阅读说明：本技术 用于校准或测试成像装置的设备和方法 (Apparatus and method for calibrating or testing an imaging device ) 是由 陈联福 拉姆库玛·马林阿 卢宏亮 邓江汶 郑希岚 于 2020-03-25 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种成像装置测试系统具有用于接收来自被测成像装置的光的光接收器、用于将光返回到被测成像装置的光发射器以及相对于彼此可移动的第一收发器平台和第二收发器平台。第一收发器平台具有用于接收来自光接收器的光的第一光重定向模块,第二收发器平台具有用于将第一光重定向模块接收的光传输至光发射器的第二光重定向模块。第一光重定向模块和第二光重定向模块可定位为模拟来自光接收器的光经过第一光重定向模块、第二光重定向模块以及第一光重定向模块和第二光重定向模块之间的间隙到达光发射器所行进的距离。(An imaging device testing system has a light receiver for receiving light from an imaging device under test, a light emitter for returning light to the imaging device under test, and first and second transceiver stages movable relative to each other. The first transceiver platform has a first light redirecting module for receiving light from the optical receiver and the second transceiver platform has a second light redirecting module for transmitting light received by the first light redirecting module to the optical transmitter. The first and second light redirecting modules may be positioned to simulate the distance traveled by light from the light receiver to the light emitter through the first and second light redirecting modules and the gap between the first and second light redirecting modules.)

1. An imaging device testing system, comprising:

a light receiver for receiving light from the imaging device under test;

a light emitter for returning the light to the imaging device under test; and

a first transceiver platform and a second transceiver platform movable relative to each other, the first transceiver platform including a first light redirecting module for receiving light from the optical receiver, the second transceiver platform including a second light redirecting module for transmitting the light to the optical transmitter,

wherein the first and second light redirecting modules are positionable to simulate a distance traveled by light from the optical receiver to the optical transmitter through the first and second light redirecting modules and a gap between the first and second light redirecting modules.

2. The imaging device testing system of claim 1, further comprising a coupling block on which the optical receiver and the optical transmitter are mounted, the coupling blocks being operatively connectable to the first transceiver platform and the second transceiver platform, respectively.

3. The imaging device testing system of claim 2, further comprising a first optical transmission link connecting the optical receiver on the coupling block to the first transceiver platform and a second optical transmission link connecting the optical transmitter on the coupling block to the second transceiver platform.

4. The imaging device testing system of claim 3, wherein the first and second optical transmission links comprise fiber optic links.

5. The imaging device testing system of claim 2, further comprising a translation mechanism coupled to the coupling block to move the coupling block in a direction toward or away from the imaging device under test.

6. The imaging device testing system of claim 1, wherein each light redirecting module comprises a series of fiber coupling assemblies, each fiber coupling assembly in turn comprising a respective platform light receiver coupled to a respective platform light emitter mounted in each light redirecting module.

7. The imaging device testing system of claim 1, wherein the first light redirecting module is disposed parallel to the second light redirecting module to transmit light to the second light redirecting module through a gap between the first light redirecting module and the second light redirecting module.

8. The imaging device testing system of claim 7, wherein each light redirecting module comprises: a platform light emitter at a first point for emitting light received by another light redirecting module; and a platform light receiver at a second point spaced from the first point for receiving light transmitted back from the other light redirecting module.

9. The imaging device testing system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of platform optical transmitters and platform optical receivers are arranged two-dimensionally on a plane of each transceiver platform facing another transceiver platform.

10. The imaging device testing system of claim 7, wherein the optical path between the first transceiver platform and the second transceiver platform includes light that repeatedly travels back and forth between the first light redirecting module and the second light redirecting module at different points along the first light redirecting module and the second light redirecting module.

11. The imaging device testing system of claim 10, wherein the first or second light redirecting module comprises a return platform light receiver connected to the light emitter to transmit light to the light emitter to return the light to the imaging device under test.

12. The imaging device testing system of claim 1, further comprising a positioning mechanism coupled to at least one of the first transceiver stage and the second transceiver stage for moving at least one of the first transceiver stage and the second transceiver stage relative to the other.

13. The imaging device testing system of claim 12, wherein the positioning mechanism is to change a size of the gap between the first light redirecting module and the second light redirecting module.

14. The imaging device testing system of claim 13, wherein the positioning mechanism is further configured to move at least one of the transceiver platforms in a direction perpendicular to the gap between the first light redirecting module and the second light redirecting module.

15. The imaging device testing system of claim 14, wherein moving the transceiver stage in a direction perpendicular to the gap is for moving a stage optical transmitter of the first transceiver stage from alignment with a first stage optical receiver to alignment with a second stage optical receiver of the second transceiver stage, thereby changing an optical path of the light.

16. The imaging device testing system of claim 1, wherein an optical path traveled by light emitted and received by the imaging device under test passes through a combination of the optical receiver, the first light redirecting module, the gap, the second light redirecting module, and the optical emitter.

17. The imaging device testing system of claim 16, wherein a length of the optical path is configured to be substantially equal to an actual operating distance designed for the imaging device under test.

18. The imaging device testing system of claim 1, wherein the first and second light redirecting modules comprise a plurality of reflective elements for redirecting light between the first and second transceiver platforms.

19. The imaging device testing system of claim 18, wherein the reflective element comprises a mirror or a prism.

20. The imaging device testing system of claim 1, wherein the gap comprises an air gap.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for calibrating or testing an imaging device, in particular a time-of-flight (ToF) 3D imaging device.

Background

In addition to being used to acquire images, ToF-based 3D imaging sensors are also used to obtain depth information about a scene. In other words, the true distances of different points on the image are obtained to form a three-dimensional profile of the image. The three-dimensional profile containing depth information is used for applications such as mobile phone face recognition, gestures, security monitoring and depth determination in an autonomous vehicle.

ToF3D imaging sensors typically use a light emitter, such as a VCSEL or LED, to emit light and a receiver, such as a CMOS camera or a light sensor with an optical lens, to receive reflected light from an object. This process involves the optical transmitter emitting light at a particular phase by phase modulation. The reflected light returning from the subject will produce phase differences depending on its distance traveled (time of flight) and the sensor algorithm will calculate the phase differences and interpret these phase differences as different depth information.

Since time-of-flight (ToF) 3D imaging sensors measure the distance traveled in relation to an image point, these sensors need to be accurately calibrated to minimize phase modulation induced errors.

Fig. 1 shows a conventional apparatus for estimating the above-mentioned periodic error, which is sometimes referred to as a cyclic error or a wobble error. During testing or calibration, a calibration object 202 (e.g., a suitably sized diffusion white image) is mounted on the support at a known distance. To measure the first known distance D1 of calibration object 202, light emitted from ToF3D imaging device 201 is reflected by calibration object 202 back to ToF3D imaging device 201. The first known distance D1 is obtained from the depth information of the calibration object 202. The phase difference between the light emitted from the transmitter of the ToF3D imaging device 201 and the light reflected from the calibration object 202 back to the receiver of the ToF3D imaging device 201 is calculated as the depth information of the calibration object 202. Then, the calibration object 202 is moved to a second known distance D2, and the ToF3D imaging device 201 measures the depth information of the calibration object 202 again. This process is repeated over the entire range of distances designed for the ToF3D imaging device 201. Error estimates are then calculated by comparing the known distances to the distances measured by ToF3D imaging device 201, and these error estimates are used as calibration data to calibrate ToF3D imaging device 201.

Because this method of calibrating the ToF3D imaging device 201 requires the calibration object 202 to be placed at different distances to simulate objects located at various distances, if the design range of the ToF3D imaging device 201 is long, a bulky calibration system and a large calibration object 202 are required. However, in practice, it is impractical to construct such a large calibration system due to the high associated construction and maintenance costs.

Furthermore, this method requires moving the calibration object 202 to different distances to obtain an error estimate for the entire range of distances designed for the ToF3D imaging device 201. Thus, it may take a long time to complete a calibration cycle, making this calibration method time and cost inefficient, especially in a high volume production environment.

Disclosure of Invention

It is therefore an object of the present invention to seek to provide a more time-saving or cost-effective apparatus and method for calibrating or testing an imaging device.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an imaging device testing system comprising: a light receiver for receiving light from the imaging device under test; a light emitter for returning the light to the imaging device under test; and first and second transceiver platforms movable relative to each other, the first transceiver platform including a first light redirection module for receiving light from the optical receiver, the second transceiver platform including a second light redirection module for transmitting the light to the optical transmitter, wherein the first and second light redirection modules are positionable to simulate a distance traveled by light from the optical receiver to the optical transmitter through the first and second light redirection modules and a gap between the first and second light redirection modules.

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings.

Drawings

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which.

Fig. 1 shows a conventional apparatus for estimating errors in a ToF3D imaging device.

FIG. 2 illustrates an imaging device calibration or error measurement system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates an imaging device calibration or error measurement system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 shows an imaging device calibration or error measurement system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

In the drawings, like reference numerals denote like parts.

Detailed Description

FIG. 2 illustrates an imaging device calibration or error measurement system 300 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Error measurement system 300 includes a coupling block 306, a first transceiver stage 302, and a second transceiver stage 304 that are operably coupled to each other.

The coupling block 306 includes the optical receiver 103 and the optical transmitter 111 mounted thereon. The optical receiver 103 is used to receive light from the imaging device under test and is connected to the first platform optical transmitter 105 of the first transceiver platform 302 by an optical transmission link (which may be a fiber optic link 104). The first transceiver platform 302 also includes a first light redirection module, such as the first series of fiber coupling components 108, operably coupled to a second light redirection module, such as the second series of fiber coupling components 107 included in the second transceiver platform 304. Each fiber coupling assembly may include a platform optical receiver connected to a platform optical transmitter. The return platform optical receiver 109 included in the second transceiver platform 304 is connected to the optical transmitter 111 of the coupling block 306 by another optical transmission link, which may be a return fiber link 110.

The imaging device under test, which may be in the form of a ToF3D imaging device 308, includes a transmitter 101, which may emit light at any predetermined phase and frequency, and a receiver 102. The transmitter 101 emits light that is received by the optical receiver 103 of the coupling block 306 and transmitted to the first transceiver platform 302 through the fiber optic link 104. The first series of fibre-optic coupling assemblies 108 are located opposite the second series of fibre-optic coupling assemblies 107. Advantageously, the first series of fibre-optic coupling assemblies 108 are arranged in parallel with the second series of fibre-optic coupling assemblies 107 to ensure that they are spaced apart by a consistent distance.

Thus, the first platform optical transmitter 105 transmits light to the platform optical receiver 106 of the second series of fiber optic coupling assemblies 107 included in the second transceiver platform 304. The platform optical receiver 106 is part of a first fiber coupling assembly of the second transceiver platform 304, wherein each fiber coupling assembly 107, 108 may include a respective platform optical receiver coupled to a respective platform optical transmitter and mounted in the optical redirection module. The second fiber coupling component of the second transceiver platform 304 transmits light through the platform optical transmitter to the first fiber coupling component of the first transceiver platform 302 (including another platform optical receiver coupled to another platform optical transmitter, e.g., through a transmission link or a link coupled by a fiber link), which then transmits the light back to the second fiber coupling component of the second transceiver platform 304.

Light is repeatedly transmitted back and forth along the optical path between the first series of fiber coupling components 108 of the first transceiver platform 302 and the second series of fiber coupling components 107 of the second transceiver platform 304 at different points along the fiber coupling components 107, 108 until the light is received by the return platform optical receiver 109 included in the second transceiver platform 304. In this manner, the plurality of fiber coupling components in the first transceiver platform 302 and the second transceiver platform 304 form an optical path that includes repeated transmissions in the air separation gap D4 between the platforms 302, 304.

It will be appreciated that in the above arrangement, the platform optical transmitters of the light redirecting modules on the transceiver platforms 302, 304 emit light at a first point to be received by the other transceiver platform and the platform optical receiver at a second point spaced from the first point will receive light transmitted back from the other transceiver platform. This spacing arrangement helps to simulate the travel distance of the optical path.

Moving either or both of the first and second transceiver platforms 302, 304 using a positioning mechanism coupled to at least one of the first and second transceiver platforms 302, 304 may change the separation gap D4 between the first and second transceiver platforms 302, 304. This movement is used to change the size of the separation gap D4. Further, these fiber coupling assemblies may be placed in a two-dimensional (as shown in FIG. 2) or three-dimensional arrangement. In the latter arrangement, the plurality of platform optical transmitters and platform optical receivers are arranged in two dimensions (rather than one dimension) on the plane of each transceiver platform 302, 304 facing the other transceiver platform. The light then passes from the return platform optical receiver 109 through the return fiber link 110 to the optical transmitter 111 of the coupling block 306. Finally, the light from the phototransmitter 111 returns to the ToF3D imaging device 308 and is received by the receiver 102 of the ToF3D imaging device 308, which is located near the phototransmitter 111. In this manner, by combining the fiber links 104, 110 and fiber coupling components 107, 108 in the two platforms 302, 304 and the separation gap D4, a particular travel distance of the light rays can be achieved to simulate time of flight across the actual operating distance designed for the ToF3D imaging device 308. The 3D sensor algorithm included therein will calculate or determine depth information based on time of flight.

The separation gap D4 between the first transceiver stage 302 and the second transceiver stage 304 can be adjusted by adjusting the position of either or both stages 302, 304 using a positioning mechanism so that the total distance traveled by the light can be varied as it travels through the fiber-coupled path. The larger the separation gap D4 between first transceiver platform 302 and second transceiver platform 304, the longer the distance traveled by the light (time of flight), and vice versa. Thus, by changing the relative positions of the first transceiver stage 302 and the second transceiver stage 304, the ToF3D imaging device 308 may be calibrated over virtually the entire range of distances designed for the ToF3D imaging device 308, without requiring a bulky calibration system and large calibration objects.

In addition to adjusting the separation gap D4 (along the X-axis) between the first transceiver stage 302 and the second transceiver stage 304, both stages 302, 304 may be moved in a direction perpendicular to the separation gap D4 (along the Y-axis) by a positioning mechanism to provide additional degrees of freedom to change the light travel distance and path. With this feature, the platform optical transmitter of one transceiver platform 302, 304 may be moved from alignment with the first platform optical receiver of the other transceiver platform to alignment with the second platform optical receiver of the other transceiver platform to change the optical path of the light and change the length of the optical path. For example, when the fiber coupling assemblies are arranged in a three-dimensional structure, the distance traveled by the light may be further adjusted by moving the stages 302, 304 in the Z-axis (perpendicular to the X-axis and Y-axis).

It should be appreciated that the one-dimensional light travel path utilized by conventional calibration methods has now been modified to be a two-dimensional XY or three-dimensional XYZ travel path. Thus, the overall size of the overall test system can be significantly reduced to make it a more compact module. The distance required for calibration may be achieved by adjusting the relative positions of the first transceiver stage 302 and the second transceiver stage 304 along XYZ axes. For example, if the first transceiver stage 302 or the second transceiver stage 304 is moved in the X-axis, the separation gap D4 between the first series of fiber coupling assemblies 108 and the second series of fiber coupling assemblies 107 changes, thereby changing the optical path distance. First transceiver stage 302 or second transceiver stage 304 may also be moved in the Y-axis or Z-axis, in which case the optical path distance may be changed without changing separation gap D4.

The coupling of the first series of fiber coupling components 108 of the first transceiver platform 302 with the second series of fiber coupling components 107 of the second transceiver platform 304 forms a fiber coupling arrangement with the ability to achieve different optical path distances. The actual optical path distance may be varied based on the separation gap D4 between the first series of fiber coupling assemblies 108 and the second series of fiber coupling assemblies 107.

Typically, different 3D sensors have different fields of view depending on their design and application. To this end, a translation mechanism is coupled to coupling block 306 that houses optical receiver 103 and optical emitter 111 such that coupling block 306 can be moved closer to or further away from ToF3D imaging device 308 being calibrated or tested to accommodate different fields of view of different types of3D sensors.

Thus, the fiber coupling arrangement can be made much smaller than the space required by conventional calibration methods. Furthermore, because the distance moved by the first transceiver platform 302 and/or the second transceiver platform 304 is significantly less than the distance moved by the calibration object 202 of conventional calibration methods, the total test or calibration time will be much shorter than conventional test or calibration methods.

FIG. 3 illustrates an imaging device calibration or error measurement system 400 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Like elements are given like reference numerals. Error measurement system 400 includes coupling block 306, first transceiver stage 302, and second transceiver stage 304 operably coupled to one another.

The first transceiver platform 302 includes a plurality of fiber-coupled sub-modules 112, 115, 116 and the second transceiver platform 304 includes a plurality of fiber-coupled sub-modules 113, 114, 117. Each light redirecting module or fiber coupling sub-module may have a separate light redirecting module or fiber coupling assembly. By intentionally juxtaposing fiber-coupled sub-modules, each having a separate light redirecting module or fiber-coupled component, the error measurement system 400 is able to simulate multiple optical path distances that can be measured simultaneously. For example, each fiber coupling sub-module 112, 115, 116 from the first transceiver platform 302 may be paired with a corresponding fiber coupling sub-module 113, 114, 117 from the second transceiver platform 304 to simulate a particular optical path distance. Thus, each pair of fiber coupling sub-modules forms a fiber coupling arrangement that simulates different optical path distances, all of which can be measured simultaneously, and all of which can be changed simultaneously simply by changing the relative positions of the first transceiver platform 302 and the second transceiver platform 304. For example, by moving first transceiver stage 302 or second transceiver stage 304 along the X-axis, separation gap D4 between first transceiver stage 302 and second transceiver stage 304 may be changed and all different optical path distances may be changed and measured simultaneously. Similarly, first transceiver stage 302 or second transceiver stage 304 may be moved in the Y-axis or Z-axis to change all optical path distances simultaneously, in which case separation gap D4 would remain unchanged. Thus, many different fiber coupling arrangements may be combined and connected between the optical receiver 103 and the optical transmitter 111 of the coupling block 306, so that several different optical path distances may be measured simultaneously, thereby further reducing calibration time.

Optical receiver 103 and optical transmitter 111 are mounted on coupling block 306, and coupling block 306 can be moved closer to or farther away from transmitter 101 and receiver 102 of ToF3D imaging device 308. This enables the error measurement system 400 to be fine-tuned to different applications or design requirements to accommodate different 3D sensors with different fields of view.

Error measurement system 400 makes calibration of ToF3D imaging device 308 faster and more efficient.

Fig. 4 shows an imaging device calibration or error measurement system 500 according to a third embodiment of the invention. Like elements are given like reference numerals. Error measurement system 500 includes a coupling block 306, a first transceiver stage 302, and a second transceiver stage 304 operably coupled to one another.

Instead of using a fiber-optic link and fiber-optic coupling components as light redirecting modules, a reflective element (e.g., a mirror or prism) may be used to create an optical path that passes light from the transmitter 101 of the ToF3D imaging device 308 through the error measurement system 500 and back to the receiver 102 of the ToF3D imaging device 308 in order to calibrate the ToF3D imaging device 308.

A first set of light redirecting modules or reflective elements 133, 134 may be used to direct light from the optical receiver 131 of the coupling block 306 to the first transceiver platform 302 and a second set of light redirecting modules or reflective elements 145, 146 may be used to direct light from the second transceiver platform 304 to the optical transmitter 132 of the coupling block 306.

The first transceiver platform 302 includes a first series of light redirecting modules or reflective elements 135, 136, 137, 138, 139 operably coupled with a second series of light redirecting modules or reflective elements 140, 141, 142, 143, 144 included in the second transceiver platform 304. The first series of reflective elements 135, 136, 137, 138, 139 and the second series of reflective elements 140, 141, 142, 143, 144 are positioned to form an optical path through the lands 302, 304 and the separation gap D4 between the lands 302, 304. Light is transmitted back and forth between the first series of reflective elements 135, 136, 137, 138, 139 of the first transceiver platform 302 and the second series of reflective elements 140, 141, 142, 143, 144 of the second transceiver platform 304. In this manner, the plurality of reflective elements in first transceiver platform 302 and second transceiver platform 304 form an optical path that includes repeated transmissions in air separation gap D4.

By moving either or both of the platforms 302, 304, the separation gap D4 between the first transceiver platform 302 and the second transceiver platform 304 may be changed. Further, the reflective elements may be disposed in a two-dimensional (as shown in FIG. 2) or three-dimensional arrangement. The light then propagates from the last reflective element 140 in the second transceiver platform 304 through the second set of reflective elements 145, 146 to the light emitter 132 of the coupling block 306. Finally, the light from the light emitter 132 is received by the receiver 102 of the ToF3D imaging device 308 located near the light emitter 132. In this manner, a particular distance of light rays may be achieved using reflective elements in both platforms 302, 304 to simulate time of flight across the actual operating distance designed for the ToF3D imaging device 308. The 3D sensor algorithm included therein will calculate or determine depth information based on time of flight.

The calibration system 300, 400, 500 makes the optical path distance programmable. One advantage of the present invention is that the size of the system is significantly reduced compared to conventional test systems. If the measurement distance is designed to be several meters or more, the dimensions of a conventional test system need to be several meters long accordingly. The calibration system 300, 400, 500 will be much smaller than conventional systems due to the two-dimensional or three-dimensional arrangement of its fiber coupling components and/or reflective elements.

Because the calibration systems 300, 400, 500 are relatively small in size, manufacturing and maintenance costs are low. Furthermore, the required floor space will be significantly reduced. If the calibration system 300, 400, 500 is to be used in a clean room environment, floor space is an important consideration.

Additionally, reflective elements and fiber coupling components may be mixed in the calibration systems 300, 400, 500.

Because the calibration system 300, 400, 500 may vary the number of fiber coupling assemblies and/or reflective elements used and the relative position of the stages 302, 304 along the XYZ axes, the range of simulated distances may increase exponentially.

The range of analog distances can be further increased by introducing optical tap points (optical tap points) between a series of fiber coupling components.

In addition, since the stage travel distance required to change the optical path distance is much shorter, the test cycle time is significantly shortened, thereby improving throughput.

The system flexibly services different types of3D sensors with different fields of view through the fine tuning coupling block 306. In this manner, the calibration system 300, 400, 500 can be used to calibrate more types of3D sensors.

Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to a number of embodiments, other embodiments are possible. Therefore, the description of the embodiments of the present invention should not limit the spirit and scope of the claims.