Light-Field Device Calibration for Directional Emission Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing light field generating devices are limited in their ability to control the directionality and spatial resolution of light emission, particularly at larger distances and in industrial applications, and lack flexibility in configuration and calibration, leading to suboptimal performance in fields like industrial visual inspection, camouflage, and advertising.
Innovation Solution
A method for calibrating a light field generating device using a display unit with pixels and a lens field unit, allowing for precise control of light direction and spatial position through a calibration process that compensates for manufacturing tolerances and optical irregularities, enabling a 5D light field with controllable directionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple individual light sources are arranged on a hemisphere or curved surface to change illumination direction, then the directionality of illumination is improved, but the device complexity and hardware requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The display unit is divided into multiple independently controllable pixels or pixel groups, each associated with a specific lens in the lens field unit. By selectively activating different pixels and controlling their individual light emission, the system achieves directional illumination control without requiring multiple separate light sources. Each pixel segment functions as an independent light emitter with controllable directionality through its associated lens.
2Reliability
If fixed illumination channels are used in multi-channel imaging systems, then specific defect types can be highlighted, but the radiation direction cannot be varied and adaptability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from fixed illumination channels to a dynamic illumination system where the radiation direction can be continuously varied by controlling which pixels are activated and their individual light emission characteristics. The lens field unit with its multiple lenses, each associated with specific pixels, enables dynamic adjustment of light propagation directions to highlight different sample structures and defect types as needed.
3Adaptability or versatility
If several light sources are positioned on a hemisphere to achieve hemispherical illumination, then coverage of all directions is improved, but positioning problems arise due to limited installation space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the directional control function from the physical arrangement of multiple light sources and implements it through a lens field unit with standardized lenses positioned at fixed locations. The lens field unit is mounted at a predetermined distance from the display unit, eliminating the need for complex positioning of individual light sources on curved surfaces while maintaining the ability to emit light in multiple directions through optical deflection.
4Ease of manufacture
If manufacturing tolerances in lens positioning are not compensated, then device assembly is simplified, but the spatial and angular resolution of light field generation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates a calibration process that measures the actual light emission characteristics of each pixel-lens combination and uses this feedback information to adjust the control parameters. The calibration unit determines individual calibration parameters for each lens based on measured light properties, allowing the system to compensate for manufacturing tolerances and positioning variations while maintaining high spatial and angular resolution.
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 method enables a light field generation device capable of emitting light in thousands of different directions with high accuracy, facilitating applications in industrial visual inspection, camouflage, and advertising, while reducing hardware and setup complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a lens field unit with optical lenses for deflecting the light generated by the display unit
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a method for calibrating a light field generating device, which has a display unit with pixels for generating light and a lens field unit with optical lenses for deflecting the light generated by the display unit, and a control unit for controlling the display unit, each lens of the lens field unit being assigned a plurality of pixels of the display unit. Also disclosed are a light field generating device based on the above method and an illumination device having the disclosed light field generation device.