Distance Image Sensor Gamma Correction for Bandwidth Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing distance image sensor devices face challenges in achieving both high image quality and data transmission efficiency due to limited data transmission bandwidths, especially with the miniaturization of semiconductor technology, and existing compression techniques are not effectively applicable to distance measurement scenarios where the object of interest is isolated from the background.
Innovation Solution
A distance image processing system that includes a distance image sensor device with an operation condition setting unit, a light emitting unit, a light receiving unit, a distance measurement processing unit, a gamma correction unit, and a communication interface unit, which sets operation conditions including frequency and gamma curve profiles adapted to a predetermined distance measurement range, performs gamma correction on distance data, and transmits the corrected data to a host device, while the host device performs inverse gamma correction to restore original data linearity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the bit length of the payload is increased to improve distance measurement accuracy and dynamic range, then the image quality is improved, but the data transmission bandwidth requirement increases resulting in higher hardware costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies gamma correction to transform the distance data distribution, changing the parameter representation from linear to gamma-corrected format. This transformation concentrates data values in the near-field region where objects are more likely to be located, allowing for efficient quantization that maintains measurement precision for relevant distances while reducing the bit length required for transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the gamma curve parameters based on the distance measurement range and application requirements. By making the quantization strategy adaptive rather than fixed, the system can optimize the balance between measurement accuracy and data transmission efficiency for different operational scenarios, ensuring high precision where needed while minimizing bandwidth usage.
2Productivity
If data compression techniques are applied to reduce data transmission bandwidth, then the transmission efficiency is improved, but the image quality may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms distance data using gamma correction before quantization, changing the parameter distribution to match the actual spatial distribution of objects. This allows for non-uniform quantization that uses fewer bits for far-field distances (where objects are less likely to be) and more effective resolution for near-field distances (where objects are more likely to be), thereby maintaining image quality while improving transmission efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The gamma-corrected quantization strategy applies different precision levels to different distance ranges based on local importance. Near-field regions receive higher precision allocation while far-field regions use coarser quantization, reflecting the local quality principle that different parts of the data space have different importance levels for the final image quality.
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 efficiently quantizes distance data for transmission, improving data transmission efficiency without significantly deteriorating image quality, by adapting gamma correction to the specific distance measurement range and allowing for optimal data representation within bandwidth limitations.
Implementation Method 1
a light receiving unit that includes a plurality of light receiving pixels for receiving observation light in the target area in response to the pulse light and each outputting an electric signal according to an electric charge accumulated by photoelectric conversion
Implementation Method 2
the time of flight of the light is measured by using a semiconductor element structure in which the accumulated amount of the electric charges changes depending on the arrival timing of the light
Data Source
AI summary
Distance image sensing is disclosed. In one example, a sensing device includes distance measurement processing that calculates a distance to an object in the target area on the basis of the electric signal output from each of a plurality of light receiving pixels and outputs distance data based on the distance. The sensing device also performs gamma correction on the output distance data by applying a gamma curve profile indicated by operation conditions corresponding to a predetermined distance measurement range, and transmits the gamma-corrected distance data to a host device.