Distance Measurement Correction via Overlapping Light Reception

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Solution Overview

Problem

In distance measurement systems using light emitting units with multiple light emitting elements, deviations in light emission timing due to external factors and individual differences lead to distance measurement discrepancies between regions, causing inaccuracies in object distance calculations.

Innovation Solution

A distance measurement apparatus with a light emitting unit driven independently in multiple regions, a light receiving unit, a shaping unit that generates overlapping light reception areas, and a correction unit that adjusts for distance differences by measuring the overlapping portion's waveform difference, ensuring accurate distance measurements across regions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If light emitting elements are independently driven in multiple regions, then productivity and measurement coverage are improved, but distance measurement precision deteriorates due to light emission timing deviations between regions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement coverageVSAvoiddistance measurement precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by generating overlapping light reception areas before actual distance measurement occurs. The shaping unit creates spatial overlap between adjacent regions' light reception areas, and the correction unit pre-calculates timing deviation correction values based on this overlap, so that when independent regional driving is performed, the precision issue is already resolved through pre-established correction data

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by using the overlapping portion as a reference to detect timing deviations and feed this information back to the correction unit. The correction unit calculates correction values based on the feedback from overlapping region measurements, then applies these corrections to maintain precision across independently driven regions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Device complexity

If light emission timing deviations occur between regions, then device complexity is reduced by independent regional driving, but measurement precision deteriorates due to distance differences between regions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol structureVSAvoiddistance measurement consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses the overlapping light reception area as an intermediary element between adjacent regions. This intermediary overlap region serves as a reference bridge that allows the system to detect and correct timing deviations without requiring complex inter-region coordination, thus maintaining simple independent regional control while ensuring measurement consistency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the temporal parameter by calculating and applying correction values that adjust for timing deviations. The correction unit modifies the timing parameter based on measurements from overlapping regions, allowing independent regional driving to maintain precision despite inherent timing variations between regions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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

The apparatus effectively corrects for light emission timing deviations, ensuring uniform and accurate distance measurements by calculating and applying correction values based on overlapping light reception areas, thereby minimizing measurement discrepancies between regions.

Implementation Method 1

a light emitting unit 20 that has a plurality of light emitting elements, and is able to be driven independently in a plurality of regions 2411 to 2434

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight emission and reflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

a measurement unit 81 that specifies a three-dimensional shape of the object 80, from a difference between a waveform of light received by the light receiving unit 5 and a waveform of light emitted by the light emitting unit 20

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTime of flight: Time of Flight

Data Source

PatentUS20230243968A1Distance measurement apparatus and non-transitory computer readable medium storing distance measurement program

Publication Date: 2023.08.03 FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP

AI summary

A distance measurement apparatus includes a light emitting unit that has plural light emitting elements, and is able to be driven independently in plural regions, a light receiving unit provided with plural light receiving elements that receive reflected light of light applied to an object from the light emitting unit, a shaping unit that causes an overlapping portion to be generated in which light reception of the reflected light overlaps in the adjacent regions, on the light receiving unit, a measurement unit that measures a distance to the object, from a difference between a waveform of light received by the light receiving unit and a waveform of light emitted by the light emitting unit, and a correction unit that corrects a distance difference in the reflected light in the adjacent regions, by using a distance measurement value in the overlapping portion measured by the measurement unit.