3D Time-of-Flight Illumination Pattern for Load Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 3D sensors used in vehicle trailers and shipping containers for load measurement are inefficient due to their dependency on light intensity, which varies with the number and arrangement of objects, leading to inaccurate measurements and safety concerns for personnel.
Innovation Solution
An illumination system with a light source and diffuser that maintains sufficient irradiance throughout the volume, ensuring safe operation by controlling the illumination intensity and pattern to meet specific criteria for both on-axis and off-axis illumination, using a combination of laser light sources and LEDs, and an infrared sensor for time-of-flight measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional structured light sensors are used with variable light intensity, then the system can adapt to different object arrangements, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to light intensity changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the illumination parameter from variable intensity to structured temporal patterns (continuous, pulsed, alternating). This allows the system to maintain constant light intensity while using temporal variations to encode depth information, thereby maintaining measurement accuracy while adapting to different object arrangements through the structured illumination patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic illumination patterns including continuous, pulsed, and alternating illumination. By using periodic temporal patterns instead of variable intensity, the system maintains consistent light levels for accurate measurements while using the temporal structure to differentiate between foreground and background objects, enabling adaptability without sacrificing precision.
2Measurement precision
If higher light intensity is used to improve measurement accuracy, then measurement precision improves, but safety for personnel deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic pulsed illumination patterns instead of continuous high-intensity light. By delivering light in controlled pulses rather than continuous streams, the system achieves the necessary photon return for accurate time-of-flight measurements while reducing overall energy exposure and maintaining safety for personnel who may be present in the illuminated volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the illumination approach from increasing intensity to using temporal structuring of light delivery. By maintaining constant but safe light intensity levels and using temporal patterns (pulsing, alternating) to encode depth information, the system achieves high measurement accuracy without exceeding safety limits for personnel exposure to illuminated volumes.
3Extent of automation
If structured light projection is used to enable 3D sensing, then 3D measurement capability is achieved, but system complexity increases due to complex image processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic temporal illumination patterns (continuous, pulsed, alternating) that directly modulate the reflected light signal. This temporal encoding allows the sensor to distinguish between different depth planes by analyzing the timing and pattern of returned photons, significantly simplifying the processing requirements compared to spatial structured light decoding while maintaining full 3D measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex spatial structured light projection with temporal illumination patterning. Instead of using complex spatial codes that require sophisticated image processing to decode, the system uses temporal patterns that directly modulate the light signal, allowing depth information to be extracted through simpler temporal analysis of the returned photons.
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 provides accurate and safe 3D measurements by maintaining consistent irradiance throughout the volume, enabling precise load assessment and volume determination while adhering to safety standards for personnel.
Implementation Method 1
an infrared sensor for time-of-flight measurements
Implementation Method 2
a diffuser positioned to receive the output beam from the illumination system. The diffuser may diffuse that output beam
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for illuminating a volume with an illumination system generating an illumination intensity pattern that maintains irradiance at sufficient on and off axis irradiance levels to allow for accurate identification and measure of objects within a volume, such as within a vehicle trailer or shipping container, is provided.