Handheld Stereo Camera Layout for Repetitive Feature Matching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing stereophotogrammetry devices face errors in image matching due to parallel alignment of the stereo base with repetitive features in modern buildings, leading to incorrect image composition and measurement flaws, particularly in man-made structures with uniform and repeating features.

Innovation Solution

A handheld device with a diagonally aligned stereo base relative to its longitudinal axis, incorporating an evaluation unit that accounts for this alignment during stereophotogrammetric evaluation to recognize repeating patterns and determine the repetition direction of features, thereby reducing errors in image matching.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the stereo base is aligned parallel to the direction of repetition in modern buildings, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to incorrect feature matching

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidmeasurement precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The stereo base is intentionally misaligned at an angle (e.g., 15-30 degrees) relative to the device's longitudinal axis, creating an asymmetric configuration. This asymmetric arrangement ensures that the epipolar lines do not run parallel to the repetitive horizontal or vertical features of modern buildings, thereby preventing incorrect feature matching while maintaining simple device operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

2Device complexity

If the stereo base is aligned parallel to the direction of repetition, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of image matching deteriorates due to errors in assigning similar features

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidreliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The stereo base is intentionally misaligned at an angle (e.g., 15-30 degrees) relative to the device's longitudinal axis, creating an asymmetric configuration. This asymmetric arrangement ensures that the epipolar lines do not run parallel to the repetitive horizontal or vertical features of modern buildings, thereby preventing incorrect feature matching while maintaining simple device operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional stereophotogrammetry is used with parallel stereo base alignment, then the manufacturing precision is simplified, but the measurement accuracy deteriorates when features are uniformly repeated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidmanufacturing precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The stereo base is intentionally misaligned at an angle (e.g., 15-30 degrees) relative to the device's longitudinal axis, creating an asymmetric configuration. This asymmetric arrangement ensures that the epipolar lines do not run parallel to the repetitive horizontal or vertical features of modern buildings, thereby preventing incorrect feature matching while maintaining simple device operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentEP3486606B1Stereo camera and stereophotogrammetric method
Publication Date: 2026.05.20 LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
  • EP3486606B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3486606B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP3486606B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3c

AI summary

The invention relates to a handheld device (1) for image-based measurement of a remote object (5), comprising a housing (10) with a front (11) and a back (12), a first and second camera (3a, 3b) arranged with a stereo base (30) on the back (12) for capturing images (51, 52) of the object (5), an evaluation unit with an algorithm for stereophotogrammetric evaluation of the images (51, 52) of the cameras (3a, 3b), and a display unit (20) arranged on the front (11) for displaying images (50) of the object (5) and results of the stereophotogrammetric evaluation, wherein the housing (10) has a longitudinal axis (15), the stereo base (30) is diagonally aligned relative to the longitudinal axis (15), and the evaluation unit is designed to take into account the relative orientation of the stereo base (30) during stereophotogrammetric evaluation.