Infrared Projector Power Management for Long Range Depth Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional depth sensing in cameras operates at low power to conserve battery life, resulting in a limited range and suboptimal performance, particularly in long-range depth captures.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method that dynamically adjusts the power level of infrared projectors between short-range and long-range modes, allowing for higher power usage during snapshot captures and lower power during preview captures, while maintaining low overall power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the IR projector operates at low power to conserve battery life, then power consumption is minimized, but the range of the IR projector becomes relatively low
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the power level of the IR projector based on the capture mode. During snapshot captures, the projector operates at high power to achieve long range depth sensing. During preview captures, it operates at low power to conserve battery. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making the power level flexible rather than fixed, allowing the system to optimize between range and power consumption in different operational contexts.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses periodic action by activating high power operation only during brief snapshot capture moments rather than continuously. The high power state is transient and periodic, occurring only when needed for long-range depth sensing, while the majority of the time (during preview and video capture) the system operates in low power mode. This periodic high-power activation achieves long range when needed while maintaining low overall power consumption.
2Length of moving object
If the IR projector operates at high power to extend range, then long range depth capture is enabled, but battery life is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the power level based on operational needs. The IR projector transitions between high power mode (for extended range) and low power mode (for battery conservation) according to the capture type. This dynamic control allows the system to achieve long range when snapshots are needed while minimizing battery consumption during extended preview and video capture sessions.
Solution Approach 2:
High power operation is applied periodically and transiently only during snapshot captures rather than continuously. The system switches to high power mode briefly when long-range depth information is required, then returns to low power mode. This periodic activation strategy enables the system to achieve extended range capability when needed while maintaining long battery life through predominant low-power operation.
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 the collection of higher quality depth information over longer ranges with minimal impact on battery life, supporting both lengthy video sessions and high-quality snapshots in mobile devices.
Implementation Method 1
a projector that illuminates scenes with infrared (IR) light in order to capture depth information
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, apparatuses and methods may provide for detecting a snapshot request to conduct a long range depth capture, wherein the snapshot request is associated with a short range depth capture. Additionally, an infrared (IR) projector may be activated at a first power level for a first duration in response to the snapshot request, wherein the first power level is greater than a second power level corresponding to the short range depth capture and the first duration is less than a second duration corresponding to the short range depth capture.