Time-of-Flight Camera Dynamic Illumination for Depth Resolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing time-of-flight (ToF) camera systems face challenges in achieving accurate depth measurements at long distances due to limitations in illumination intensity and coverage, which affect signal-to-noise ratio and depth resolution.
Innovation Solution
The use of a ToF imaging camera system that emits non-uniform illumination across the field of view and employs an actuation mechanism to move the illumination, allowing for improved depth information at increased distances without altering electrical power or optical flux.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If uniform illumination is used across the field of view, then coverage area is maximized, but illumination intensity at any specific location is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamic illumination by moving the light source or the illuminated area across the field of view over time. Instead of static uniform illumination, the system dynamically scans concentrated illumination across different regions, allowing each location to receive high intensity illumination sequentially while maintaining overall coverage of the entire field of view.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic scanning of the illumination across the field of view. The illumination pattern is moved back and forth or in systematic patterns across different regions, ensuring that each area receives adequate illumination intensity during its turn while the overall coverage remains comprehensive throughout the scanning cycle.
2Illumination intensity
If illumination is concentrated on a small area, then illumination intensity at that area is increased, but coverage area is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by making the illumination system dynamic. The concentrated illumination is moved across different areas of the field of view over time, so that while only a small area is illuminated at any instant (maintaining high intensity), the cumulative effect covers the entire field of view through systematic scanning motion.
3Measurement precision
If electrical power is increased to improve illumination intensity, then depth resolution is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves improved depth resolution without increased power consumption by dynamically scanning concentrated illumination across the field of view. The same power level is used, but the illumination is focused on smaller areas sequentially rather than distributed uniformly, effectively increasing the intensity at each location during its illuminated period and thereby improving depth resolution.
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 enhances the accuracy and range of depth information, achieving improved depth resolution at longer distances by concentrating illumination on specific areas and moving it across the field of view using an actuation mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
time-of-flight (ToF) imaging camera system
Data Source
AI summary
Broadly speaking, embodiments of the present techniques provide apparatus and methods for generating a three-dimensional (3D) representation of a scene (also known as 3D sensing) using a time-of-flight imaging system. In particular, the present techniques provide an apparatus comprising a time-of-flight imaging camera system that emits illumination having a spatially-nonuniform intensity over a field of view of the sensor that is moved across at least part of the field of view of a sensor using an actuation mechanism.