Focused 3D Point Clouds Through ROI Energy Pulse Scanning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing 3D scanners, such as LiDAR, generate point clouds that lack sufficient detail about specific objects within the scanned field-of-view, necessitating improved methods for generating focused 3D point clouds with additional information.
Innovation Solution
An active 3D scanner system that includes a scanning mechanism, energy emitting source, and processing circuitry to emit targeted energy pulses towards regions-of-interest, analyzing initial scans to identify objects, and adjusting energy pulse intensity and direction for subsequent scans to enhance detail in the generated point clouds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If standard 3D scanning is used to cover the entire field-of-view, then complete scene coverage is achieved, but detail information about specific objects is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the scanning process into two distinct phases: a first scan that covers the entire field-of-view to identify objects, and a second scan that focuses on selected regions-of-interest to capture detailed information. This segmentation allows the system to allocate scanning resources dynamically, providing high-detail focused scans only where needed while maintaining complete scene awareness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different scanning qualities to different regions of the field-of-view. The first scan provides uniform coverage across the entire FOV, while the second scan concentrates enhanced scanning resources on specific regions-of-interest containing selected objects. This local quality enhancement ensures that objects requiring detailed information receive focused attention without unnecessarily increasing the detail level across the entire scene.
2Measurement precision
If energy pulses are emitted uniformly across the entire field-of-view, then complete area coverage is achieved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the energy pulse emission into two phases: uniform emission during the first scan to identify all objects, and selective concentrated emission during the second scan focused only on regions-of-interest. This segmentation eliminates the need to emit energy pulses uniformly across the entire field-of-view during the detailed scanning phase, significantly reducing total energy consumption while maintaining high detail quality for selected objects.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by emitting energy pulses only where needed during the second scan. Instead of uniformly covering the entire field-of-view, the system concentrates energy pulses exclusively on regions-of-interest containing selected objects. This partial action approach achieves sufficient measurement precision for the objects of interest without the excessive energy expenditure of comprehensive uniform coverage.
3Loss of information
If multiple scans are performed to enhance object detail, then information completeness improves, but scanning time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the scanning process into two purposeful phases: a comprehensive first scan that quickly identifies all objects in the field-of-view, and a targeted second scan that efficiently captures detailed information only for selected objects. This segmentation ensures that the time investment in multiple scans is minimized by avoiding redundant detailed scanning of non-selected regions, thus reducing overall scanning duration while maintaining information completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary object identification during the first scan before initiating the detailed second scan. By using the first scan to pre-identify objects and their locations, the system can then focus the second scan exclusively on regions-of-interest containing selected objects. This preliminary action eliminates the need for multiple comprehensive scans, reducing total scanning time while ensuring complete information capture for selected objects.
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
Generates focused 3D point clouds with enhanced information about selected objects by adjusting energy pulse intensity and direction, improving object identification and detail capture.
Implementation Method 1
An active 3D scanner, such as a Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), can be configured to scan a field-of-view (FOV) of at least one detector of the active 3D scanner. In accordance with the scan, a high-resolution 3D point cloud of the FOV can be generated.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for generating a three-dimensional (3D) point cloud is described. The system comprises an active 3D scanner, including: at least one detector; a scanning mechanism configured to scan a field-of-view (FOV) of the at least one detector; and at least one energy emitting source configured to emit energy pulses. The system is configured to: obtain mapping designation information, including tracker-based designation information that is designated by a user of the system via a tracker that tracks a line-of-sight between the user and the FOV; control the energy emitting source to emit first energy pulses towards one or more regions-of-interest (ROIs) within the FOV, the ROIs being part of the FOV, in accordance with the mapping designation information, including the tracker-based designation information; and obtain readings, from the detector, based on returns of the first energy pulses, giving rise to the 3D point cloud.