Optoelectronic Sensor Axis Alignment for Calibration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for detecting 3D image data, such as laser scanners and time-of-flight cameras with panorama optics, face challenges in achieving satisfactory all-round resolution and require complex calibration processes, especially when combining laser scanners with panorama cameras, due to the numerous degrees of freedom involved.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a laser scanner and a panorama camera on the same axis, where the laser scanner's rotation axis coincides with the panorama camera's optical axis, allows for simplified calibration and enhanced data fusion, enabling high-quality detection data over a 360° scanning angle with refined vertical and lateral resolution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a laser scanner and panorama camera are combined for 3D detection, then the field of view and detection coverage are improved, but the calibration complexity increases due to numerous degrees of freedom
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the laser scanner and panorama camera into a single integrated sensor unit with shared mechanical structure and control electronics. The laser transmitter, receiver, and panorama camera are mounted together on a common housing, allowing simultaneous operation and simplified calibration through unified coordinate system registration.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated sensor serves multiple functions: the laser scanner provides distance measurement and depth information, while the panorama camera captures wide-angle visual data. Both subsystems share the same mounting structure and can be calibrated together using a single calibration object, making the system versatile for both geometric and visual detection tasks.
2Productivity
If multiple scanning beams are used to increase detection speed, then the productivity is improved, but the manufacturing precision may deteriorate due to increased system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The laser scanner uses multiple separate laser beams (at least two scanning beams) that scan different regions of the monitored zone simultaneously. Each beam independently measures distance to objects, allowing parallel detection of multiple spatial locations, which increases detection speed while maintaining precision through individual beam evaluation.
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 configuration facilitates safer, faster, and more accurate object recognition and tracking, reducing the complexity of calibration and enabling dynamic calibration, while maintaining high time resolution and minimizing motion artifacts.
Implementation Method 1
a light transmitter (122) transmits laser beams (126)
Implementation Method 2
Such distance-measuring laser scanners work in accordance with a time-of-flight principle in which the transit time from the scanner to the scene and back is measured
Implementation Method 3
evaluates the remitted or reflected light
Data Source
AI summary
An optoelectronic sensor for detecting objects in a monitored zone is provided, wherein the sensor comprises a laser scanner having a deflection unit rotatable about an axis of rotation for scanning the monitored zone with at least one scanning beam; a first distance measurement unit for determining 3D measurement points of the respective objects impacted by the scanning beam using a time-of-flight method; a panorama camera having a panorama optics and having an image sensor with a plurality of light reception elements for detecting picture elements; and a control and evaluation unit that is configured to fuse the 3D measurement points and the picture elements. In this respect, the optical axis of the panorama camera and the rotation axis coincide.