Optical Position Indicator Calibration Body for Camera Orientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current calibration methods for camera systems, particularly using checkerboard calibration blocks, face challenges in precisely determining the orientation of the calibration block relative to the camera, affecting the tilt angles and plane normal, leading to inaccurate and inefficient calibration processes.
Innovation Solution
A calibration body comprising an optical calibration element and an optical position indicator, where the position indicator allows for precise determination of the relative orientation with respect to the camera system, eliminating the need for estimating the orientation of the calibration element, and enabling simultaneous calibration of multiple camera systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a checkerboard calibration block is used to calibrate camera parameters, then the calibration process can be performed, but the orientation of the calibration block relative to the camera cannot be precisely determined
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an optical position indicator as an intermediary element between the calibration body and the camera system. This indicator provides explicit orientation information (through patterns, markers, or optical signals) that the camera can detect to determine the relative orientation of the calibration body, thereby resolving the inability to precisely measure orientation that plagues traditional checkerboard methods
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the purely geometric/mechanical checkerboard pattern with an optical-based position indicator system. Instead of relying on mathematical reconstruction from 2D image coordinates alone, the system uses optical signals (such as illuminated markers, reflective elements, or structured light patterns) to directly encode orientation information, substituting mechanical measurement with optical detection
2Productivity
If multiple camera systems are to be calibrated simultaneously, then productivity increases, but the complexity of managing multiple calibration processes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The optical position indicator is designed as a universal component that can be detected by multiple camera systems simultaneously. The same indicator structure provides orientation information to all cameras in the system, allowing one calibration body to serve multiple calibration functions at once, thereby increasing productivity without proportionally increasing system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the calibration body with an integrated optical position indicator system into a single unified device. This merging allows the calibration process to be performed concurrently by multiple camera systems using the same physical artifact, eliminating the need for separate calibration procedures for each camera and simplifying the overall calibration workflow
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 solution improves calibration accuracy, robustness, and reduces the number of required images, simplifying the process and allowing for precise determination of camera parameters, including extrinsic and intrinsic parameters, even in uncalibrated systems.
Implementation Method 1
a laser unit with a diffractive optical element, which is designed to display a pattern independently of a transverse displacement of the camera system relative to the optical position indicator
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a calibration body (1) for calibrating a camera system (2), comprising an optical calibration element (3) suitable for calibrating extrinsic and/or intrinsic parameters of the camera system (2), and an optical position indicator (4) suitable for detecting the orientation of the optical position indicator (4) relative to the camera system (2) by the camera system (2), wherein the optical calibration element (3) is arranged in a predefined relative position relative to the optical position indicator (4).