Rolling Shutter Optical Tracking for Low-Light Motion Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional motion capture systems face challenges in real-time tracking with high computing requirements and accuracy issues, especially in low-light environments, making it difficult to identify and track sensors effectively.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing an imaging device with a rolling shutter to capture images of light sources, detecting alternating stripes to measure their widths and identify the light sources, and a control device to generate control signals for modulating light pulses, improving accuracy and resistance to ambient light interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional sensor tracking methods are used, then the system is easy to implement, but computing requirements become very high and real-time tracking becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical/optical sensor tracking systems with a light-based tracking system. Instead of using physical sensors that require complex computing resources for identification and tracking, the system uses light sources (such as LEDs) that emit detectable light patterns. This substitution fundamentally changes the tracking mechanism from sensor-based detection to light-based detection, thereby reducing computing requirements while enabling real-time tracking capability.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional sensor tracking methods are used, then the system is easy to implement, but tracking accuracy greatly depends on ambient light and fails in dark environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic light emission from light sources attached to tracked objects. The light sources emit light in periodic pulses or patterns that can be detected by the imaging system regardless of ambient light conditions. This periodic action creates a reliable signal that distinguishes the light sources from background illumination, thereby maintaining high tracking accuracy in varying light environments including dark conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes light sources that can emit light with specific characteristics (such as different colors or wavelengths) that are distinct from ambient light. By using light sources with identifiable optical signatures, the system can differentiate between the tracked objects' light sources and background illumination, thereby maintaining measurement precision across different ambient light conditions.
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 system achieves high accuracy in identifying light sources in complex light environments and reduces the need for synchronizing pulse frequencies, enhancing efficiency in motion tracking and gaming applications.
Implementation Method 1
an imaging device with a rolling shutter to capture images of light sources
Implementation Method 2
a control device to generate control signals for modulating light pulses
Implementation Method 3
detecting alternating stripes to measure their widths and identify the light sources
Data Source
AI summary
A method for identifying one or more light sources may include capturing, via an imaging device, an image, the imaging device having a rolling shutter. The method may also include receiving, via at least one processor, the captured image, and detecting, via the at least one processor, whether the image includes a set of alternating stripes. The method may further include measuring, via the at least one processor, if the image includes a set of alternating stripes, a width of at least one stripe of the set of alternating stripes included in the captured image, and identifying, via the at least one processor, a light source causing the set of alternating stripes based on the measured width.