Optical Distance Sensing with Indirect Light Discrimination
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Optical detection devices face accuracy issues due to indirect light reception, which can occur when light emitted from a light emitter is not applied to the intended detection object or reflected light from the object is not received through the intended path, leading to decreased accuracy in object detection and distance measurement.
Innovation Solution
The optical detection device employs a light emitter and receiver with divided light-emitting and light-receiving elements, allowing for full and partial irradiation/reception, and a processor that performs an indirect light detection process by comparing light reception amounts during full and partial irradiation to identify and mitigate the effects of indirect light.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the light receiver receives all reflected light to improve detection coverage, then the detection area is improved, but the accuracy decreases due to indirect light contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The light receiver is divided into multiple light-receiving elements arranged in a matrix, with each element corresponding to a specific irradiation section. This segmentation allows the system to spatially resolve and identify indirect light contamination from specific directions, enabling accurate detection while maintaining broad coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different detection strategies to different regions of the light receiver. By analyzing the spatial distribution of received light across multiple elements, the system can identify which specific elements are receiving indirect light and adjust their weight or exclude them from distance calculation, thereby maintaining overall detection accuracy.
2Reliability
If full irradiation is performed to improve detection completeness, then all areas are covered, but indirect light reception increases reducing accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs indirect light detection by comparing light reception amounts across multiple light-receiving elements. When indirect light is detected in certain sections, the processor adjusts the weight or excludes data from those specific elements, providing feedback that maintains overall detection accuracy while preserving the benefits of full irradiation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs full irradiation to ensure complete coverage, but then applies partial correction by adjusting weights or excluding only the specific light-receiving elements affected by indirect light. This approach maintains the advantages of full coverage while mitigating the negative effects through selective correction.
3Use of energy by moving object
If multiple light-receiving elements are used to improve light reception capability, then the light reception efficiency is improved, but the complexity of identifying indirect light increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light receiver is segmented into multiple elements corresponding to specific irradiation sections, creating a direct spatial mapping between light sources and receivers. This segmentation simplifies indirect light identification by allowing the system to compare reception patterns across segmented elements rather than analyzing a monolithic receiver.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of light reception by measuring the amount of light received at each light-receiving element and comparing these values. By monitoring variations in reception amounts across different elements and time points, the system can identify indirect light patterns without requiring complex additional hardware.
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
This approach enhances the accuracy of object detection and distance measurement by effectively distinguishing between direct and indirect light, thereby improving the precision of the detection process.
Implementation Method 1
a light emitter irradiates a measurement object with light, a light receiver receives reflected light reflected from the measurement object
Implementation Method 2
a light receiver receives reflected light... the light receiver including a plurality of light-receiving elements divided into a plurality of light reception sections
Data Source
AI summary
An optical detection device includes a light emitter that irradiates an area of interest; a light receiver that receives reflected light that has been emitted by the light emitter and reflected on a detection object, the light receiver including plural light-receiving elements divided into plural light reception sections; and a processor configured to perform at least one of full irradiation for irradiating the whole area of interest and full light reception for outputting all light reception results and at least one of partial irradiation for irradiating part of the area of interest and partial light reception for outputting part of the light reception results one part by one part and perform an object detection process for detecting the detection object in accordance with light received by the light receiver. The processor is configured to, based on a difference between an amount of received light received at each of the light reception sections at a time when the light emitter performs the full irradiation and an amount of received light received at each of the light reception sections at a time when the light emitter performs the partial irradiation, perform an indirect light detection process for detecting that at least one of the plural light reception sections receives indirect light when the light emitter performs the full irradiation.