TOF Distance Measurement Dynamic Light Intensity Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing distance measurement technologies using the time of flight method face challenges in reducing power consumption of light sources while maintaining measurement performance, especially when the measurement target is not present, leading to unnecessary energy usage and decreased reflection light intensity.
Innovation Solution
A distance measurement apparatus with a light-emitting unit, light-receiving unit, and image processing unit that switches between high definition and power saving modes based on the presence of a detection target, adjusting light emission intensity and pixel signal addition to optimize power usage and measurement quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the emitted light intensity is increased to maintain measurement precision, then distance measurement performance is improved, but power consumption of the light source increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light emission intensity is made dynamic rather than constant. The control unit adjusts the light emission intensity based on whether a detection target is present in the distance image. When no target is detected, the light emission intensity is reduced to lower power consumption. When a target is detected, the intensity is increased to ensure measurement precision. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between measurement performance and power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of light emission intensity based on detection conditions. By monitoring the presence of detection targets in distance images and adjusting the light intensity parameter accordingly, the system optimizes the balance between measurement accuracy and energy consumption, directly addressing the technical contradiction.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the emitted light intensity is reduced to decrease power consumption, then power consumption of the light source is reduced, but the intensity of reflection light from the subject decreases making stable distance measurement difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The light emission intensity is dynamically adjusted based on detection target presence. When a target is detected, the intensity is increased to maintain reliable and stable distance measurement. When no target is present, the intensity is reduced to save power. This conditional dynamic adjustment ensures measurement reliability is maintained when needed while reducing power consumption when unnecessary.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the distance image detection to control light emission intensity. The control unit receives information about detection target presence from the distance image and adjusts the light intensity accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures that light intensity is optimized based on actual measurement needs, maintaining reliability when targets are present while reducing power consumption when they are not.
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 apparatus effectively reduces power consumption of the light source while ensuring stable distance measurement performance by dynamically adjusting light intensity and pixel signal processing based on the presence of a detection target, thereby minimizing unnecessary energy usage.
Implementation Method 1
measuring a distance to a subject on the basis of light transmission time... a distance to the subject is calculated on the basis of a time difference therebetween
Data Source
AI summary
A distance measurement apparatus 1 includes: a TOF camera 10 having a light-emitting unit 11, a light-receiving unit 12, and a distance-calculating unit 13 to measure a distance to the subject on the basis of light transmission time; and an image processing unit 17 that creates a distance image of the subject from distance data measured by the TOF camera 10. The image processing unit 17 determines whether or not there is a detection target in the created distance image. If there is no detection target in the distance image, the light emission intensity control unit 18 decreases the emitted light intensity from the light source of the light-emitting unit 11, and the operation mode is switched to a power saving mode in which the pixel addition control unit 19 increases an addition ratio of a neighboring pixel signal of the light-receiving unit 12.