Optical Shutter Device for AR Projection and Capture Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Generating and processing collaborative Augmented Reality (AR) environments in multiple integrated workplaces with high-resolution content is computationally expensive, as existing technologies struggle to separate projection and capture actions effectively, impacting image processing and resource allocation.
Innovation Solution
An optical shutter device with a projection shutter and an imaging shutter, controlled by a microcontroller, switches between projection and imaging states to prevent the AR image from being captured by the image capturing device, allowing only local content to be captured and processed, thereby reducing the computational load.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the projection device projects AR image and the image capturing device captures simultaneously, then the collaboration environment can display and record content, but the captured image contains AR artifacts that require complex processing to remove
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the optical path into two separate channels using physical shutters: one channel for projection (displaying AR content) and one channel for capture (recording real-world content). By segmenting the simultaneous operations into sequential time-sliced operations, the system eliminates the need for complex software algorithms to remove AR artifacts from captured images, thereby improving processing efficiency while reducing computational complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by closing the projection shutter before the capture shutter opens, and opening the projection shutter after the capture shutter closes. This pre-coordination of shutter operations ensures that the projection device never projects AR content during the capture phase, preventing AR artifacts from entering the captured image in the first place, thus eliminating the need for post-processing removal algorithms
2Measurement precision
If high resolution AR content is processed in collaborative environments with multiple workplaces, then the image quality is improved, but the computational cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the AR content projection function from the capture function by using separate optical paths and shutters. The projection shutter blocks the projection light during capture, while the capture shutter blocks the capture path during projection. This extraction allows the system to maintain high-resolution AR content display while capturing only the real-world environment without AR overlays, thereby reducing the computational energy required for processing and transmitting full high-resolution collaborative scenes
3Ease of operation
If the projection shutter is open during capture, then the AR image can be projected, but the image capturing device captures the AR image along with the local content
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action through coordinated shutter cycling: the projection shutter and capture shutter operate in alternating periodic phases. During the capture phase, the projection shutter is closed and the capture shutter is open; during the projection phase, the projection shutter is open and the capture shutter is closed. This periodic switching ensures clean separation of AR content projection and local content capture, preventing mixing of the two optical paths while maintaining simple shutter control mechanisms
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 solution enhances processing efficiency by eliminating the need for complex algorithms to remove AR artifacts from captured images, improving resource allocation and image quality by directly capturing local content without AR interference.
Implementation Method 1
the projection shutter to the closed state such that the projection device projects the AR image onto the closed projection shutter
Data Source
AI summary
An optical shutter device includes: a projection shutter disposed in front of a projection device that projects an AR image onto an object surface with a local content; an imaging shutter disposed in front of an image capturing device that captures a local image of the local content; and a controller that electrically drives the projection and imaging shutters and switches the optical shutter device between a projection state and an imaging state. In the projection state, the controller electrically drives: the projection shutter to an open state, and the imaging shutter to a closed state. In the imaging state, the controller electrically drives: the projection shutter to the closed state, and the imaging shutter to the open state.