Laser Scanner Layout for Real-Time Colored 3D Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current laser scanners for optical measurement and 3D point cloud generation lack efficient color sensitivity, resulting in grayscale displays that obscure environmental details, and have complex designs that hinder compact construction and simultaneous data recording.
Innovation Solution
A laser scanner system with a color camera integrated in a compact design, where the camera's viewing direction differs from the scanning plane, allowing for parallel data recording and processing, enabling real-time generation of colored 3D point clouds and efficient data association using a separate computing device for initial processing and display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a laser scanner uses a rotating beam deflection element for high-speed scanning, then measurement speed and productivity are improved, but device complexity increases and compact construction becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the laser transmitter, color camera, and beam deflection unit into a single integrated housing, merging multiple functional components into one compact unit. This reduces overall device complexity while maintaining high-speed scanning capability through the beam deflection element, directly resolving the contradiction between measurement speed and device complexity.
2Measurement precision
If a laser scanner integrates both distance measurement and color imaging functions, then measurement precision and information quality are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The laser scanner is designed with multi-functionality, simultaneously performing distance measurement via laser time-of-flight and color imaging via an integrated color camera. Both functions operate through a single device with shared housing and control systems, achieving improved measurement precision and information quality while managing device complexity through unified design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the distance measurement system and color imaging system into one integrated unit, with both the laser transmitter and color camera housed together and coordinated by a single control unit. This combining approach enables simultaneous data acquisition while avoiding the complexity of separate independent systems.
3Device complexity
If a laser scanner uses grayscale display for 3D point cloud, then device simplicity is maintained, but loss of information occurs regarding environmental details
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a color camera that captures RGB information alongside distance measurement data, enabling the generation of colored 3D point clouds. This color information is integrated into the point cloud display, allowing environmental details to be visualized with color differentiation while maintaining the underlying 3D structural information, thus preventing information loss.
4Productivity
If a laser scanner processes and displays data in real-time, then productivity and user feedback are improved, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs preliminary processing of measurement data and color information simultaneously during data acquisition, preparing the data for real-time display. By pre-processing data as it is being collected rather than waiting for complete acquisition, the system achieves real-time feedback while managing energy consumption through efficient concurrent processing rather than intensive post-processing.
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 facilitates rapid, compact, and efficient data acquisition and display of colored 3D point clouds, enhancing detail visibility and allowing for immediate adjustments during measurement processes.
Implementation Method 1
an optical distance measuring device for detecting distance measurement data, with a transmitter unit for emitting a distance measurement radiation and a receiver unit for receiving returning parts of the distance measurement radiation
Implementation Method 2
A laser scanner for optical measurement and for imaging an environment, in particular for generating and displaying a colored 3D point cloud
Implementation Method 3
at least one rotating beam deflection element for variation of the alignment of the emission direction of the distance measurement beam
Implementation Method 4
a surface sensor for detecting surface sensor data, in particular, at least one color camera for recording image data
Data Source
AI summary
A laser scanner and a system with a laser scanner for measuring an environment. The laser scanner includes an optical distance measuring device, a support, a beam steering unit rotatably fixed to the support which rotates around a beam axis of rotation. The beam steering unit includes a mirrored surface which deflects radiation used in the optical distance measurement and an angle encoder for recording angle data. The optical distance measurement is performed by a progressive rotation of the beam steering unit about the beam axis of rotation and the continuous emission of a distance measurement radiation, the emission being made through an outlet area arranged in the direction of the mirrored surface on the support, the receiving optics for receiving radiation are arranged on the support, and wherein the outlet area has a lateral offset with respect to the optical axis of the receiving optics.