Distance Measurement Device Using Phase Difference Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional distance measurement systems are costly and large in size, and require additional light sources, while gesture recognition systems struggle to reduce size and cost due to the need for two image sensors.
Innovation Solution
A distance measurement device utilizing a single image sensor with a condensing lens and a processor, where the image sensor includes a pixel matrix with different cover patterns and microlenses to detect light phases, allowing for depth calculation without additional illumination, enabling both distance measurement and gesture recognition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional triangulation method or time-of-flight technique is used for distance measurement, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines distance measurement and gesture recognition functions into a single image sensor system. The image sensor captures both depth information through phase detection and gesture information simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate TOF sensors or complex triangulation setups. This merging reduces device complexity while maintaining measurement precision through the phase difference calculation method implemented in the processor.
Solution Approach 2:
The image sensor serves multiple functions: it captures images for gesture recognition and simultaneously performs depth measurement through phase detection without requiring additional dedicated components. The processor analyzes the captured image data to extract both gesture information and depth information, allowing the system to serve itself with a single sensor performing multiple roles, thereby reducing overall system complexity.
2Measurement precision
If additional illumination light source is used for distance measurement, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The image sensor is designed to perform multiple functions: gesture recognition and depth measurement without requiring separate illumination sources. The system uses the same image sensor and processor for both functions, making the illumination system universal rather than dedicated. This multi-functionality approach eliminates the need for additional TOF-specific light sources while maintaining measurement precision through phase detection of reflected light.
Solution Approach 2:
The image sensor acts as an intermediary that captures reflected light from the scene and converts it into both gesture and depth information. Instead of using dedicated illumination sources for depth measurement, the system relies on the image sensor's ability to detect phase differences in reflected ambient or existing illumination, reducing the need for additional active illumination components while maintaining measurement capability.
3Measurement precision
If two image sensors are used for gesture recognition, then gesture recognition accuracy is improved, but device size and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges depth measurement and gesture recognition into a single image sensor system. The image sensor captures images that contain both depth information (through phase detection) and gesture information simultaneously. This eliminates the need for two separate image sensors, reducing the module size while maintaining gesture recognition accuracy through the processor's ability to analyze phase differences and extract gesture data from the same image data.
Solution Approach 2:
The single image sensor is designed to perform multiple functions: it captures depth information through phase detection and simultaneously captures gesture information. The processor analyzes the captured image data to extract both types of information, making the image sensor universal rather than dedicated to a single function. This multi-functionality approach reduces the number of sensors needed while maintaining the accuracy required for gesture recognition.
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 solution achieves low-cost and compact distance measurement and gesture recognition by using a single image sensor, eliminating the need for additional light sources and reducing system size and cost.
Implementation Method 1
The image sensor is configured to detect light passing through the condensing lens and output an image frame. Each of the microlenses is aligned with at least one of one of the first pixels and one of the second pixels. The processor is configured to calculate a depth of an image region in the image frame.
Implementation Method 2
The condensing lens has a predetermined focal length. The image sensor is configured to detect light passing through the condensing lens and output an image frame.
Data Source
AI summary
A distance measurement device including a pixel array and a cover layer is provided. The cover layer is covered on the pixel array. The cover layer includes a first cover pattern covering on a first area of a plurality of first pixels and a second cover pattern covering on a second area of a plurality of second pixels. The first area and the second area are rectangles of mirror symmetry along a first direction.