Stereo Depth Camera Thermal Compensation for Depth Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Stereo depth cameras are sensitive to temperature variations, leading to errors in depth measurements due to changes in intrinsic and extrinsic parameters, with current solutions either ignoring thermal distortions or requiring active thermal control, which is power-intensive and costly.
Innovation Solution
A passive thermal compensation method that measures current temperature and applies real-time corrections to calibration parameters using a parametric model to minimize thermal distortions in depth image generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If active thermal control is used to maintain calibration temperature, then measurement precision is improved, but use of energy and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/thermal control system (heaters, coolers, temperature sensors for active control) with a computational approach. A camera distortion model is used to calculate and compensate for thermal distortion effects on depth measurements through software processing of captured images, eliminating the need for active thermal control hardware and its associated power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the approach from controlling physical temperature parameters to compensating for their effects through parameter adjustments in the distortion model. The system captures images at different temperatures, determines distortion parameters for each temperature, and selects or interpolates appropriate parameters based on current temperature conditions to maintain measurement accuracy without active thermal control.
2Measurement precision
If active thermal control is used to maintain calibration temperature, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/thermal control system (heaters, coolers, temperature sensors for active control) with a computational approach. A camera distortion model is used to calculate and compensate for thermal distortion effects on depth measurements through software processing of captured images, eliminating the need for active thermal control hardware and its associated power consumption.
3Device complexity
If thermal distortion compensation is ignored, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/thermal control system with a computational approach. A camera distortion model is used to calculate and compensate for thermal distortion effects on depth measurements through software processing of captured images, eliminating the need for active thermal control hardware and its associated power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-compensation for thermal distortions by automatically capturing images, determining temperature conditions, selecting appropriate distortion parameters from the model, and correcting depth measurements without requiring external thermal control systems or manual calibration adjustments.
Data Source
AI summary
An example apparatus includes: a camera to record an image; memory to store instructions; and a processor in circuit with the memory, the processor to execute the instructions to: determine a depth based on: (a) the image and (b) a calibration parameter of the camera; and adjust the calibration parameter based on a temperature of the camera and the depth.