Tracked Peripheral LED Intensity Control for Uniform Optical Tracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing optically trackable peripheral devices with multiple light sources consume excessive power as all light sources are continuously powered, leading to battery drain and non-uniform brightness issues due to angular intensity distribution and distance variations, affecting tracking performance.

Innovation Solution

A system dynamically adjusts the intensity of light sources based on their pose and movement relative to the computing device, using constellation-specific intensity values stored in a calibration table, where light sources not in view are powered off, and those at higher angles are illuminated at lower intensities to maintain uniform brightness and conserve power.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If all light sources are continuously powered, then tracking coverage is maintained, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetracking coverageVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts light source intensities based on real-time tracking data. The controller receives tracking information indicating the current field of view and angular positions, then selectively adjusts which light sources are active and at what intensity levels, transitioning from a static all-on approach to a dynamic adaptive approach.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Different light sources are assigned different intensity values based on their specific angular positions relative to the field of view. Light sources at higher angles receive lower intensity values while those closer to the center receive higher intensity values, creating a non-uniform local quality distribution optimized for tracking performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Illumination intensity

If all light sources are continuously powered, then complete illumination is achieved, but battery life decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveillumination coverageVSAvoidbattery life

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies partial action by selectively powering only the necessary subset of light sources at any given time based on tracking data. Instead of illuminating all light sources uniformly, the controller activates only those within or near the field of view, using partial illumination to achieve complete tracking coverage while conserving battery power.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Device complexity

If light sources are illuminated at uniform intensity, then simplicity is maintained, but non-uniform brightness occurs due to angular distribution

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol simplicityVSAvoidbrightness uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the intensity parameter of light sources based on their angular positions. The controller receives tracking information containing angular data and adjusts each light source's intensity accordingly, using parameter changes to compensate for the angular distribution effects and achieve uniform brightness appearance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Illumination intensity

If light sources at higher angles are illuminated at higher intensity, then visibility is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovevisibilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system inverts the conventional approach by assigning lower intensity values to light sources at higher angles and higher intensity values to those at lower angles. This parameter reassignment compensates for the natural angular distribution while actually reducing total power consumption, as the adjusted intensities better match the effective visibility requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11221489B2Controlling light source intensities on optically trackable object

Publication Date: 2022.01.11 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

Examples are disclosed that relate to dynamically controlling light sources on an optically trackable peripheral device. One disclosed example provides a near-eye display device comprising an image sensor, a communications subsystem, a logic subsystem, and a storage subsystem. The storage subsystem stores instructions executable by the logic subsystem to control a peripheral device comprising a plurality of light sources by receiving image data from the image sensor, identifying in the image data a constellation of light sources formed by a subset of light sources of the peripheral device, and based upon the constellation of light sources identified, send to the peripheral device via the communications subsystem constellation information related to the constellation of light sources identified.