Laser Scanner Layout for Colored 3D Point Cloud Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current laser scanners for optical measurement and 3D point cloud generation often lack color sensitivity, resulting in grayscale displays that obscure environmental details, and have complex designs that hinder compact construction and simultaneous data recording.
Innovation Solution
A laser scanner system with a color camera integrated in a compact design, where the camera's viewing direction differs from the scanning plane, allowing for parallel data recording and processing, enabling real-time generation of colored 3D point clouds and facilitating compact construction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a laser scanner uses a color camera to capture colored 3D point clouds, then color sensitivity and detail visibility are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the color camera and laser scanner into a single integrated device, merging the functions of optical measurement and color capture. This allows simultaneous acquisition of both distance measurement data and color information, resolving the contradiction by integrating multiple functions into one system rather than using separate devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The laser scanner is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a distance measurement instrument and a color capture device. The single device performs multiple functions (laser scanning and color imaging), eliminating the need for separate equipment and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining color sensitivity.
2Productivity
If the beam deflection element rotates at high speed to achieve rapid scanning, then productivity is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs angle encoders to continuously monitor the rotational position of the beam deflection element and provides feedback signals for precise positioning. This feedback mechanism ensures that even at high rotation speeds, the angular position of the laser beam can be accurately determined, maintaining measurement precision while achieving rapid scanning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces purely mechanical positioning with a combination of rotational motion and electronic angle encoding. Instead of relying solely on mechanical precision at high speeds, the system uses optical encoders to electronically track and measure the beam position, substituting mechanical precision requirements with electronic measurement capabilities.
3Ease of operation
If the laser scanner is designed with compact construction, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent nests the color camera and laser scanner components within a compact integrated housing, with one device positioned within or alongside the other. The color camera is arranged to share the same optical path or positioning system as the laser scanner, creating a nested configuration that reduces overall size while managing the complexity of integrating multiple components.
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 rapid assessment and display of measurement data as colored 3D point clouds, improving detail visibility and allowing for compact, efficient laser scanner design with simultaneous data recording.
Implementation Method 1
A three-dimensional measurement of rooms and environments is of great interest to craftsmen and architects... An environment can be optically scanned and measured using a laser scanner... by means of pulsed electromagnetic radiation, e.g. laser light, wherein an echo is received from a back-scattering surface point of the environment
Implementation Method 2
on the basis of the transit time, the shape, and/or the phase of the pulse a distance to the surface point is derived
Implementation Method 3
scanning sensing, wherein the present invention relates mainly to scanning laser scanners, specifically to laser scanners with a beam deflection unit rotating at high speed... by means of at least one rotating beam deflection element for variation of the alignment of the emission direction of the distance measurement beam
Implementation Method 4
distance measurement modules used in laser scanners for spatial measurement have an intensity sensitivity but no color sensitivity... Using a referencing of the 'gray' 3D point cloud with RGB data from a color camera, for example a 'colored' 3D point cloud can be generated
Data Source
AI summary
A laser scanner and a system with a laser scanner for measuring an environment. The laser scanner includes an optical distance measuring device, a support, a beam steering unit rotatably fixed to the support which rotates around a beam axis of rotation. The beam steering unit includes a mirrored surface which deflects radiation used in the optical distance measurement and an angle encoder for recording angle data. The optical distance measurement is performed by a progressive rotation of the beam steering unit about the beam axis of rotation and the continuous emission of a distance measurement radiation, the emission being made through an outlet area arranged in the direction of the mirrored surface on the support, the receiving optics for receiving radiation are 10 arranged on the support, and wherein the outlet area has a lateral offset with respect to the optical axis of the receiving optics.