Vehicle TOF Sensor Dual Light Source Single Camera
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle image acquisition systems using Time of Flight (TOF) sensors face challenges in capturing a wide range in front of a host vehicle efficiently, leading to increased complexity and cost due to the need for multiple optical systems for short and long-distance imaging.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle image acquisition device with a light emitting unit that includes separate first and second light sources for short and long-distance irradiation, and a single camera to capture images from each range, with a timing control unit to manage light emission and imaging timing, allowing for efficient wide-range capture with reduced complexity and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single TOF sensor uses one optical system to capture a wide range from near to far, then the device complexity is reduced, but the manufacturing precision and cost increase due to requiring a highly complex light source or lens configuration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single optical system into two separate optical systems: a short-distance optical system and a long-distance optical system. Each system is optimized for its specific distance range, avoiding the need for a single highly complex optical system. This segmentation reduces manufacturing difficulty while maintaining the ability to capture a wide range from near to far.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic switching between the short-distance and long-distance optical systems based on the detection range requirements. The system selectively activates the appropriate optical system for the current imaging task, allowing flexible adaptation to different distance ranges without requiring both systems to be simultaneously complex.
2Measurement precision
If a TOF sensor uses two (or more) optical systems for short and long distance, then the capture range and precision are improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the measurement range into two distinct zones: short-distance and long-distance. Each optical system is专门 optimized for its designated zone, allowing each system to achieve high measurement precision for its specific range without the need for a single overly complex system that must handle all ranges equally well.
Solution Approach 2:
Each optical system is designed with local quality optimization - the short-distance system has optical characteristics tailored for near-field imaging, while the long-distance system has characteristics optimized for far-field imaging. This localized optimization enables high precision in each range without requiring both systems to be universally complex.
3Measurement precision
If imaging is repeatedly performed while varying the time from light emission to light reception, then the measurement precision for different distances is improved, but the productivity decreases due to the time required to capture a wide range
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the imaging process into two parallel channels: one for short-distance imaging and one for long-distance imaging. By capturing both ranges simultaneously using the two optical systems, the system eliminates the need for repeated sequential imaging, thereby maintaining high measurement precision while significantly improving productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables continuous simultaneous imaging of both short and long distances through the dual optical system. Instead of repeatedly switching between different time gates for different ranges, both ranges are imaged continuously and simultaneously, maintaining precision while eliminating time loss from sequential capture.
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
Enables high-accuracy and high-speed capture of a wide range in front of a vehicle using a simple configuration, reducing costs and enhancing safety in automatic driving systems.
Implementation Method 1
a distance image data generation device for a vehicle, which is a so-called TOF (Time of Flight) sensor... varying the time from the projection of the pulsed light until the reflected light of the pulsed light is received by an imaging means, thereby generating distance image data representing a distance to an object
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle image acquisition device includes a light emitting unit configured to emit pulsed light in a predetermined direction, an image acquisition unit configured to capture reflected light returning from a target distance area at an imaging timing set according to the target distance area and acquire a plurality of captured images having different target distances, and a timing control unit configured to control light emission period of the pulsed light and the imaging timing. The light emitting unit includes a first light source for short-distance irradiation and a second light source for long-distance irradiation, and the image acquisition unit is configured by a single camera configured to capture a range irradiated by each of the first light source and the second light source.