TOF Sensor Light Distribution for Multi-Directional Position Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies face challenges in acquiring position information of objects in diverse environments, particularly in scenarios with varying materials and positions, where traditional methods struggle to efficiently detect and differentiate between transmissive and non-transmissive objects.

Innovation Solution

A position information acquisition system that uses a TOF sensor to distribute and concentrate irradiation light in multiple directions, allowing the light receiving element to observe reflected light and determine the path length of light to objects, thereby generating accurate position information for objects in various directions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional LiDAR methods are used to acquire position information, then the system can detect objects in line-of-sight directions, but it cannot effectively detect transmissive objects or objects in directions other than the direct irradiation path

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection capability in diverse environmentsVSAvoiddetection accuracy of transmissive objects

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the irradiation light into multiple directional beams using a beam splitter and mirrors, allowing simultaneous observation of objects in different directions including transmissive objects, thereby resolving the contradiction between detection versatility and accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A beam splitter is introduced as an intermediary component to divide the irradiation light into multiple paths, enabling the light receiving element to observe both direct reflections and transmissions, thus improving detection reliability of transmissive objects while maintaining diverse detection capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a single light receiving element is used to observe reflected light, then the device structure remains simple, but it cannot acquire position information of objects in multiple directions simultaneously

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemulti-directional detection capabilityVSAvoidoptical system structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses a beam splitter to create multiple optical paths from a single light receiving element, effectively adding dimensional capability to detect objects in multiple directions without proportionally increasing the number of light receiving elements, thus achieving multi-directional detection while controlling device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Illumination intensity

If irradiation light is concentrated in a single direction, then the light intensity for detecting objects in that direction is high, but objects in other directions cannot be detected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight intensity for object detectionVSAvoiddetection coverage in multiple directions

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The concentrated irradiation light is segmented into multiple directional beams using a beam splitter and mirrors, distributing light intensity across multiple directions while maintaining sufficient intensity for reliable detection in each direction, thus resolving the contradiction between illumination intensity and detection coverage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 easy and accurate acquisition of position information in diverse environments, including the detection of transmissive objects, allowing for enhanced applications in fields like augmented reality and virtual reality by providing precise object positioning.

Implementation Method 1

a light receiving element to observe light resulting from irradiation light being reflected by an object

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

dToF (direct Time of Flight) that determines a distance on the basis of a time difference between the irradiation with pulsed light and the observation of the reflected light

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTime of flight: Time of Flight

Implementation Method 3

an irradiation light distribution member configured to distribute the irradiation light in a plurality of directions and concentrate the light reflected by objects including the object that are present in the directions on the light receiving element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight distribution and concentration: Focusing

Data Source

PatentUS20230358892A1Position information acquisition system, position information acquisition method, and position information acquisition device

Publication Date: 2023.11.09 SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC

AI summary

Irradiation light from a sensor is separated into transmission light and reflected light through a one-way mirror to reach objects that are present in a plurality of directions. The one-way mirror concentrates the reflected light on the sensor. A position information acquisition device detects a local maximum point in a change in a degree of photons observed by the sensor, thereby acquiring path lengths of light to objects to generate position information on the basis of the position and the posture of the one-way mirror from the sensor.