Visualization Device Virtual Light Box Extension
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current visualization techniques struggle to provide a direct and controlled visual assessment and comparison of actual objects with their virtual representations under varying illumination and observation conditions, leading to suboptimal virtualization quality.
Innovation Solution
A visualization device combining an actual light box with a computer-generated virtual light box extension, using sensor arrays to adjust and synchronize lighting, perspective, and orientation for an immersive comparison, minimizing parallax errors and ensuring consistent illumination and observation conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a complex illumination system with hundreds of point light sources is used to obtain appearance data, then the quality of appearance data is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination system is segmented into a limited number of controllable light sources arranged in specific geometric configurations (e.g., hemispherical, cylindrical arrangements). Each light source can be independently controlled to illuminate from different directions, replacing the need for hundreds of simultaneous light sources while maintaining comprehensive coverage for appearance data acquisition.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a temporal dimension by sequentially activating different light sources in the illumination array. Instead of requiring all light sources to be active simultaneously (spatial complexity), the system cycles through different illumination directions over time, reducing spatial complexity while maintaining measurement completeness through time-multiplexed data acquisition.
2Adaptability or versatility
If digital rendering techniques with interpolation are used to extract color values, then the flexibility in illumination and observation directions is improved, but the accuracy may deteriorate due to interpolation errors
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-acquires appearance data at multiple discrete illumination and observation directions before actual visualization needs arise. This preliminary measurement phase creates a comprehensive lookup table of material properties that can be directly queried during rendering, eliminating the need for real-time interpolation and ensuring high accuracy while maintaining flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent measures and stores appearance data across a dense grid of illumination and observation parameters (angles, positions). By having pre-measured data at closely spaced parameter values, the system can accurately interpolate or directly retrieve color values for any intermediate direction, maintaining both flexibility and accuracy through dense parameter sampling rather than sparse measurements with heavy interpolation.
3Measurement precision
If comprehensive appearance data are collected for multiple illumination and observation directions, then the virtualization quality is improved, but the measurement time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination system employs periodic cycling through different light source activations in a predetermined sequence. Each light source in the array is activated in turn for a brief period, systematically covering all required illumination directions. This periodic action enables comprehensive data collection over time while maintaining efficient throughput by continuously cycling through the measurement sequence without idle periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the measurement process based on detected observer position and orientation. Rather than statically measuring all possible directions regardless of actual viewing conditions, the system adaptively focuses measurements on the relevant illumination and observation directions for the current setup, reducing measurement time while maintaining virtualization quality for the actual application scenario.
Data Source
AI summary
A visualization device is provided that includes an actual light box that includes an illumination array for illuminating an actual object (OR) placed in the actual light box; and a rear limiting wall which functions as a screen. The device also includes a computer programmed to spatially display a virtual light box on the screen, such that the virtual light box displayed on the screen appears to form a continuous rearward extension of the actual light box. In addition, a virtual object (OV) may be displayed on the screen, such that the virtual object (OV) is situated in the virtual light box. The combination of an actual light box and a virtual light box allows an observer to realistically assess appearance data rendered onto a virtual object, in a direct comparison with an actual object.