Sequential TOF Scanning for Outdoor Distance and Resolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Time Of Flight (TOF) systems face limitations in measuring distances beyond 15 meters due to the inverse-square law, which reduces illumination intensity, and existing systems either require high-powered laser sources or suffer from poor spatial resolution when trying to cover large areas, making them unsuitable for outdoor applications with daylight and medium-long distances.
Innovation Solution
A system that projects a light beam with a determined divergence to illuminate sub-areas of a surface, using light redirection elements arranged in a spatial distribution model greater than the number of detectors, allowing for alternating direction and sequential redirection of reflected light towards a smaller number of detectors, thereby concentrating energy and improving spatial resolution and measurement distance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If systems use diverging light sources to illuminate larger areas for simultaneously measuring multiple points, then measurement coverage area is improved, but energy concentration per unit surface decreases leading to reduced measurable distance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the detection process into multiple sequential segments, measuring different regions of the surface at different times. This allows the use of a diverging light source for broad coverage while maintaining high energy concentration on the illuminated point by dedicating the full detector array to each sequential measurement, thereby resolving the contradiction between coverage area and illumination intensity.
2Illumination intensity
If sequential scanning systems concentrate optical power at a small point for measuring greater distances, then measurable distance is improved, but total measurement time increases reducing images per second
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic control of the detector array, selectively activating only the subset of detectors needed for each measurement region. This dynamic allocation allows rapid switching between different spatial configurations, enabling sequential scanning to achieve high energy concentration while maintaining high productivity through optimized measurement sequences and parallel processing of detector signals.
3Productivity
If systems use arrays of detectors to measure multiple points simultaneously, then measurement speed is improved, but spatial resolution decreases when covering large areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different functional roles to different regions of the detector array. Each detector or detector group is optimized for specific spatial zones, allowing the system to maintain high spatial resolution in each local region while achieving fast measurement speeds through parallel operation of multiple detectors across the entire array.
4Area of stationary object
If the number of light redirection elements exceeds the number of detectors, then spatial distribution coverage is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple light redirection elements with a single detector by implementing temporal multiplexing, where multiple optical paths are sequentially directed to the same detector. This combining approach maintains comprehensive spatial distribution coverage while reducing the total number of detectors needed, thereby lowering device complexity while preserving the ability to measure multiple spatial regions.
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 the measurable distance and scanning speed while maintaining high spatial resolution, using less powerful light sources and avoiding the underutilization of detectors, making it suitable for outdoor applications like the automotive industry.
Implementation Method 1
Current Time Of Flight (TOF) systems face limitations in measuring distances beyond 15 meters due to the inverse-square law, which reduces illumination intensity
Implementation Method 2
means for receiving and detecting the portions of light reflected on same
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for scanning a surface and a computer program implementing the method. The method is suitable for performing the functions carried out by the system of the invention. The computer program implements the method of the invention. The systemmeans for illuminating illuminates different sub-areas (Si) of a surface (S) with a light beam (Be) in an alternating manner, andreceives and detects the portions of reflected light (Br) reflected on same, including:one or more light detectors (D); andlight redirection means including a determined spatial distribution model (Qr) of the light redirection elements (GM), which receive the portions of reflected light (Br) and sequentially redirect them towards the light detector or detectors (D).