Optical Sensor Flare Pixel Region Estimation and Removal
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical sensors face challenges in accurately detecting distances due to flare occurrences caused by high reflection intensities, leading to erroneous imaging of a subject's physique, which current technologies struggle to effectively prevent.
Innovation Solution
A control device and method that acquires distance and intensity image data using optical sensors, estimates a flare pixel region based on intensity data, and removes the distance value of the flare pixel region to prevent erroneous detection, utilizing different intensity settings for irradiation light and background light to enhance accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pixels with low sensitivity are used to detect incident light, then saturation and erroneous detection are prevented, but the ability to detect weak echoes is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the pixel array into multiple regions with different sensitivity characteristics. High-sensitivity pixels are allocated to regions where weak echoes are expected, while low-sensitivity pixels are used in regions where strong reflections occur. This spatial segmentation allows the system to simultaneously achieve high detection sensitivity and prevent saturation, resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the pixel array are assigned different sensitivity characteristics tailored to their specific detection needs. The control device determines the appropriate sensitivity level for each pixel based on the expected echo intensity in that region, allowing optimal performance for both weak and strong signal detection without compromise.
2Area of stationary object
If high intensity irradiation light is used, then distance measurement coverage is improved, but flare imaging occurs causing erroneous detection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different sensitivity levels to different pixel regions based on their spatial location and the expected echo characteristics. By localizing high-sensitivity pixels to specific regions, the system can maintain high detection coverage while minimizing flare imaging in regions where strong reflections are likely to occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful flare imaging effect into a useful indicator for region classification. By analyzing which pixels experience flare imaging, the control device can identify and appropriately assign sensitivity levels to those regions, turning the harmful effect into information that improves overall system performance.
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
Effectively prevents erroneous distance value detection by accurately estimating and removing flare pixel region values, improving the precision of optical sensor imaging and reducing false detections.
Implementation Method 1
an optical sensor that detects an echo of irradiation light irradiated to a detection area
Data Source
AI summary
By a control device, a control method, or a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a control program, an optical sensor that detects an echo of irradiation light irradiated to a detection area is controlled, distance image data representing a distance value to a reflective target is acquired, intensity image data representing an intensity value of the echo is acquired, a flare pixel region in which flare imaging is predicted in a periphery of a target pixel region is estimated, and the distance value of the flare pixel region is removed. A detection timing of the echo in the flare pixel region overlaps with a detection timing of the echo in the target pixel region in the distance image data.