Indoor Positioning Using Illumination Source Images
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing indoor positioning technologies require illumination sources with communication functions, increasing costs and complexity, especially when equipping or replacing conventional lighting with such capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A method that uses a positioning device to capture images of illumination sources installed in an indoor space, combining inertial navigation with image data to determine the device's position without requiring the illumination sources to have communication functions, utilizing a Delaunay triangulation algorithm to minimize errors and reduce costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If illumination sources are equipped with communication functions for indoor positioning, then positioning accuracy is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the communication function requirement from the illumination sources, allowing conventional lighting fixtures to be used without communication capabilities. The positioning system instead uses a mobile device with camera and inertial measurement unit to capture and process light source information, eliminating the need for complex communication-enabled illumination sources while maintaining positioning functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a mobile device as an intermediary between the illumination sources and the positioning system. The mobile device captures images of illumination sources using its camera, processes the visual information to determine position, and combines this with inertial measurement data. This intermediary approach allows simple illumination sources to work with sophisticated positioning algorithms, resolving the contradiction between accuracy and complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional lighting is replaced with communication-enabled illumination sources, then positioning capability is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs inexpensive conventional illumination sources (standard light fixtures) rather than expensive communication-enabled lighting systems. The positioning capability is achieved through software algorithms on mobile devices that process images of these cheap light sources, making the system cost-effective while maintaining full positioning functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/electronic communication hardware in illumination sources with a software-based visual recognition system. Instead of using communication modules in lights, the system uses camera imaging and computational algorithms to extract positioning information, significantly reducing implementation cost while preserving positioning capability
3Duration of action of moving object
If inertial navigation is used for positioning, then continuous positioning is achieved, but cumulative errors increase over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the mobile device continuously captures images of illumination sources and compares their positions against stored reference data. This visual feedback loop detects drift in inertial navigation by observing changes in light source positions, allowing the system to correct cumulative errors and maintain positioning accuracy over extended periods
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple data sources (camera images of illumination sources, inertial measurement unit data, and stored reference information) to create a composite positioning system. This composite approach leverages the continuous operation of inertial navigation while using visual feedback to correct errors, achieving both continuous positioning and high accuracy simultaneously
Data Source
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AI summary
A positioning method includes determining a positioning coordinate (x101,y101, z101) of a positioning device in a scene coordinate system o-xyz based on one or a combination of: (1) an estimated coordinate (x1,y1, z1) of the positioning device in the scene coordinate system o-xyz; and (2) positions of image objects of one or more reference illumination sources of a plurality of illumination sources in a scene image, fixed coordinate positions (x0, y0, z0) of the one or more reference illumination sources of the plurality of illumination sources in the scene coordinate system o-xyz, and an included angle a between an x-axis of the scene coordinate system o-xyz and an x'- axis of a positioning device coordinate system o'-x'y'z'.