Controlling Temporal Aliasing in Cyclically Moving Objects

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image capturing systems struggle to control temporal aliasing effects in videos of cyclically moving objects, such as rotating wheels, due to impractical adjustments in camera sampling rates and object frequencies, which are typically industry-defined and operation-dependent.

Innovation Solution

An image capturing system that includes a control module to calculate and adjust the emission frequency of a light emitter, allowing for user-controlled influence of the stroboscopic effect without altering the camera's sampling rate or the object's frequency, using a sensor to detect the object's speed and calculate its rotational frequency, and a light emitter that pulses at a frequency synchronized with the object's rotation to manipulate the aliasing effect in captured videos.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the sampling rate of the camera is adjusted to control temporal aliasing, then the temporal aliasing effect can be controlled, but the camera sampling rate is typically industry-defined and not practically adjustable in real-time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol of temporal aliasingVSAvoidcamera sampling rate adjustment
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A light emitter is introduced as an intermediary device between the camera and the cyclically moving object. The light emitter pulses at a frequency synchronized with the object's rotation, effectively mediating the interaction between the camera's fixed sampling rate and the moving object, thereby controlling the temporal aliasing effect without requiring camera adjustment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of changing the camera's sampling rate parameter, the invention changes the illumination parameter by pulsing the light emitter at a specific frequency. This parameter change in the lighting condition achieves control over the temporal aliasing effect while keeping the camera operating at its fixed sampling rate

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If the frequency of the cyclically moving object is adjusted to control temporal aliasing, then the temporal aliasing effect can be controlled, but the object frequency is dictated by vehicle operation and not practically controllable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol of temporal aliasingVSAvoidobject frequency adjustment
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The light emitter serves as a mediator that decouples the control of temporal aliasing from the object's frequency. By pulsing the light at a frequency matched to the object's rotation (detected via sensor), the system achieves control over aliasing effects without requiring any change to the object's operational frequency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

A sensor detects the cycling frequency of the moving object and provides feedback to the control module. The control module uses this feedback information to adjust the light emitter's pulse frequency, creating a closed-loop system that adapts to the object's frequency without requiring manual intervention or object frequency changes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If a light emitter is used to control temporal aliasing, then control over the stroboscopic effect is achieved, but the emission frequency must be precisely synchronized with the object's rotation frequency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol of stroboscopic effectVSAvoidfrequency synchronization
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs a sensor to continuously monitor the cycling frequency of the moving object and feeds this information back to the control module. This feedback mechanism automatically adjusts the light emitter's pulse frequency to match the object's rotation, eliminating the need for manual frequency matching and reducing synchronization errors

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system is designed to automatically detect and adapt to the object's frequency without external intervention. The sensor and control module work together to self-regulate the light emitter's pulse frequency, making the system self-adjusting and reducing the precision burden on manual operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

Enables precise control over the temporal aliasing effect in videos, allowing for the creation of desired motion appearances of cyclically moving objects, including stationary or animated displays, without interfering with the captured images and maintaining visual acceptability.

Implementation Method 1

this temporal aliasing effect which the Inventors wish to utilise to control display of a cyclically moving object in a video

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectStroboscopic effect: Stroboscopic Effect

Data Source

PatentEP3065391B1An image capturing system and method for imaging cyclically moving objects
Publication Date: 2021.01.27 THE TRUSTEES FOR THE TIME BEING OF JUNIOR BARNES FAMILY TRUST
  • EP3065391B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3065391B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3065391B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An image capturing system (100) introduces or controls an aliasing / stroboscopic effect in a cyclically moving object (150). The system (100) has a camera (102) with a sampling frequency (102a) to capture a series of images to form a video of the cyclically moving object (150) which cycles at a cycling frequency (150a), the sampling and cycling frequencies (102a, 150a) not necessarily being related. The image capturing system (100) includes a sensor (104) to detect the cycling frequency (150a) of the cyclically moving object (150) and to generate a frequency reading (104a) indicative of the detected cycling frequency (150a) with a control module (106) communicably coupled to the sensor (104). The system (100) has a light emitter (120) to emit pulses of light at a controllable emission frequency (120a), the control module (106) controlling the emission frequency (120a) of the light emitter (120) based on the frequency reading (104a), thereby to influence the temporal aliasing of the cyclically moving object (150) as captured in the video.