3D Color Imaging via Gray-Coded Light Projection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current 3D imaging techniques for moving objects face challenges in achieving high spatial resolution and accuracy, particularly in marker-less scenarios, due to limitations in depth measurement and sensitivity to object reflectance properties.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that project sequences of gray-coded light patterns (red, green, and blue) onto a target space, capturing 2D images during synchronized acquisition cycles to extract range data and color texture information, forming 3D color images by decoding the patterns, which reduces reconstruction efforts and enhances accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional laser scanning or time of flight methods are used for 3D imaging, then acquisition speed can be improved, but spatial resolution and measurement precision deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the light projection into multiple sequential gray-coded patterns (binary, ternary, quaternary codes) rather than using a single continuous light source. Each pattern encodes specific depth information, and by projecting multiple patterns in sequence, the system achieves high spatial resolution through precise pattern decoding while maintaining fast acquisition speed through efficient coded light modulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temporal and spatial parameters of the projected light patterns by using gray-coded sequences with varying intensities and durations. The binary, ternary, and quaternary coding schemes modify the light parameter encoding to carry more information per projection cycle, enabling high-resolution depth measurement without requiring excessively long acquisition times.
2Measurement precision
If structured light patterns are projected to improve depth measurement accuracy, then sensitivity to object reflectance properties increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary calibration by projecting known gray-coded patterns and capturing reference images before actual 3D scanning. This preliminary action establishes a mapping between projected patterns and captured intensities that accounts for the specific reflectance properties of the target object, thereby compensating for reflectance variations during subsequent measurements and reducing sensitivity to these properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the captured 2D images to refine depth calculation. By comparing the actual captured pattern intensities with the expected gray-coded pattern values, the system can iteratively adjust depth measurements to compensate for reflectance variations, ensuring accurate depth recovery even when object surface properties vary.
3Measurement precision
If multiple light patterns are projected sequentially to enhance 3D reconstruction accuracy, then acquisition time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic projection of gray-coded light patterns at optimized frequencies. The binary, ternary, and quaternary patterns are projected in repeating sequences designed to capture sufficient depth information within a minimal number of cycles. This periodic action enables the system to achieve high reconstruction accuracy while maintaining frame rates suitable for dynamic scene capture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses partial action by projecting only the essential gray-coded patterns needed for accurate depth reconstruction rather than exhaustive pattern sets. The binary, ternary, and quaternary coding schemes are designed to provide sufficient information with minimal patterns, avoiding unnecessary projections that would increase acquisition time without adding proportional value to reconstruction accuracy.
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 enables the creation of high-resolution 3D color images with improved spatial accuracy and reduced sensitivity to object reflectance, facilitating applications like motion capture and 3D facial recognition.
Implementation Method 1
projecting, each of a plurality of projection cycles, a sequence comprising a plurality of gray coded light patterns, each colored in one of red green or blue, on a target space
Implementation Method 2
capturing a plurality of two dimensional (2D) images of the target space during a plurality of acquisition cycles
Data Source
AI summary
A method of forming at least one three dimensional (3D) color image of at least one object in a target space. The method comprises projecting, each of a plurality of projection cycles, a sequence comprising a plurality of gray coded light patterns, each colored in one of red green or blue, on a target space, capturing a plurality of two dimensional (2D) images of the target space during a plurality of acquisition cycles, each the acquisition cycle being timed to correspond with the projection of at least a sub sequence of the sequence, the sub sequence comprising red, green, and blue gray coded light patterns of the plurality of gray coded light patterns, extracting range data and color texture information of at lea one object in the target space from the plurality of 2D images, and forming a 3D color image of the range data and color texture information.