Noise Processing in 3D Camera Depth Arrays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Noise in the reflected light affects the accuracy of depth information in time-of-flight (TOF) technology used by 3D cameras, due to external light sources and irregular reflective surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A noise processing method and apparatus that selects pixels in an area array, calculates pixel dispersion based on pre-stored depth information, and removes pixels with dispersion greater than a preset threshold to identify and eliminate noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If TOF technology uses modulated near-infrared light to measure depth, then depth information can be obtained, but noise from external light sources and irregular reflective surfaces affects measurement precision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes noise pixels from the area array by calculating dispersion values for each pixel and comparing them against a threshold. Pixels with dispersion greater than the threshold are identified as noise and removed, thereby separating the harmful noise signals from the useful depth information signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality analysis by calculating dispersion values specifically for each pixel in the area array based on its depth information. This allows differential treatment of each pixel - keeping pixels with acceptable dispersion (valid depth data) and removing pixels with excessive dispersion (noise), thus improving overall measurement precision while preserving local accuracy where applicable.
2Measurement precision
If pixel dispersion calculation is performed to remove noise, then noise removal accuracy improves, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by calculating dispersion values only for pixels that require analysis, rather than processing the entire area array uniformly. By using a threshold-based approach, the system performs dispersion calculation selectively on pixels that may contain noise, optimizing the balance between noise removal accuracy and processing time.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses a noise processing method and apparatus. The method includes: selecting a pixel in an area array, which is formed by arranging a plurality of pixels in a matrix; obtaining pre-stored depth information corresponding to the pixel; performing pixel dispersion calculation according to the depth information corresponding to the pixel, to obtain at least one dispersion of the pixel, the dispersion being used to indicate a degree of dispersion between the pixel and another pixel in the area array; and identifying the pixel as a noise and removing the pixel from the area array when the at least one dispersion of the pixel is greater than a preset threshold. According to the above method, the dispersion between the pixel and the another pixel in the area array is calculated according to the depth information corresponding to the pixel, and the pixel is identified as a noise and is removed from the area array when the at least one dispersion of the pixel is greater than the preset threshold. Therefore, noises in the area array may be identified and removed, which resolves a technical problem that generated noises may affect accuracy of the depth information.