Detachable Module for 360-Degree Face Scanning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current image recording and adjustment systems for spectacle fitting are limited by their inflexibility, high space requirements, and costs, and they often necessitate separate devices for scanning people and objects, which is inefficient and costly.

Innovation Solution

An image recording system with a detachable additional module that expands the viewing angle range from 240° to 360°, allowing for the capture of both facial and object data, including eyeglass frames, using a rotatable or slidable holder and optional supplemental lighting, integrated with a centering system for determining centering parameters for spectacle lenses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If separate devices are used for scanning people and objects, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases and cost rises

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescanning precisionVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines face scanning cameras and object scanning cameras into a single integrated image acquisition system. The multiple camera modules are mounted on a common support structure with shared lighting and control systems, allowing both facial features and spectacle frames to be scanned using one unified device rather than separate scanners.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The image acquisition system is designed with multi-functionality to perform both face scanning and object scanning tasks. The camera modules and lighting system can be configured and controlled to capture facial geometry for virtual try-on or to scan spectacle frames for centering parameters, making a single device serve multiple purposes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If multiple separate scanning devices are deployed, then measurement precision is improved, but space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescanning accuracyVSAvoidsystem space
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges face scanning and object scanning functionalities into one compact integrated system. Multiple camera modules are arranged on a shared support structure with common lighting and control electronics, significantly reducing the space required compared to having separate dedicated scanners for each function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Device complexity

If a fixed camera arrangement is used, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidscanning flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates movable and adjustable camera modules that can be positioned and oriented differently to accommodate various scanning needs. The camera modules can be adjusted to capture facial features from different angles or to scan objects of varying sizes and shapes, providing dynamic adaptability while maintaining a relatively simple overall system structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3594736A1Recording system and adjustment system
Publication Date: 2020.01.15 CARL ZEISS VISION INTERNATIONAL GMBH
  • EP3594736A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3594736A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3594736A1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to an image acquisition system (1000) with which images of a person's face can be captured over a horizontal viewing angle range of no more than 240° and/or a vertical viewing angle range of no more than 10°. According to the invention, a detachably connectable additional module (100) is provided which extends the horizontal viewing angle range to 360° and/or the vertical viewing angle range by at least 10°. The invention further relates to an additional module (100) for an image acquisition system (1000) with which images of a person's face can be captured over a horizontal viewing angle range of no more than 240°.According to the invention, the additional module has a particularly mechanical interface (M1) for detachably connecting the additional module (100) to the image acquisition system (1000) and a device (2, 2a, 2b, 6) to extend the horizontal viewing angle range of the image acquisition system (1000) to 360° and/or the vertical viewing angle range of the image acquisition system (1000) by at least 10°.