuring method. The measuring head comprises: a projection device for projecting linear light to an imaging area; an image sensor comprising N memory cell sets, each memory cell set exposed in an exposure switch cycle te that is phase-shifted by 2π/N relative to each other. The projection device completes a single pattern scan within a scanning cycle , which includes multiple repeating subcycles , in each subcycle , a projection cycle tp includes N waveform projection areas with a width of 2π/N and light intensity encoded based on the imaging pattern. Therefore, when a pattern scan is completed within the scanning cycle , each of the N N memory cell sets of the image sensor images a different striped-light pattern, and there is a phase shift of 2π/N between the N striped-light patterns. The present invention can realize the acquisition of multiple images of a single linear light scan, greatly improve the synthesis speed of the depth map, and is suitable for capturing a moving target object.