Time of Flight Camera Dynamic Control Mode Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Time of Flight (TOF) camera systems face challenges in optimizing power consumption and resource usage, particularly when generating high-resolution depth information or high-frame rate depth maps, leading to inefficient power usage and increased resource occupancy.
Innovation Solution
A camera system with a light-emitting module, a light-receiving module, and a control module that adjusts output and input control modes based on detected subject presence and distance, allowing for optimized power management by varying light exposure time, frame rate, and modulation frequency across different control modes to generate depth maps with varying resolutions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the TOF camera is driven in a manner for generating high-resolution depth information or high frame rate depth information, then the depth information quality is improved, but power consumption increases and resource occupancy unnecessarily increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the camera's operating parameters adjustable and adaptable to different scenarios. The control module dynamically switches between first and second control modes based on whether a subject is detected, adjusting light exposure time, frame rate, and number of activated pixels accordingly. This allows the system to optimize power consumption while maintaining depth information quality when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes operating parameters (light exposure time, frame rate, number of activated pixels) based on detection results. In the first control mode, parameters are set for power efficiency with longer exposure time and lower frame rate. In the second control mode, parameters are adjusted for high-resolution depth information with shorter exposure time and higher frame rate. This parameter adaptation resolves the contradiction between power consumption and depth information quality.
2Measurement precision
If the TOF camera is driven in a manner for generating high-resolution depth information or high frame rate depth information, then the depth information quality is improved, but resource occupancy unnecessarily increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by activating only the necessary number of pixels in the light-receiving module based on the current operating mode. In the first control mode, fewer pixels are activated to reduce resource occupancy. In the second control mode, more pixels are activated to provide high-resolution depth information. This selective activation resolves the contradiction between depth information quality and resource occupancy.
3Measurement precision
If the light exposure time is increased to capture sufficient light from long distance, then the measurement accuracy is improved, but the frame rate decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts light exposure time based on the operating mode. In the first control mode, a longer light exposure time is used to capture sufficient light from long distances, improving measurement accuracy. In the second control mode, a shorter light exposure time is used to increase the frame rate for capturing moving objects. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between measurement accuracy and frame rate.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the light exposure time parameter according to the control mode. The control module sets different exposure times based on whether high frame rate or high precision is required, allowing the system to adapt to different application scenarios and resolve the trade-off between these two parameters.
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
The system achieves optimized power consumption and resource usage by dynamically adjusting camera settings based on the subject's presence and distance, enabling efficient generation of depth maps with higher resolution when needed, while reducing power usage for less demanding applications.
Implementation Method 1
a distance from the object is calculated by measuring a flight time, that is, a time that light is emitted and reflected
Implementation Method 2
analyzing light reflected from the object to extract the depth information
Data Source
AI summary
A camera according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a light-emitting module for configured to output output light according to a set control mode; a light-receiving module configured to receive input light corresponding to the output light according to the control mode; and a control module configured to detect at least one of presence of a subject and a distance from the subject on the basis of the input light, reset the control mode according to a detection result, control an output of the light-emitting module and an input of the light-receiving module according to the reset control mode, and generate a depth map for the subject on the basis of the input light which is input according to the reset control mode.