Scanning Light Imaging Device with SiPM Feedback for Artifact Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing scanning light imaging devices face challenges in accurately projecting images onto remote surfaces due to artifacts in light reflections and determining the multi-dimensional position of remote objects, which affects image quality and usability.
Innovation Solution
A scanning light imaging device that employs a scanner to project image and tracer beams onto a remote surface, using pseudorandom scanning patterns and Silicon Photon Multiplier (SiPM) arrays to track the reflections and adjust the beam trajectory for improved resolution and accuracy, enabling high-resolution imaging with minimal visual artifacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional scanning light imaging devices are used to project images onto remote surfaces, then the device structure is relatively simple, but image quality deteriorates due to artifacts in light reflections and inability to accurately determine multi-dimensional position
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a camera to capture reflected light from the remote surface and feeds this information back to a controller that adjusts the scanning beam trajectory in real-time. This feedback loop enables the system to compensate for surface irregularities and accurately determine the multi-dimensional position of the remote surface, thereby improving image quality without requiring overly complex hardware architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical positioning systems with a computational approach using camera-based optical feedback and algorithmic trajectory adjustment. Instead of mechanically adjusting the projection surface or viewer position, the system uses software-controlled beam steering based on optical feedback, reducing mechanical complexity while improving precision.
2Speed
If fast sweeping laser beams are used to scan remote objects, then scanning speed increases, but measurement precision deteriorates due to artifacts in light reflections
Solution Approach 1:
The camera captures the position and characteristics of reflected light at each scanning location and provides real-time feedback to adjust the beam trajectory. This feedback mechanism compensates for artifacts introduced by fast sweeping, allowing the system to maintain high scanning speeds while achieving accurate multi-dimensional position measurement by dynamically correcting for reflection artifacts.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary scanning to map the remote surface characteristics before executing the main high-speed imaging sequence. This preliminary action allows the system to pre-calculate compensation parameters for known artifacts, enabling faster subsequent scanning with improved precision.
3Illumination intensity
If high power projection display technologies are used for stationary devices, then image brightness and visibility improve, but device size and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuously projecting high-power light, the system uses periodic pulsed laser scanning combined with persistent vision display. The laser emits short high-intensity pulses that scan across the surface, and the human visual system integrates these rapid pulses into a continuous bright image. This periodic action achieves high brightness perception with significantly reduced average power consumption compared to continuous high-power projection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a camera to capture the reflected light pattern and creates a digital copy of the image data. This digital copy can then be processed and re-projected or displayed on smaller low-power displays, eliminating the need for continuous high-power projection while maintaining image quality and reducing power consumption.
4Manufacturing precision
If conventional projection methods are used on uneven or moving surfaces, then device complexity remains low, but image quality deteriorates due to visual artifacts
Solution Approach 1:
The camera continuously monitors the reflected light pattern from uneven or moving surfaces and provides real-time feedback to the controller. This feedback enables dynamic adjustment of the scanning beam trajectory to compensate for surface irregularities and motion, maintaining high image quality on challenging surfaces without requiring overly complex mechanical stabilization systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamic trajectory adjustment where the scanning beam path is continuously modified based on real-time feedback from the camera. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain image quality on moving or uneven surfaces by adjusting the beam positions to track the actual surface geometry, transforming a static projection system into a dynamically adaptive one.
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 solution provides high-resolution, low-power, and efficient imaging with reduced visual artifacts, suitable for small devices like augmented reality head-mounted displays, and allows for real-time adjustments based on viewer perspective, enhancing image quality and usability on uneven or moving surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
signal recovery by twitchy pixel array
Data Source
AI summary
A scanning light imaging device for continuously pseudo randomly scanning patterns of light in a beam onto a remote surface to achieve spatio-temporal super resolution for finding remotely located objects. The scanning light imaging device employs a scanner to project image beams of visible or non-visible light and/or tracer beams of non-visible light onto a remote surface or remote object to detect reflections. The device employs a light detector to sense at least the reflections of light from one or more of the image beams or the tracer beams incident on the remote surface or remote object. The device employs the sensed reflections of light beams to predict the trajectory of subsequent scanned beams in a pseudo random pattern and determine up to a six degrees of freedom position for the remote surface or remote object.