Overlapping Field-of-View Sensor Calibration Without Laser Sighting

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing motion capture systems struggle to calibrate multiple sensors to a common coordinate frame of reference without the use of sophisticated laser sighting equipment, which is impractical for consumer or gaming applications where users should be free to move the sensors at will.

Innovation Solution

A network of motion-capture sensors designates a first sensor as a master frame of reference, synchronizes image capture across overlapping fields of view, and uses image analysis to calibrate other sensors to this frame, allowing self-calibration to a common coordinate reference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If sophisticated laser sighting equipment is used to calibrate multiple sensors to a common coordinate frame, then calibration precision is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecalibration precisionVSAvoidcalibration equipment complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-calibration by having sensors automatically capture images of a common calibration object and compute their own relative positions and orientations. Each sensor independently processes images and calculates transformation parameters without requiring external calibration equipment, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating complex calibration tools.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces mechanical laser sighting equipment with an optical/image-based calibration system. Instead of using physical laser alignment tools, the system uses cameras to capture images of a calibration object and computationally determines sensor positions and orientations through image analysis and geometric calculations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If sophisticated laser sighting equipment is used to calibrate multiple sensors to a common coordinate frame, then calibration precision is improved, but ease of operation worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecalibration precisionVSAvoidsensor placement ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-calibration by having sensors automatically capture images of a common calibration object and compute their own relative positions and orientations. Each sensor independently processes images and calculates transformation parameters without requiring external calibration equipment, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating complex calibration tools.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces mechanical laser sighting equipment with an optical/image-based calibration system. Instead of using physical laser alignment tools, the system uses cameras to capture images of a calibration object and computationally determines sensor positions and orientations through image analysis and geometric calculations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If multiple sensors are deployed to monitor a moving object from multiple vantage points, then measurement completeness is improved, but device complexity worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement completenessVSAvoidsensor network complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the monitoring task among multiple independent sensors, each capturing images from its own vantage point. The calibration object serves as a common reference that segments the calibration process into independent sensor-specific operations, where each sensor calibrates itself rather than requiring coordinated calibration of the entire sensor network.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The calibration object acts as an intermediary element that mediates between multiple sensors. Each sensor independently captures images of this common object, and the object's known geometry serves as a reference that enables independent calculation of each sensor's position and orientation without requiring direct interaction or coordination between sensors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20250315982A1Calibrating overlapping fields of view

Publication Date: 2025.10.09 SIM IP HXR LLC

AI summary

The technology disclosed relates to calibrating frames of reference having overlapping fields of view. In particular, it relates to observing motion of an object of interest as it passes through overlapping fields of view of a first frame of reference and a second frame of reference, and calibrating the second frame of reference, based at least in part, on a capture from the first frame of reference and a capture from the second frame of reference.