ToF Camera Depth Reconstruction for XR Object Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current extended reality (XR) technologies, such as head-mountable displays (HMDs), face challenges in accurately reconstructing real space objects within virtual environments, particularly in immersive XR experiences like VR, AR, and MR, due to limitations in depth perception and object mapping.
Innovation Solution
The use of a time-of-flight (ToF) camera to capture depth images and calculate 3D coordinates, which are then mapped from real space to virtual space, enabling the reconstruction of real space objects within virtual space images, enhancing the XR experience by accurately simulating real-world environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional depth sensing methods are used in XR technologies, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision of depth and object mapping deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical depth sensing methods with a time-of-flight (ToF) camera system that uses optical phase measurement. The ToF camera measures the time for light to travel to and from objects, converting this into depth information through phase detection. This substitution of mechanical sensing with optical measurement achieves superior depth precision while maintaining manageable system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms depth information from real space into virtual space coordinates through mathematical coordinate transformation. By changing the parameter representation from physical depth measurements to virtual 3D coordinates, the system achieves accurate object reconstruction in the virtual environment while maintaining computational efficiency.
2Manufacturing precision
If 3D coordinate calculation and mapping is performed accurately, then manufacturing precision of virtual object reconstruction is improved, but loss of time in processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-establishes the coordinate transformation relationships between real space and virtual space before actual object reconstruction occurs. By preparing the mapping framework in advance, the system can quickly transform depth data into 3D coordinates without performing complex calculations during real-time reconstruction, thus maintaining high precision while reducing processing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual copy of real-world objects by mapping their 3D coordinates from real space to virtual space. This copying process uses pre-established transformation matrices to efficiently reproduce object geometry in the virtual environment, achieving accurate reconstruction without repeated complex computations.
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
This approach allows for precise reconstruction of real space objects within virtual environments, improving the immersion and realism of XR experiences by accurately transforming 3D coordinates from real space to virtual space, thereby enhancing user engagement and simulation fidelity.
Implementation Method 1
depth information about a real space environment using a time-of-flight camera
Data Source
AI summary
A depth image is acquired using a time-of-flight (ToF) camera. The depth image has two-dimensional (2D) pixels on a plane of the depth image. The 2D pixels correspond to projections of three-dimensional (3D) pixels in a real space onto the plane. For each 3D pixel, 3D coordinates within a 3D camera coordinate system of the real space are calculated based on 2D coordinates of the 2D pixel to which the 3D pixel corresponds within a 2D image coordinate system of the plane, the depth image, and camera parameters of the ToF camera. The 3D pixels are mapped from the real space to a virtual space. An object within the real space within an image of the virtual space is reconstructed using the 3D pixels as mapped to the virtual space.