Optical Processing Assembly for ToF Light Energy Utilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing Time of Flight (ToF) devices have limitations in energy consumption, detection range, and data accuracy due to low light energy utilization, leading to restricted application in fields like smartphones, VR/AR, and industrial automation.
Innovation Solution
An optical processing assembly with a light shaper and light homogenizer that narrows the divergence angle of detection light and adjusts the lighting range to form a continuous, uniform area, enhancing light energy utilization and improving detection accuracy and range with reduced power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the ToF device uses conventional light transmission without optical processing, then the device structure is simple, but the light energy utilization is low resulting in limited detection range and accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The optical processing assembly segments the light transmission function into distinct components: a light shaper that narrows the divergence angle of detection light, and a light homogenizer that creates uniform lighting areas. This segmentation allows each component to optimize specific aspects of light energy utilization, directly addressing the low light energy utilization problem while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The optical processing assembly acts as an intermediary between the light source and the target field of view. By introducing this intermediate optical system, the patent transforms the direct light transmission path into a controlled light shaping path, enabling improved light energy utilization and detection performance without requiring fundamental changes to the core ToF device architecture
2Measurement precision
If the ToF device transmits light with high divergence angle, then the lighting coverage is wide, but the light energy is dispersed resulting in reduced detection accuracy and range
Solution Approach 1:
The light shaper applies local quality modification by narrowing the divergence angle of detection light in specific directions while maintaining appropriate coverage. The light homogenizer further refines this by creating uniform lighting distribution within the illuminated area. This local optimization of light properties enables improved detection accuracy without completely sacrificing lighting coverage, resolving the contradiction between precision and area
3Measurement precision
If the ToF device increases power consumption to improve detection range and accuracy, then the detection performance improves, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes key optical parameters - specifically the divergence angle of detection light and the uniformity of lighting distribution - to optimize detection performance. By adjusting these optical parameters through the light shaper and homogenizer, the system achieves improved detection accuracy and range without increasing power consumption, as the improvements come from better light energy utilization rather than higher energy input
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 expands the detection range and depth of ToF devices while reducing power consumption, enabling more accurate and efficient three-dimensional data acquisition for diverse applications, including smartphones and VR/AR systems.
Implementation Method 1
The at least one light shaper is configured to perform light beam shaping on the detection light transmitted by each light source unit of the illuminating light source to narrow the divergence angle of the detection light and guide the central propagation direction of each detection light to the preset central angle of a partition
Implementation Method 2
The light homogenizer is configured to homogenize the detection light transmitted by each light source unit and project the detection light outward to form a target field of view interval. The light homogenizing angle of the light homogenizer is used for adjusting the lighting range of the detection light to form a continuous and uniform lighting area in the target field of view
Implementation Method 3
One is direct ranging ToF (dToF), that is, a distance is determined by transmitting and receiving light and measuring photon time of flight. The other is mature indirect ranging ToF (iToF) on the market, that is, a distance is determined by converting time of flight by measuring the phase difference between a transmitting waveform and a receiving waveform
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are an optical processing assembly, a ToF transmitting device, and a ToF depth information detector. The optical processing assembly is applied to an illuminating light source. The illuminating light source is configured to transmit detection light to a target field of view. The illuminating light source includes multiple light source units. Each light source unit is lit according to a predetermined timing. The optical processing assembly includes at least one light shaper and a light homogenizer. The at least one optical shaper is configured to perform light beam shaping on the detection light transmitted by each light source unit of the illuminating light source to narrow the divergence angle of the detection light and guide the central propagation direction of each detection light to the preset central angle of a partition