Proximity Sensor Signal Correction via Light Emission Pattern Correlation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing proximity sensors face challenges in accurately distinguishing noise from reflected light, leading to erroneous event detection, particularly when using simple histogram methods.
Innovation Solution
A sensing system that includes a light emission control unit, a pixel array unit with two-dimensionally arranged pixels detecting changes in received light, and a signal corrector that corrects event signals based on a predetermined light emission pattern, allowing for correlation estimation between the pattern and the received light amount to differentiate between reflected light and noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a simple histogram method is used for noise filtering, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision of event detection deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the event detection process into multiple stages: raw event signal acquisition, temporal pattern matching against light emission patterns, spatial correlation analysis across pixel arrays, and confidence-based filtering. This multi-stage segmentation allows sophisticated noise filtering without requiring a single complex histogram structure, thereby maintaining measurement precision while managing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from traditional 1D histogram-based noise filtering to multi-dimensional analysis by incorporating temporal dimensions (light emission pattern timing), spatial dimensions (pixel array positions and correlations), and confidence dimension (detection reliability scores). This dimensional expansion enables more accurate event detection without proportionally increasing device complexity
2Measurement precision
If correlation estimation between light emission pattern and received light amount is performed, then the measurement precision of reflected light detection is improved, but the loss of time for signal processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-storing light emission patterns in memory before actual detection occurs, and by pre-establishing correlation algorithms and threshold values. During real-time operation, the system only needs to retrieve stored patterns and perform simplified comparison operations, significantly reducing processing time while maintaining high measurement precision for reflected light detection
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements skipping mechanisms by implementing early termination conditions in correlation estimation: when correlation thresholds are clearly exceeded or violated, processing stops immediately without completing full cycle analysis. This allows the system to rush through obvious cases quickly while still performing thorough analysis only when necessary, reducing average processing time while maintaining detection accuracy
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
This approach enhances event detection performance by effectively distinguishing noise from actual events, improving the accuracy of proximity sensing by correlating the light emission pattern with the received light amount, thereby reducing erroneous detections.
Implementation Method 1
reflected light of a subject based on an irradiation light emitted from a light source is received by a pixel array unit
Implementation Method 2
pixels that detect a change in a received light amount as an event and generate an event signal
Data Source
AI summary
A sensing system includes a light emission control unit that controls light emission of a light source by using a light emission pattern determined in advance, a pixel array unit in which pixels that detect a change in a received light amount as an event and generate an event signal indicating presence or absence of detection of the event are two-dimensionally arranged, and a signal corrector that performs correction of the event signal on the basis of the light emission pattern.