Time-of-Flight Camera Array for 360-Degree Depth Sensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional time-of-flight cameras have limited fields of view and illumination, making it difficult to achieve comprehensive 360° depth sensing without bulky or costly systems with movable parts.

Innovation Solution

A time-of-flight system comprising multiple cameras with wide subfields of view and illumination modules, arranged to cover a main field of view without overlapping illumination, allowing for 360° depth sensing using commercially available parts and minimizing the need for moving components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If a single time-of-flight camera is used, then the device complexity is low, but the field of view and field of illumination are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefield of viewVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the main field of view into multiple wide subfields of view, each covered by a separate time-of-flight camera. Each camera is paired with illumination modules that illuminate specific portions of its subfield. This segmentation allows comprehensive 360° coverage while using multiple relatively simple camera units rather than one complex system with moving parts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Area of stationary object

If illuminators with larger field of illumination are implemented, then the field of illumination is increased, but the energy consumption and interference increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefield of illuminationVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using a single large-field illuminator that consumes high energy, the system employs multiple illumination modules, each with a predetermined field of illumination. Each module illuminates a specific portion of the wide subfield of view covered by its associated camera. This local illumination approach reduces overall energy consumption while achieving comprehensive coverage, and minimizes interference between illumination sources.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Area of stationary object

If multiple time-of-flight cameras are arranged to cover 360°, then the field of view is expanded, but the device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemain field of viewVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The 360° field of view is segmented into multiple wide subfields, each covered by a standard time-of-flight camera paired with specific illumination modules. This allows the system to achieve comprehensive coverage using commercially available camera units rather than requiring a single complex 360° camera or a system with moving parts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using one complex 360° camera or a system with moving parts to achieve comprehensive coverage, the invention inverts the approach by using multiple fixed cameras with wide subfields of view, each paired with dedicated illumination modules. This stationary multi-camera arrangement achieves 360° coverage more simply and cost-effectively.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

4Area of stationary object

If illumination modules are arranged to illuminate wide subfields, then the field of illumination is expanded, but the number of illumination modules increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewide subfield of view illuminationVSAvoidnumber of illumination modules

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The illumination system is segmented into multiple modules, each responsible for illuminating a specific portion of a wide subfield of view. Each time-of-flight camera is associated with illumination modules that cover its subfield, creating a modular system where the total illumination coverage is achieved through coordinated operation of multiple specialized modules rather than one large illuminator.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 simple, cost-effective 360° depth sensing with reduced interference and energy consumption, while maintaining high signal-to-noise ratio and eye safety, allowing for detailed 3D mapping over wider distances.

Implementation Method 1

Time-of-flight system and method... allows to capture an absolute position, a movement and a shape of environmental elements in three dimensions

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTime of flight: Time of Flight

Data Source

PatentUS20240369711A1Time-of-flight system and method

Publication Date: 2024.11.07 SONY SEMICON SOLUTIONS CORP

AI summary

The disclosure provides a time-of-flight system that includes a set of time-of-flight cameras of a same type for covering a main field of view; wherein each time-of-flight camera of the set of time-of-flight cameras includes an imaging unit configured to image a wide subfield of view; and a set of illumination modules with predetermined fields of illumination; wherein the set of illumination modules is arranged such that the fields of illumination of the set of illumination modules illuminate the wide subfield of view; wherein the set of time-of-flight cameras is arranged such that the wide subfields of view of the set of time-of-flight cameras cover the main field of view.