Hyperspectral Encoder for Unified 3D Scan Depth Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Photogrammetry methods face inaccuracies when separating spectral properties from depth data and aligning them for 3D image generation, often associating wrong spectral properties with incorrect depths or positions.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for performing a single hyperspectral scan that simultaneously captures spectral properties and depth information, encoding them in a single dataset to directly align spectral properties with depth, eliminating the need for combining disparate scans.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If separate scans are performed to capture spectral properties and depth data, then the scanning process can be divided into specialized steps, but inaccuracies are introduced when aligning the scans to combine spectral properties with depth data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the capture of spectral properties and depth data into a single integrated scan process. The system simultaneously acquires both types of data during one scanning operation, eliminating the need to perform separate scans and subsequently align them. This integration directly resolves the alignment inaccuracies that occur when combining disparate scans while maintaining the specialized capture capabilities for both spectral and depth information.
2Adaptability or versatility
If two different devices are used to capture spectral properties and depth data, then each device can be optimized for its specific function, but device positioning and data association errors occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal scanning system that performs multiple functions within a single device. The imaging system is designed to capture both spectral properties and depth data during the same scanning operation, making the device multi-functional. This eliminates the reliability issues associated with using two different devices and positioning them precisely relative to each other, while still maintaining the specialized capture capabilities for both spectral and depth information.
3Productivity
If separate scans are performed for spectral properties and depth, then the scanning process can be simplified in steps, but time is lost in aligning and combining the scans
Solution Approach 1:
The patent ensures continuous useful action by capturing both spectral properties and depth data in a single uninterrupted scanning process. The system performs the capture of both data types simultaneously during one continuous scan operation, eliminating the downtime and processing delays associated with aligning and combining separate scans. This maintains the stepwise organization of data capture while removing the time loss from subsequent alignment operations.
Data Source
AI summary
An encoder is disclosed that uses hyperspectral data to produce a unified three-dimensional (“3D”) scan that incorporates depth for various points, surfaces, and features within a scene. The encoder may scan a particular point of the scene using frequencies from different electromagnetic spectrum bands, may determine spectral properties of the particular point based on returns measured across a first set of bands, may measure a distance of the particular point using frequencies of another band that does not interfere with the spectral properties at each of the first set of bands, and may encode the spectral properties and the distance of the particular point in a single hyperspectral dataset. The spectral signature encoded within the dataset may be used to classify the particular point or generate a point cloud or other visualization that accurately represents the spectral properties and distances of the scanned points.