Optical Attenuation Cover for Illumination Marker Contrast

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional illumination markers often become indistinguishable from background light due to sufficient background intensity, causing difficulties in tracking, especially when the marker's point-of-view relative to the camera is variable.

Innovation Solution

The use of an optical attenuation cover that differentially attenuates background light compared to the light source, creating a higher contrast between the marker and the background, allowing for improved discernibility and tracking by image-producing devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If traditional illumination markers are used without optical attenuation, then the marker emits sufficient light for tracking, but the background light washes out the marker making it indistinguishable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemarker visibilityVSAvoidbackground light interference

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

An optical attenuation cover is introduced as an intermediary element between the light source and the external environment. This cover selectively attenuates background light while allowing the marker's emitted light to pass through, thereby mediating the interaction between the marker and background light to achieve contrast enhancement without sacrificing marker visibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The optical attenuation cover applies different optical properties to different regions: it is opaque or highly attenuating on the side facing the background light source to block harmful background light, while being transparent or low-attenuation on the side facing the camera to allow the marker's emitted light to pass through. This local differentiation of optical quality resolves the contradiction between blocking background light and maintaining marker visibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If selective colored lights or infra-red light markers are used to combat background light, then background light interference is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebackground light interferenceVSAvoidtracking system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of changing the color or wavelength of the light source (which would require complex filtering and synchronization systems), the invention changes the optical parameter of the cover material itself - using materials with specific attenuation properties that passively filter background light across the relevant spectrum. This parameter change in the cover material achieves background light rejection without adding complex active control systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The optical attenuation cover is implemented as a simple, inexpensive passive component that can be easily manufactured and attached to the marker. Rather than using complex active filtering systems or specialized light sources, the invention employs a straightforward optical filter that provides effective background light rejection at low cost and simple implementation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Reliability

If a complicated pattern of lights or active objects are used as the tracked device, then tracking reliability improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetracking reliabilityVSAvoidmarker structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and addresses only the specific problem of background light interference by adding a dedicated optical attenuation cover, rather than implementing complicated light patterns or active electronic components. This targeted extraction of the background light rejection function achieves improved tracking reliability under challenging lighting conditions while maintaining the simplicity of the basic marker structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 optical attenuation cover significantly reduces background light intensity while minimizing the attenuation of the light source, enhancing the marker's visibility and ease of tracking by increasing contrast in images captured by cameras.

Implementation Method 1

an optical attenuation cover that differentially attenuates background light compared to the light source

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical attenuation: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentUS12004854B2Technologies for enhancing contrast of an illumination marker

Publication Date: 2024.06.11 INTEL CORP

AI summary

An illumination marker includes a light source and an optical attenuation cover coupled to the light source. The optical attenuation cover is configured to attenuate an intensity of light that passes through the optical attenuation cover based on a length of an optical path of the light through the optical attenuation cover. In some embodiments, the optical attenuation cover may be embodied as a physical barrier cover and include light-blocking structures. Additionally, in some embodiments, the illumination maker may include a diffusive or retro-reflective core rather than the light source.