Rotating Wide-Angle LiDAR Capture for Outdoor 3D Panoramas
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies struggle to capture and generate 3D panoramic images efficiently, particularly in bright light conditions, leading to incomplete renderings and increased turnaround times, and are limited by the need for additional post-production work to fill in bright areas and the inability to utilize structure light outdoors.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a housing with a wide-angle lens, image capture device, and LiDAR, configured to rotate and capture images and depth data, allowing for efficient 3D panoramic image generation with reduced parallax and improved depth accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing technologies are used to capture 3D data in bright light conditions, then the capture process can be completed, but the resulting 3D rendering contains holes and requires additional post-production work
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by capturing multiple images at different exposures before the bright light causes problems. The system captures a first image at a first exposure and a second image at a second exposure, then blends them to create a high dynamic range image that prevents holes in the 3D rendering before they occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by varying the exposure parameters across multiple images. The system captures images at different exposures (first exposure, second exposure) and blends them, changing the exposure parameter to capture both bright and dark areas, thereby eliminating holes in the final 3D rendering.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple images are captured and processed to create 3D panoramic images, then the 3D rendering quality improves, but the processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by capturing images at different exposures before stitching. The system captures the first image at a first exposure and the second image at a second exposure, then blends them during the stitching process. This preliminary multi-exposure capture ensures high 3D rendering quality without requiring additional post-production processing time.
3Productivity
If a single wide-field-of-view lens is used, then the field of view increases and capture time decreases, but parallax effects increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies mechanics substitution by replacing the need for multiple lenses or complex mechanical positioning with a computational solution. The system uses a single wide-field-of-view lens for fast capture and then uses image blending algorithms to correct parallax effects, substituting mechanical complexity with computational processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by adjusting the blending parameters when combining images from the single wide-field-of-view lens. The system changes the exposure parameters and blending weights to reduce parallax effects in the final composite image, maintaining both fast capture speed and high precision.
4Measurement precision
If LiDAR is used to capture depth data, then depth accuracy improves, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies merging by combining the LiDAR depth data with the multi-exposure image blending process. The system merges the depth information from LiDAR with the blended images from different exposures, creating a unified 3D rendering process that achieves high depth accuracy without requiring separate complex post-processing workflows.
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
The system enables rapid and accurate 3D panoramic image capture in both indoor and outdoor environments, including bright light conditions, with reduced parallax and enhanced depth precision, using a single wide-field-of-view lens and LiDAR sensor.
Implementation Method 1
a LiDAR device within the housing, the LiDAR device configured to generate depth data based on the environment
Implementation Method 2
the LiDAR device configured to generate laser pulses and generate depth signals
Implementation Method 3
a wide-angle lens coupled to the housing, the wide-angle lens being positioned above the mount thereby being along an axis of rotation
Implementation Method 4
the image capture device configured to receive two-dimensional images through the wide-angle lens of an environment
Implementation Method 5
The mirror may be coupled to the second motor, the second motor may be configured to rotate the mirror around a horizontal axis, the mirror including an angled surface configured to receive the laser pulses from the LiDAR and direct the laser pulses about the horizontal axis
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus comprising a housing, a mount configured to be coupled to a motor to horizontally move the apparatus, a wide-angle lens coupled to the housing, the wide-angle lens being positioned above the mount thereby being along an axis of rotation, the axis of rotation being the axis along which the apparatus rotates, an image capture device within the housing, the image capture device configured to receive two-dimensional images through the wide-angle lens of environment, and a LiDAR device within the housing, the LiDAR device configured to generate depth data based on the environment.