Shutter Driver Energy Recovery for 3D Sensor Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing 3D image sensor modules face challenges in reducing power consumption while generating accurate depth information, as the modulation of light reflected from a subject requires significant electric power, leading to heat-related issues.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a shutter driver that generates a driving voltage for an optical shutter using loss-compensated recycling energy, which reduces power consumption and compensates for energy losses during energy exchange, allowing for efficient modulation of light and accurate image generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If light reflected from a subject is modulated using significant electric power, then accurate depth information and 3D images can be generated, but heat-related issues arise due to high power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an energy recovery mechanism where the optical shutter recovers and stores energy during its switching operations. The circuit captures energy that would otherwise be dissipated as heat and stores it in an energy storage element, then reuses this recovered energy to drive the shutter's switching actions. This reduces the net power consumption from the power supply while maintaining the shutter's ability to modulate light for accurate depth measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical shutter system becomes self-sufficient by generating and storing its own operating energy through its switching operations. The recovered energy from the shutter's own operation is sufficient to drive subsequent switching cycles, making the system partially self-powered and eliminating the need for continuous high-power external supply, thus reducing heat generation.
2Measurement precision
If continuous high power is supplied to modulate light, then accurate 3D images can be generated, but battery drain increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an energy recovery mechanism where the optical shutter recovers and stores energy during its switching operations. The circuit captures energy that would otherwise be dissipated as heat and stores it in an energy storage element, then reuses this recovered energy to drive the shutter's switching actions. This reduces the net power consumption from the power supply while maintaining the shutter's ability to modulate light for accurate depth measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical shutter system becomes self-sufficient by generating and storing its own operating energy through its switching operations. The recovered energy from the shutter's own operation is sufficient to drive subsequent switching cycles, making the system partially self-powered and eliminating the need for continuous high-power external supply, thus reducing heat generation.
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 reduces power consumption and minimizes heat-related issues, enabling the generation of accurate 3D images and depth information with improved efficiency and reduced battery drain.
Implementation Method 1
an optical shutter (120) having a pair of terminals E1, E2 to which a distortion-compensated voltage Vdrv is applied
Implementation Method 2
a resonator (142) having a pair of terminals N1, N2, the terminals N1, N2 being electrically connected to the pair of terminals E1, E2 of the optical shutter (120) through a loss-compensated recycling energy
Data Source
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AI summary
A three-dimensional (3D) image sensor device and an electronic apparatus including the 3D image sensor device are provided. The 3D image sensor device includes: a shutter driver that generates a driving voltage of a sine wave biased with a first bias voltage, from a loss-compensated recycling energy; an optical shutter that varies transmittance of reflective light reflected from a subject, according to the driving voltage, and modulates the reflective light to generate at least two optical modulation signals having different phases; and an image generator that generates 3D image data for the subject which includes depth information calculated based on a phase difference between the at least two optical modulation signals.