Polarization-Coded Aperture Depth Camera for Vehicle Range Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current depth imaging technologies, such as lidar and stereo cameras, face limitations in resolution, cost, weight, and complexity, particularly in determining object range effectively and efficiently for vehicle navigation and control systems.
Innovation Solution
A depth imaging camera with a polarization-coded aperture that uses dual off-axis polarization-coded areas to polarize incident light into perpendicularly and parallel polarized components, allowing a single camera to determine object range by processing disparity between these images, eliminating the need for multiple cameras and reducing computational expense.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If lidar or stereo camera systems are used to determine object range, then depth information can be obtained, but the system complexity, cost, and weight increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two polarization-coded apertures into a single camera system, where each aperture captures images with different polarization states. This merging approach eliminates the need for separate cameras or lidar systems, reducing device complexity while maintaining depth measurement capability through polarization-based disparity mapping
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the polarization parameter of light to encode depth information. By using apertures that transmit different polarization states (e.g., horizontal vs. vertical), the system creates measurable differences in captured images that correspond to object range, enabling depth perception without complex hardware
2Measurement precision
If multiple cameras are used to capture images from different positions, then object range can be determined through disparity, but the cost and weight of the system increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functionality of multiple cameras into a single camera by using multiple polarization-coded apertures within one optical system. This approach captures multiple polarization-coded images simultaneously through one lens and sensor, eliminating the weight of additional camera bodies while maintaining disparity-based depth measurement
3Loss of information
If traditional aperture designs are used, then light transmission is simple, but the ability to encode depth information through polarization is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making different portions of the aperture have different polarization transmission properties. Each region of the aperture is designed to transmit specific polarization states, creating spatially varying optical properties that encode depth information while maintaining overall aperture functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The aperture uses composite structures combining different polarization-filtering materials in specific patterns. These composite aperture designs allow simultaneous transmission of multiple polarization-coded light paths, enabling depth encoding without sacrificing light transmission efficiency
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
Enables accurate and efficient determination of object range with improved resolution and reduced system complexity, facilitating applications like collision avoidance and autonomous driving without the drawbacks of existing technologies.
Implementation Method 1
a perpendicular polarization portion to pass incident light entering the perpendicular polarization portion of the polarization-coded aperture as perpendicularly polarized light, and a parallel polarization portion configured to pass the incident light entering the parallel polarization portion of the polarization-coded aperture as parallel polarized light
Data Source
AI summary
A depth imaging system in a vehicle includes a lens that includes a polarization-coded aperture. The polarization-coded aperture includes a perpendicular polarization portion to pass incident light entering the perpendicular polarization portion of the polarization-coded aperture as perpendicularly polarized light. The polarization-coded aperture also includes a parallel polarization portion to pass the incident light entering the parallel polarization portion of the polarization-coded aperture as parallel polarized light. An image sensor provides a perpendicularly polarized image based on the perpendicularly polarized light and a parallel polarized image based on the parallel polarized light. A controller processes the perpendicularly polarized image and the parallel polarized image to identify one or more objects in a field of view of the depth imaging system and to determine a range to each of the one or more objects.