Incident Light Information Acquisition Using Reference Object Calibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for acquiring the shape and material of a real object from a captured image are prone to instability due to environmental factors like illumination, requiring controlled lighting conditions, which limits versatility and ease of use.
Innovation Solution
An incident light information acquiring method that involves capturing images of a reference object with known shape and material while blocking incident light in different directions, using a model equation to calculate brightness distributions of partial and overall incident light, allowing for accurate information acquisition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If images are captured in controlled lighting environments to ensure accurate information acquisition, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the incident light information from the captured image by using a reference object with known properties. By capturing an image of the reference object and calculating the brightness distribution of incident light from that image, the system separates and removes the influence of environmental lighting conditions from the target object analysis, enabling accurate measurement without controlled lighting environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a reference object as an intermediary element. This reference object with known shape and material properties serves as a mediator to calibrate and correct the captured image. By analyzing the reference object's image, the system can derive incident light information that can then be applied to correct images of target objects, eliminating the need for complex controlled lighting setups.
2Measurement precision
If images are captured in controlled lighting environments to ensure accurate information acquisition, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the incident light information from the captured image by using a reference object with known properties. By capturing an image of the reference object and calculating the brightness distribution of incident light from that image, the system separates and removes the influence of environmental lighting conditions from the target object analysis, enabling accurate measurement without controlled lighting environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-calibration by automatically capturing an image of the reference object and calculating the incident light brightness distribution from that same image. This self-service approach eliminates the need for external lighting control equipment and manual setup, making the system easy to operate while maintaining high measurement precision.
3Ease of operation
If images are captured without controlled lighting environments to improve ease of operation, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a reference object as an intermediary element. This reference object with known shape and material properties serves as a mediator to calibrate and correct the captured image. By analyzing the reference object's image, the system can derive incident light information that can then be applied to correct images of target objects, eliminating the need for complex controlled lighting setups.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter approach by instead of controlling lighting conditions, it calculates and corrects for lighting variations through mathematical processing. By deriving the brightness distribution of incident light from the reference object image and using this to correct target object images, the system maintains measurement precision while operating in uncontrolled lighting environments.
4Adaptability or versatility
If images are captured without controlled lighting environments to improve versatility, then versatility is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the incident light information from the captured image by using a reference object with known properties. By capturing an image of the reference object and calculating the brightness distribution of incident light from that image, the system separates and removes the influence of environmental lighting conditions from the target object analysis, enabling accurate measurement without controlled lighting environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The reference object serves multiple functions: it acts as a calibration standard, a light meter, and a geometric reference all in one. This multi-functionality enables the system to operate universally in various lighting conditions without requiring separate controlled environments, thereby achieving both versatility and high measurement precision.
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
Enables highly accurate and easy acquisition of information from a captured image, reducing the need for controlled lighting environments and improving the reliability of image analysis.
Implementation Method 1
acquire an image captured of a reference object whose shape and material are known while part of incident light applied thereto is being blocked
Implementation Method 2
acquire, according to a predetermined model equation, a brightness distribution of partial incident light produced by blocking part of the incident light, on the basis of the image of the reference object
Data Source
AI summary
In an information processing apparatus, a captured image acquiring section acquires data of an image captured of a reference object while part of incident light applied thereto is being blocked. An incident light information acquiring section acquires, according to a predetermined model equation, a brightness distribution of partial incident light in each of light-blocked states on the basis of the image of the reference object, and acquires a brightness distribution of overall incident light by calculating brightness distributions of partial incident light. A target information acquiring section acquires the shape and material of a target by using the brightness distribution of overall incident light.