Gating Camera Slice Synthesis for Noise-Free Depth Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gating cameras face challenges in generating high-quality composite images due to noise inclusion when synthesizing slice images, leading to deteriorated image quality and inefficient image processing.
Innovation Solution
A gating camera system that divides the field of view into multiple ranges, using pulsed illumination and controlled exposure to generate slice images, and an image processing device that sets valid ranges based on local maximum values to synthesize high-quality composite images and distance maps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If slice images are synthesized to generate composite images, then objects in full depth of view can be captured, but image quality deteriorates due to noise inclusion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by evaluating each pixel's signal strength individually across slice images. Instead of uniformly processing all pixels, the system identifies valid ranges where signal strength exceeds thresholds, allowing different regions to be processed differently. This selective approach maintains image quality while preserving full depth coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the useful information from slice images by identifying and isolating valid ranges with sufficient signal strength. Invalid ranges containing noise are excluded from composite image generation, effectively separating useful object information from harmful noise while maintaining comprehensive depth coverage.
2Measurement precision
If multiple slice images are processed to generate composite images, then full depth information is obtained, but image processing efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only valid ranges with sufficient signal strength from multiple slice images, excluding invalid ranges containing noise. This selective processing reduces the number of images requiring synthesis while maintaining accurate depth information, thereby improving processing efficiency without sacrificing measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the field of view into multiple depth ranges and processes each range independently by evaluating signal strength. This segmentation allows parallel processing and selective synthesis, improving overall efficiency while preserving accurate depth information through range-specific validation.
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
Improves image processing efficiency and generates high-quality composite images, effectively removing occlusions like fog, and allows accurate detection of objects across the full depth of view.
Implementation Method 1
an illumination device configured to irradiate a field of view with pulsed illumination light
Implementation Method 2
measures a time of flight until reflected light returns to an image sensor
Data Source
AI summary
An illumination device irradiates a field of view with pulsed illumination light. A camera controller controls a light emission timing of the illumination device and an exposure timing of an image sensor. An image processing device generates a composite image by synthesizing a plurality of slice images output from the image sensor. The image processing device sets, as a valid image, a range that takes a local maximum value when pixels at the same position in each of the plurality of slice images are arranged in range order. The image processing device generates a pixel value at the same position in the composite image, based on a pixel value at the same position in the slice image corresponding to the valid range.