Three-Sensor Optical Capture for Cost-Efficient Wide-Area Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traffic enforcement devices with wide-angle lenses and high-resolution sensors are expensive and require powerful electronics, leading to high data volumes and processing demands, increasing production and storage costs.
Innovation Solution
A traffic enforcement device comprising multiple optical sensors with varying resolutions and field angles, where the third field angle covers at least 60% of the combined first and second field angles, and the sensors are mounted to ensure optimal optical and row vector relationships for efficient image stitching, reducing the need for high-resolution wide-angle sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a high-resolution sensor with a wide-angle lens is used to cover all monitored lanes, then the image resolution and coverage area are improved, but the cost of production and exploitation increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single high-resolution wide-angle sensor into multiple lower-resolution sensors with narrower fields of view. Each sensor captures a specific segment of the road, and these segments are stitched together to form a complete high-resolution image. This segmentation approach reduces the cost of individual sensors while maintaining overall image quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple lower-resolution images from different sensors into a single high-resolution composite image through image stitching technology. By merging several standard-resolution images, the system achieves the quality of a high-resolution image without incurring the high cost of a single high-resolution wide-angle sensor.
2Measurement precision
If a high-resolution sensor with a wide-angle lens is used to cover all monitored lanes, then the image resolution and coverage area are improved, but the data volume increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the monitoring area into multiple smaller fields of view captured by individual sensors, the patent reduces the data volume of each image file. Instead of generating one large high-resolution image, the system produces multiple smaller images that can be processed and stored more efficiently.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses multiple standard-resolution sensors as copies to capture different portions of the scene, rather than using a single high-resolution sensor. These standard-resolution copies are sufficient for their respective segments and when combined, provide complete coverage without the excessive data volume of a single high-resolution wide-angle image.
3Measurement precision
If a high-resolution sensor with a wide-angle lens is used to cover all monitored lanes, then the image resolution and coverage area are improved, but the processing power requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image processing task into multiple smaller tasks, each handling a single sensor's output. This division allows for more efficient processing compared to handling one large high-resolution image, as each smaller image requires less computational resources and can be processed independently before being stitched together.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent processes multiple partial images (each from a narrower field of view) rather than attempting to process a single complete high-resolution wide-angle image. This partial action approach reduces the computational burden on processing electronics while still achieving the goal of capturing high-resolution details across the entire monitored area.
4Measurement precision
If a high-resolution sensor with a wide-angle lens is used to cover all monitored lanes, then the image resolution and coverage area are improved, but the storage costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the storage requirement into multiple smaller storage units corresponding to individual sensor outputs. Each lower-resolution image occupies less storage space than a single high-resolution wide-angle image would require, reducing overall storage costs while maintaining the ability to retrieve and process high-quality images when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple smaller storage files into a composite high-resolution image only when necessary for analysis or evidence. During normal operation, the system stores multiple smaller standard-resolution images that require less storage capacity, thereby reducing storage costs while preserving the option to generate high-resolution composite images on demand.
Data Source
AI summary
An optical capturing device includes a holder; a first optical sensor possessing a first field angle centered on a first optical axis; a second optical sensor possessing a second field angle centered on a second optical axis; and a third optical sensor possessing a third field angle centered on a third optical axis. A traffic enforcement device can include such an optical capturing device.