Pixel-Selective Distance Measurement for High-Reflectance Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional distance measuring devices output distance information that is not accurate enough for diverse reflectance conditions, particularly in high reflectance areas.
Innovation Solution
A distance measuring device that emits illumination light with bright portions having higher luminance than ambient luminance, uses a pixel array to receive reflected light, calculates light intensity and pixel distance information, selects accurate distance information based on pixel values, and outputs enhanced distance information using a distance information selector.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional distance measuring devices use uniform illumination light, then the device structure is simple, but the measurement precision deteriorates in high reflectance areas
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination light is designed with different luminance levels in different regions (bright portions with higher luminance and dark portions with lower luminance). This local quality differentiation allows the bright portions to provide sufficient light intensity for accurate distance measurement in high reflectance areas, while the overall structure remains controlled. The pixel array selectively receives light from these localized bright portions to calculate distance information with improved accuracy.
2Reliability
If the pixel array receives light from all areas, then the coverage is complete, but noise components increase from low reflectance areas
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and selectively processes only the pixel values corresponding to the bright portions of the illumination light. By taking out and focusing on the high-quality signal from bright portions (which have higher luminance and thus higher signal-to-noise ratio), the system eliminates the harmful noise components that would be introduced by low reflectance areas. This extraction principle improves reliability by using only the most reliable pixel data for distance calculation.
3Measurement precision
If conventional devices use surface illumination light, then the illumination coverage is wide, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to insufficient light intensity in high reflectance areas
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using uniform surface illumination, the patent applies local quality enhancement by concentrating higher luminance in specific bright portions of the illumination light. These localized bright portions provide intensified reflected light signals from the subject, ensuring sufficient light intensity even in high reflectance areas. The pixel array then selectively captures these enhanced signals, achieving improved measurement precision through localized intensity enhancement rather than uniform illumination.
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
The device can output distance information that is much more accurate than conventional devices, achieving a wider dynamic range from low to high reflectance areas and reducing noise components.
Implementation Method 1
a light source that emits illumination light including one or more bright portions having luminance higher than ambient luminance
Implementation Method 2
a light receiver that includes a pixel array in which pixels are arranged in a matrix, the pixels each sequentially outputting pixel values that are based on exposure amounts
Implementation Method 3
pixel distance information indicating a distance from the pixel to the subject
Data Source
AI summary
A distance measuring device that outputs one or more distance information items each indicating a distance to a subject, the distance measuring device includes: a light source that emits illumination light including one or more bright portions; a light receiver that includes a pixel array in which pixels are arranged in a matrix; a distance information calculator that calculates, for each of the pixels, pixel distance information indicating a distance from the pixel to the subject when the light receiver receives reflected light that is the illumination light reflected off the subject; a distance information selector that selects one or more selective distance information items from among the pixel distance information items corresponding to the pixels; and an outputter that outputs the one or more distance information items, based on the one or more selective distance information items.