Dynamic adjustment of imaging parameters

• US 9,721,161 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2013
• Issued: 08/01/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
• Original Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
• Inventors: Lobnik, Robert, Dielacher, Markus, Prainsack, Josef, Flatscher, Martin, Mark, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Natnael, Paulos M
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAIEM, SEAN N
• Application Number:
  US13/966,648
• Publication Number:
  US 20150049168A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,448 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/894 3D imaging with simultaneous measurement of time-of-flight at a 2D array of receiver pixels, e.g. time-of-flight cameras or flash lidar
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/58 Recognition of moving objects or obstacles, e.g. vehicles or pedestrians; Recognition of traffic objects, e.g. traffic signs, traffic lights or roads
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/254 in combination with electromagnetic radiation sources for illuminating objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

Representative implementations of devices and techniques provide adjustable parameters for imaging devices and systems. Dynamic adjustments to one or more parameters of an imaging component may be performed based on changes to the relative velocity of the imaging component or to the proximity of an object to the imaging component.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a detection component to;

detect a relative velocity of an adjustable imaging sensor with respect to an environment of the adjustable imaging sensor, or detect a proximity of an object to the adjustable imaging sensor; and

the adjustable imaging sensor to;

identify a current imaging application of the adjustable imaging sensor,

the current imaging application being one of a short-range imaging application, a mid-range imaging application, or a long-range imaging application;

calculate, based on a current imaging application of the adjustable imaging sensor, at least one of;

a relative velocity threshold, associated with optimizing a parameter of the adjustable imaging sensor for use in the current imaging application,

where a first relative velocity threshold, calculated when the current imaging application is the short-range imaging application, differs from a second relative velocity threshold calculated when the current imaging application is the mid-range imaging application, and differs from a third relative velocity threshold calculated when the current imaging application is the long-range imaging application, or

a proximity threshold associated with optimizing the parameter of the adjustable imaging sensor for use in the current imaging application,

where a first proximity threshold, calculated when the current imaging application is the short-range imaging application, differs from a second proximity threshold, calculated when the current imaging application is the mid-range imaging application, and differs from a third proximity threshold calculated when the current imaging application is the long-range imaging application;

determine whether the relative velocity satisfies the relative velocity threshold, or whether the proximity of the object satisfies the proximity threshold; and

adjust the parameter of the adjustable imaging sensor based on whether the relative velocity satisfies the relative velocity threshold, or based on whether the proximity satisfies the proximity threshold,

the adjustment to the parameter optimizing an image capture, performed by the adjustable imaging sensor, in the current imaging application of the adjustable imaging sensor.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an illumination source to illuminate an image area,

the illumination source being configured to be adjusted based on whether the relative velocity satisfies the relative velocity threshold or whether the proximity satisfies the proximity threshold.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, where the parameter of the adjustable imaging sensor is an illumination time, associated with the illumination source, that is configured to be increased when the proximity satisfies the proximity threshold, and is configured to be decreased when the proximity does not satisfy the proximity threshold.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, where the adjustable imaging sensor is configured to be readjusted based on a change to whether the relative velocity satisfies the relative velocity threshold or a change to whether the proximity satisfies the proximity threshold.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, where the parameter of the adjustable imaging sensor is at least one of a modulation frequency, associated with the adjustable imaging sensor, or a binning of pixels, associated with the adjustable imaging sensor, that is configured to be adjusted based on whether the relative velocity satisfies the relative velocity threshold or whether the proximity satisfies the proximity threshold.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, where the parameter of the adjustable imaging sensor is a sensitivity of the adjustable imaging sensor that is configured to be increased when the relative velocity of the adjustable imaging sensor increases or when the proximity of the object to the adjustable imaging sensor increases, and

where the sensitivity of the adjustable imaging sensor is configured to be decreased when the relative velocity of the adjustable imaging sensor decreases or when the proximity of the object to the adjustable imaging sensor decreases.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, where the parameter of the adjustable imaging sensor is a lateral resolution of the adjustable imaging sensor that is configured to be decreased when the relative velocity of the adjustable imaging sensor increases or as the proximity of the object to the adjustable imaging sensor increases, and

where the lateral resolution of the adjustable imaging sensor is configured to be increased when the relative velocity of the adjustable imaging sensor decreases or when the proximity of the object to the adjustable imaging sensor decreases.

8. A system, comprising:

an illumination source configured to emit light radiation;

a sensor configured to capture an image of an area based on receiving a reflection of the light radiation; and

a controller configured to;

identify a current imaging application of the sensor,

the current imaging application being one of a short-range imaging application, a mid-range imaging application, or a long-range imaging application;

calculate, based on a current imaging application of the system, at least one of;

a relative velocity threshold, associated with optimizing one or more parameters of the sensor for use in the current imaging application,

where a first relative velocity threshold, calculated when the current imaging application is the short-range imaging application, differs from a second relative velocity threshold calculated when the current imaging application is the mid-range imaging application, and differs from a third relative velocity threshold calculated when the current imaging application is the long-range imaging application, or

a proximity threshold associated with optimizing the one or more parameters of the sensor for use in the current imaging application,

where a first proximity threshold, calculated when the current imaging application is the short-range imaging application, differs from a second proximity threshold, calculated when the current imaging application is the mid-range imaging application, and differs from a third proximity threshold calculated when the current imaging application is the long-range imaging application;

determine whether a relative velocity of the system, with respect to an environment of the system, satisfies the relative velocity threshold, or whether a proximity of an object to the system satisfies the proximity threshold; and

adjust the one or more parameters of the sensor based on whether the relative velocity satisfies the relative velocity threshold, or based on whether the proximity satisfies the proximity threshold,

the adjustment to the one or more parameters optimizing an image capture, performed by the system, in the current imaging application of the system.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

a modulator configured to modulate an illumination of the illumination source or modulate one or more pixels of the sensor,

where the one or more parameters include a frequency of modulation, associated with the modulator, that is adjustable based on whether the relative velocity satisfies the relative velocity threshold or whether the proximity satisfies the proximity threshold.

10. The system of claim 8, where the one or more parameters include one or more properties of the light radiation that are adjustable based on whether the relative velocity satisfies the relative velocity threshold or whether the proximity satisfies the proximity threshold.

11. The system of claim 8, where the sensor comprises multiple pixels, and where adjusting the one or more parameters includes grouping one or more quantities of the multiple pixels and processing the grouped quantities of multiple pixels as composite pixels based on whether the relative velocity satisfies the relative velocity threshold or whether the proximity satisfies the proximity threshold.

12. The system of claim 8, where the one or more parameters include a lateral resolution or a sensitivity of the sensor that is adjustable based on whether the relative velocity satisfies the relative velocity threshold or whether the proximity satisfies the proximity threshold.

13. The system of claim 8, where the controller is configured to output at least one of distance information or a three-dimensional image of one or more elements of the area.

14. A method, comprising:

detecting, by an imaging system, a relative velocity of the imaging system with respect to an environment of the imaging system, or a proximity of an object to the imaging system;

identifying, by the imaging system, a current imaging application of the imaging system,

the current imaging application being one of a

short-range imaging application,

a mid-range imaging application, or

a long-range imaging application;

calculating, by the imaging system and based on the current imaging application of the imaging system, at least one of;

a relative velocity threshold, associated with optimizing one or more parameters of the imaging for use in the current imaging application,

where a first relative velocity threshold, calculated when the current imaging application is the short-range imaging application, differs from a second relative velocity threshold calculated when the current imaging application is the mid-range imaging application, and differs from a third relative velocity threshold calculated when the current imaging application is the long-range imaging application, or

a proximity threshold associated with optimizing the one or more parameters of the imaging system for use in the current imaging application,

where a first proximity threshold, calculated when the current imaging application is the short-range imaging application, differs from a second proximity threshold, calculated when the current imaging application is the mid-range imaging application, and differs from a third proximity threshold calculated when the current imaging application is the long-range imaging application;

determining, by the imaging system, whether the relative velocity satisfies the relative velocity threshold, or whether the proximity of the object satisfies the proximity threshold; and

adjusting, by the imaging system, the one or more parameters of the imaging system based on whether the relative velocity satisfies the relative velocity threshold, or whether the proximity satisfies the proximity threshold,

the adjustment to the one or more parameters optimizing an image capture, performed by the imaging system, in the current imaging application of the imaging system.

15. The method of claim 14, where the one or more parameters include a sensitivity or a resolution of the imaging system, and

where adjusting the one or more parameters comprises:

adjusting the sensitivity or the resolution of the imaging system based on whether the relative velocity satisfies the relative velocity threshold or whether the proximity satisfies the proximity threshold.

16. The method of claim 14, where the one or more parameters include a detection range of the imaging system, and

where adjusting the one or more parameters comprises:

increasing the detection range of the imaging system when the relative velocity of the imaging system satisfies the relative velocity threshold or when the proximity satisfies the proximity threshold.

17. The method of claim 14, where the one or more parameters include a lateral resolution of the imaging system, and

where adjusting the one or more parameters comprises:

increasing the lateral resolution of the imaging system when the relative velocity does not satisfy the relative velocity threshold or when the proximity does not satisfy the proximity threshold.

18. The method of claim 14, where the one or more parameters include a modulation frequency of one or more pixels of the imaging system or of an illumination source of the imaging system, and

where adjusting the one or more parameters comprises:

adjusting the modulation frequency of the one or more pixels of the imaging system or of the illumination source of the imaging system based whether the relative velocity satisfies the relative velocity threshold or whether the proximity satisfies the proximity threshold.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

increasing the modulation frequency of the imaging system when the relative velocity of the imaging system does not satisfy the relative velocity threshold or when the proximity does not satisfy the proximity threshold;

or

reducing the modulation frequency of the imaging system when the relative velocity of the imaging system satisfies the relative velocity threshold or when the proximity satisfies the proximity threshold.

20. The method of claim 14, where the one or more parameters include a binning of pixels of the imaging system, and

where adjusting the one or more parameters comprises:

adjusting the binning of pixels of the imaging system based whether the relative velocity satisfies the relative velocity threshold or whether the proximity satisfies the proximity threshold,

the binning of pixels comprising combining a quantity of pixels into a group and processing the group as a single composite pixel.

21. The method of claim 20, where adjusting the binning of pixels comprises:

reducing the quantity of pixels combined into the group, or discontinuing the binning of the pixels, when the relative velocity of the imaging system does not satisfy the relative velocity threshold or when the proximity does not satisfy the proximity threshold;

or

increasing the quantity of pixels combined into the group when the relative velocity of the imaging system satisfies the relative velocity threshold or when the proximity satisfies the proximity threshold.

22. The method of claim 14, where the one or more parameters include an illumination time of an illumination source associated with the imaging system, and

where adjusting the one or more parameters further comprises:

adjusting the illumination time of the illumination source based on whether the relative velocity satisfies the relative velocity threshold or whether the proximity satisfies the proximity threshold.

23. The method of claim 22, where adjusting the illumination time comprises:

increasing the illumination time of the illumination source when the proximity satisfies the proximity threshold;

or

reducing the illumination time of the illumination source when the proximity of does not satisfy the proximity threshold.

24. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

capturing a three-dimensional image of an image area, associated with the imaging system, using the one or more parameters.

25. A three-dimensional imaging device, comprising:

a detection component configured to at least one of detect a relative velocity of the three-dimensional imaging device with respect to an environment of the three-dimensional imaging device, or detect a proximity of an object to the three-dimensional imaging device; and

an adjustable imaging sensor configured to;

identify a current imaging application of the adjustable imaging sensor,

the current imaging application being one of a short-range imaging application, a mid-range imaging application, or a long-range imaging application;

calculate at least one of;

a relative velocity threshold,

where a first relative velocity threshold, calculated when the current imaging application is the short-range imaging application, differs from a second relative velocity threshold calculated when the current imaging application is the mid-range imaging application, and differs from a third relative velocity threshold calculated when the current imaging application is the long-range imaging application, or

a proximity threshold,

where a first proximity threshold, calculated when the current imaging application is the short-range imaging application, differs from a second proximity threshold, calculated when the current imaging application is the mid-range imaging application, and differs from a third proximity threshold calculated when the current imaging application is the long-range imaging application, and

the relative velocity threshold and the proximity threshold being associated with optimizing a sensitivity or a resolution of the adjustable imaging sensor for use in the current imaging application; and

capture a three-dimensional image of an area based on time-of-flight principles,

where the sensitivity or the resolution of the adjustable imaging sensor is configured to be continuously adjusted based on whether the relative velocity satisfies the relative velocity threshold, or whether the proximity satisfies the proximity threshold,

the adjustment to the sensitivity or the resolution optimizing an image capture, performed by the adjustable imaging sensor, in the current imaging application of the adjustable imaging sensor.