Dual-Sensor Object Detection for Low-Power Outdoor Cameras
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Solution Overview
Problem
Outdoor camera monitoring devices with battery power face unnecessary power consumption due to misjudgments by PIR sensors, which are sensitive to environmental changes, leading to unnecessary activation of the main system and image capturing circuit.
Innovation Solution
Implement a dual-object detection system with a low-power PIR sensor and a high-accuracy millimeter wave radar circuit, where the radar is activated only when the PIR sensor detects a potential moving object, followed by image capture if the radar confirms the presence of an object, thereby reducing unnecessary image capture activations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If PIR sensor is used for object detection, then power consumption is reduced, but detection accuracy deteriorates due to misjudgments from environmental sensitivity
Solution Approach 1:
The detection system is segmented into two distinct detection circuits: a first detection circuit (PIR sensor) for initial low-power screening, and a second detection circuit (millimeter wave radar) for accurate confirmation. This segmentation allows the system to leverage the low power consumption of PIR while mitigating its accuracy limitations through the complementary second detection stage.
Solution Approach 2:
The first detection circuit acts as an intermediary between the sensor and the image capturing circuit. It performs preliminary detection to filter out obvious false positives before activating the more accurate but power-intensive second detection circuit, thereby reducing overall power consumption while maintaining detection accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If second object detection circuit is activated for verification, then detection accuracy is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The second detection circuit is activated only partially - specifically, only when the first detection circuit triggers a detection event. This partial activation ensures that the high-accuracy radar is used only when necessary for verification, avoiding continuous operation and excessive power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection system operates in periodic cycles: the first detection circuit continuously monitors for objects, and upon detection, triggers the second detection circuit for verification. This periodic activation pattern balances accuracy requirements with power conservation by activating the high-power component only when needed.
3Reliability
If image capturing circuit is activated frequently, then detection reliability is improved, but power consumption increases due to unnecessary activations
Solution Approach 1:
The first and second detection circuits perform preliminary detection and verification actions before activating the image capturing circuit. This preliminary filtering process ensures that the image capturing circuit is activated only when both detection circuits confirm object presence, preventing unnecessary activations and conserving power while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback control where the output of the first detection circuit feeds into the activation decision of the second detection circuit, and the output of the second detection circuit feeds into the activation decision of the image capturing circuit. This feedback mechanism ensures that each component is activated only when justified by previous detection results, optimizing both reliability and power consumption.
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 reduces power consumption by minimizing unnecessary image capturing, enhances detection accuracy, and adapts sensitivity based on misjudgment frequency to further conserve power.
Implementation Method 1
most of these devices are equipped with extremely power-saving pyroelectric infrared detector (PIR) sensors to sense living things
Implementation Method 2
a second object detection circuit is activated to detect whether the moving object actually exists in the environment
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the disclosure provide an object detection method and device. The method includes: in response to a first object detection circuit determining that a moving object exists in an environment, activating a second object detection circuit to detect whether the moving object actually exists in the environment, wherein a power consumption of the first object detection circuit is lower than a power consumption of the second object detection circuit; in response to the second object detection circuit determining that the moving object actually exists in the environment, activating an image capturing circuit, and capturing an environmental image corresponding to the environment by using the image capturing circuit.