Time-of-Flight Sensor Intensity Mode for Power Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 3D imaging systems face challenges in power efficiency, as they consume high power to generate both intensity and depth representations, which can lead to rapid battery drain in devices like mobile devices and vehicles, and often require continuous operation in depth mode without necessity.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a two-stage operation in time-of-flight sensor systems, where the sensor initially operates in intensity mode for object detection, reducing power consumption, and switches to depth mode only when an object of interest is identified, allowing for enriched 3D representations with both depth and intensity information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the time-of-flight sensor operates continuously in depth mode to generate three-dimensional representations, then the depth representation quality is improved, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system dynamically switches between intensity mode and depth mode based on detected object presence. The controller monitors the environment and activates the power-intensive depth mode only when an object is detected, otherwise operating in lower-power intensity mode. This dynamic operation mode adjustment resolves the contradiction by adapting the measurement precision and power consumption to actual operational needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic scanning in intensity mode to detect object presence, and only activates depth mode periodically when objects are detected. This periodic switching between operational modes allows the system to maintain adequate monitoring capability while significantly reducing average power consumption compared to continuous depth mode operation.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the sensor operates in intensity mode to reduce power consumption, then the power efficiency is improved, but the depth information is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary object detection using intensity mode before activating depth mode. By first scanning the environment in low-power intensity mode to identify object presence, the system ensures that depth information is only collected when necessary. This preliminary action prevents unnecessary loss of depth information while maintaining power efficiency during periods when no objects are present.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary that coordinates between intensity mode operation and depth mode operation. It processes intensity data to detect objects and triggers depth mode activation only when needed. This intermediary control mechanism ensures seamless transition between modes, preventing information loss while optimizing power efficiency.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the sensor switches to depth mode only when objects are detected, then the power consumption is reduced, but the response time may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains continuous monitoring through periodic intensity mode scanning, ensuring that object presence is constantly assessed. This continuous low-level monitoring prevents gaps in detection capability, allowing the system to quickly switch to depth mode when objects appear, thereby minimizing response time while maintaining power efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
By continuously performing preliminary intensity mode scans, the system maintains readiness to detect objects. This preliminary continuous monitoring ensures that when objects do appear, the system can immediately activate depth mode without significant delay, thus reducing the effective response time despite the mode-switching overhead.
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 conserves power by delaying the use of power-intensive depth mode until an object is detected, enabling efficient operation in devices and enhancing security features like facial recognition with reduced battery consumption.
Implementation Method 1
generating signal data representative of reflected light from an environment
Implementation Method 2
The illumination source of a 3D sensing system can be a modulated illumination source
Implementation Method 3
3D sensing systems, such as time-of-flight (ToF) systems, employ an illumination source
Data Source
AI summary
A method for operating a time-of-flight sensor system includes by an array of pixels of a time-of-flight sensor of the time-of-flight sensor system, generating signal data representative of reflected light from an environment; generating an intensity representation of an object in the environment based on the signal data representative of the reflected light from the environment; determining that the intensity representation indicates that an object in the environment includes a target object; and responsive to the determining, generating a three-dimensional representation of the environment based on the data representative of the reflected light.