Single-Sensor Peering Depth Imaging Using Motion Parallax

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing depth cameras are bulky, costly, and heavy due to the inclusion of infrared lasers, detectors, and multiple image sensors, making them unsuitable for miniature and low-cost applications.

Innovation Solution

A peering sensor that utilizes a single image sensor translated across a travel length to generate depth images through motion parallax, eliminating the need for additional sensors and leveraging triangulation techniques to calculate depth from sequential images.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If infrared lasers, detectors, and multiple image sensors are used to achieve depth measurement, then depth measurement precision is improved, but device weight, size, and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedepth measurement precisionVSAvoidsensor weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates unnecessary components (infrared lasers, detectors, and additional image sensors) from the depth measurement system. By removing these heavy and expensive components, the system achieves weight reduction while maintaining depth measurement capability through alternative means (single image sensor with motion parallax or focus variation techniques).

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a single image sensor to capture multiple images from different positions or focal distances, creating virtual multiple-view copies of the scene. These copied images are then processed to extract depth information, replacing the need for physical multiple sensors while achieving similar depth measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Measurement precision

If infrared lasers, detectors, and multiple image sensors are used to achieve depth measurement, then depth measurement precision is improved, but device size increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedepth measurement precisionVSAvoidsensor volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the functions of multiple sensors into a single image sensor by combining motion parallax measurement and focus variation techniques. This consolidation reduces the overall sensor volume while maintaining the depth measurement precision that would otherwise require multiple separate sensing components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces temporal and focal dimensionality to compensate for the reduction in spatial dimensionality. By capturing images at different time points (motion parallax) or focal distances (focus variation), the system extracts depth information without requiring multiple sensors positioned in different spatial locations, thereby reducing device volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Measurement precision

If infrared lasers, detectors, and multiple image sensors are used to achieve depth measurement, then depth measurement precision is improved, but device cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedepth measurement precisionVSAvoiddevice cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive, specialized components (infrared lasers and detectors) with a standard, inexpensive image sensor. The system achieves depth measurement functionality using off-the-shelf camera components and computational algorithms, dramatically reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining acceptable depth precision for the application.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent substitutes complex optical-mechanical depth measurement systems with a computational imaging approach. By using a single image sensor combined with algorithms that analyze motion parallax or focus variation, the system replaces expensive hardware with software-based depth extraction, reducing overall device cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 a compact, cost-effective depth sensor capable of generating high-quality depth images with reduced computational cost, suitable for various applications including robotics, medical devices, and autonomous systems.

Implementation Method 1

A peering sensor that utilizes a single image sensor translated across a travel length to generate depth images through motion parallax

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMotion parallax: Parallax

Implementation Method 2

leveraging triangulation techniques to calculate depth from sequential images

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTriangulation:

Data Source

PatentUS20260067586A1Peering sensors and methods

Publication Date: 2026.03.05 A PRIORI ROBOTICS INC

AI summary

In one embodiment, a peering sensor includes an image sensor. The peering sensor also includes an actuator coupled to the image sensor. The peering sensor further includes one or more processors operable to control the actuator to translate the image sensor across a travel length at a speed, control the image sensor to generate a plurality of images at a frame rate as the image sensor is translated across the travel length, and generate a depth image from the plurality of images.