CN111198444A - Dimension-increasing camera device and light emitting assembly and application thereof - Google Patents

An increasing dimension camera device, a light emitting assembly and an application thereof, wherein the increasing dimension camera device comprises a light receiving unit and a light emitting assembly, wherein the light emitting assembly comprises a laser emitter, at least one light homogenizing element and at least one collimating lens, the laser emitter is used for emitting laser beams, the light homogenizing element and the collimating lens are arranged in an optical path of the beams emitted by the laser emitter, the collimating lens is used for collimating the beams so as to reduce the divergence angle of the beams, and the light homogenizing element is provided with a micro lens array so as to modulate the beams by the micro lens array of the light homogenizing element so as to form an optical field in the light receiving unit.

Dimension-increasing camera device and light emitting assembly and application thereof

Technical Field

The invention relates to the field of camera shooting, in particular to a dimension-increasing camera shooting device and a light emitting assembly and application thereof.

Background

With the development of digital imaging technology, an image pickup apparatus is widely used as an image sensor. For example, a TOF depth camera based on TOF (time of flight) time flight technology for obtaining depth information of a target scene to provide a 3D depth visual effect has been gradually applied to fields such as mobile phones, VR/AR gesture interaction, automobiles, security monitoring devices, smart homes, unmanned aerial vehicles, and smart robots.

The current depth camera module comprises a light emitting component and a light receiving unit, wherein the light emitting component comprises a laser emitter and a light homogenizing element, laser beams are emitted through the laser emitter, the light homogenizing element projects the target scene in a certain field angle, the light receiving unit receives reflected light, and finally a uniform light field is formed in a certain field angle range, so that depth information is obtained.

However, the divergence angle of the laser beam emitted by the laser emitter is generally 20-30 °, the laser beam passing through the dodging element is difficult to meet the projection requirement of a smaller angle, the light energy is dispersed, the boundary of a beam detection area is fuzzy, the detection distance is short, and the laser emitter cannot be applied to the field of application equipment with smaller requirements on the divergence angle of the beam or higher requirements on the light field distribution. For example, in some applications such as sweeping robots, line laser radars or industrial detection, it is generally required that the projected light beam forms a linear rectangular detection area in the target scene, i.e. a light beam detection area with a large angle in one direction and a small angle in another direction, such as 120 ° by 10 ° and 135 ° by 8 °. For another example, for some area-array lidar or certain depth cameras, etc., a longer detection range is generally required, requiring a relatively small beam divergence angle, e.g., 25 ° by 20 °. Or, the beam divergence angle that some special application equipment needs is still less than this laser emitter's beam divergence angle, and obviously, because the light emission subassembly among the current degree of depth camera module can't satisfy such little beam divergence angle, lead to the application effect poor, can't satisfy the market requirement even.

Disclosure of Invention

One advantage of the present invention is to provide an image capturing apparatus with increased dimensions, and a light emitting assembly and an application thereof, wherein the image capturing apparatus has a smaller beam divergence angle compared to an existing depth image capturing module, so that the image capturing apparatus can be applied to some application device fields having smaller beam divergence angles or higher requirements for light field distribution.

Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a dimension-increasing camera device, a light emitting assembly thereof and an application thereof, wherein the dimension-increasing camera device can narrow a beam divergence angle of a laser emitter, and light energy is more concentrated, so that a boundary of a beam detection area is sharper and more obvious, and a detection distance is longer.

Another advantage of the present invention is to provide an enhanced dimensional camera device, a light emitting module thereof and an application thereof, which can form a light beam detection region with a large angle in one direction and a small angle in another direction, such as 120 ° by 10 ° and 135 ° by 8 °, so as to be applicable to some application fields such as a sweeping robot, a line array laser radar, or industrial detection.

Another advantage of the present invention is to provide an image pick-up device, a light emitting assembly thereof and an application thereof, wherein the light beam divergence angle of the image pick-up device can reach 25 degrees by 20 degrees, and even smaller, so that the image pick-up device can be applied to application equipment seeking a longer detection distance, such as an area array laser radar or a specific depth camera.

Another advantage of the present invention is to provide an image capturing apparatus with increased dimensions, a light emitting module and applications thereof, which have simple structure, low cost and wide applicability.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the present invention further provides a light emitting device adapted to a dimension-increasing image capturing apparatus, wherein the dimension-increasing image capturing apparatus includes a light receiving unit, wherein the light emitting device includes:

a laser transmitter;

at least one dodging element; and

the light homogenizing element is provided with a micro lens array, so that the light beam is modulated by the micro lens array of the light homogenizing element, and a specified light field is formed at the light receiving unit.

In some embodiments, wherein the dodging element is located between the collimating lens and the laser emitter.

In some embodiments, the collimating lens is spaced from the dodging element by a predetermined distance.

In some embodiments, the dodging element and the collimating lens are of a unitary structure.

In some embodiments, the integrated structure comprises a substrate, wherein one side of the substrate has the microlens array to form the dodging element, and the other side of the substrate forms the collimating lens.

In some embodiments, the other side of the substrate is a fresnel surface or a convex surface.

In some embodiments, wherein the collimating lens is located between the light unifying element and the laser emitter.

In some embodiments, wherein the collimating lens is comprised of a single lens.

In some embodiments, the collimating lens is composed of two lenses, which are respectively a first collimating lens and a second collimating lens, wherein the first collimating lens and the second collimating lens are sequentially disposed between the laser emitter and the light uniformizing element, or the laser emitter, the light uniformizing element, the first collimating lens and the second collimating lens are sequentially disposed.

In some embodiments, the light incident surface of the first collimating lens is a convex surface or a fresnel surface, and the light emitting surface is a concave surface, wherein the light incident surface of the second collimating lens is a flat surface or a concave surface, and the light emitting surface is a convex surface or a fresnel surface.

In some embodiments, the collimating lens is comprised of more than two singlet lenses.

In some embodiments, wherein the collimating lens is selected from: one of a spherical lens, a plano-convex lens, a biconvex lens, a meniscus lens, an aspherical lens, and a fresnel lens.

In some embodiments, wherein the collimating lens is a convex lens, wherein the beam of light is projected to the target scene forming a beam detection zone of a large angle in one direction and a small angle in another direction, wherein the range of the large angle is greater than or equal to 100 °, and wherein the small angle is less than 20 °.

In some embodiments, wherein the total length of the light emitting assembly is less than or equal to 20 mm.

In some embodiments, wherein the total length of the light emitting assembly is less than or equal to 4.4 mm.

In some embodiments, wherein the collimating lens is a fresnel lens, wherein a beam emission angle of the beam projected onto the target scene is less than 25 ° by 20 °.

In some embodiments, wherein the total length of the light emitting assembly is less than or equal to 3.93 mm.

In some embodiments, the microlens array is composed of a group of microlens units, wherein each microlens unit is different from another microlens unit, so that the light beam does not form light and dark stripes in the far field after passing through the light uniformizing element.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the present invention further provides a method for manufacturing a light emitting element of a dimension-increasing camera apparatus, wherein the dimension-increasing camera apparatus includes a light receiving unit, wherein the manufacturing method includes:

arranging at least one collimating lens and at least one dodging element in a light path of a light beam emitted by a laser emitter, wherein the collimating lens is used for collimating the light beam so as to reduce the divergence angle of the light beam, and the dodging element is provided with a micro lens array so that the light beam is modulated by the micro lens array of the dodging element to form a specified light field in the light receiving unit of the dimension-increasing camera device.

In some embodiments, wherein the dodging element is located between the collimating lens and the laser emitter.

In some embodiments, the light homogenizing element and the collimating lens are of a split structure.

In some embodiments, the dodging element and the collimating lens are of a unitary structure.

In some embodiments, the collimating lens and the dodging element are formed on opposite sides of a substrate, respectively.

In some embodiments, wherein the collimating lens is located between the light unifying element and the laser emitter.

In some embodiments, wherein the collimating lens is selected from: one of a spherical lens, a plano-convex lens, a biconvex lens, a meniscus lens, an aspherical lens, and a fresnel lens.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an upscaling camera according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of an implementation manner of a light emitting component of the dimension-increasing camera device according to the first implementation manner of the above preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of an implementation manner of a light emitting component of the dimension-increasing camera device according to the first implementation manner of the above preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of an implementation manner of a light emitting component of the dimension-increasing camera device according to the first implementation manner of the above preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of an implementation manner of a light emitting component of the dimension-increasing camera device according to the first implementation manner of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a schematic structural diagram of an implementation manner of a light emitting component of the dimension-increasing camera device according to the second implementation manner of the above preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of an implementation manner of a light emitting component of the dimension-increasing camera device according to the second implementation manner of the above preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a partial parameter table of the light emitting assembly of the dimension-increasing camera device according to the above preferred embodiment of the invention, which realizes the light path with a large angle in one direction and a small angle in the other direction.

Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram of an optical path structure of a light emitting assembly of the dimension-increasing camera device according to the above preferred embodiment of the invention, which realizes a large angle in one direction.

Fig. 10 is a schematic diagram of an optical path structure of a light emitting assembly of the dimension-increasing camera device according to the above preferred embodiment of the invention, which realizes a small angle in one direction.

Fig. 11 is a schematic diagram of the light emitting assembly of the dimension-increasing camera device according to the above preferred embodiment of the invention, which realizes the output illuminance of the light beam at 1m with a large angle in one direction and a small angle in the other direction.

Fig. 12 is a schematic diagram of the horizontal output light intensity distribution curve of the light emitting assembly of the dimension increasing camera device according to the above preferred embodiment of the invention, which realizes a light beam with a large angle in one direction and a small angle in another direction.

Fig. 13 is a schematic diagram of the vertical output light intensity distribution curve of the light emitting assembly of the dimension increasing camera device according to the above preferred embodiment of the invention, which realizes the light beams with a large angle in one direction and a small angle in the other direction.

Fig. 14 is a partial parameter table of the light emitting component of the dimension-increasing camera device according to the above preferred embodiment of the invention, which realizes the light path with small angles in both directions.

Fig. 15 is a schematic diagram of an optical path structure of a light emitting assembly of the dimension-increasing camera device according to the above preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein the light emitting assembly realizes a small angle in both directions.

Fig. 16 is a schematic diagram of the light emitting assembly of the dimension-increasing camera device according to the above preferred embodiment of the invention, which realizes the output illuminance of the light beam at 1m, where both directions are small angles.

Fig. 17 is a schematic diagram of a horizontal output light intensity distribution curve of the light emitting assembly of the dimension-increasing camera device according to the above preferred embodiment of the invention, which realizes light beams with small angles in both directions.

Fig. 18 is a schematic diagram of a vertical output light intensity distribution curve of the light emitting assembly of the dimension-increasing camera device according to the above preferred embodiment of the invention, which realizes light beams with small angles in both directions.

Fig. 19 is a schematic structural diagram of a light emitting assembly of the dimension-increasing camera according to the third implementation mode of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description

The following description is presented to disclose the invention so as to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention. The preferred embodiments in the following description are given by way of example only, and other obvious variations will occur to those skilled in the art. The basic principles of the invention, as defined in the following description, may be applied to other embodiments, variations, modifications, equivalents, and other technical solutions without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that in the present disclosure, the terms "longitudinal," "lateral," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," and the like are used in an orientation or positional relationship indicated in the drawings for ease of description and simplicity of description, and do not indicate or imply that the referenced devices or components must be in a particular orientation, constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and thus the above terms are not to be construed as limiting the present invention.

It is understood that the terms "a" and "an" should be interpreted as meaning that a number of one element or element is one in one embodiment, while a number of other elements is one in another embodiment, and the terms "a" and "an" should not be interpreted as limiting the number.

In the description herein, references to the description of the term "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "an example," "a specific example," or "some examples," etc., mean that a particular feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the invention. In this specification, the schematic representations of the terms used above are not necessarily intended to refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples. Furthermore, various embodiments or examples and features of different embodiments or examples described in this specification can be combined and combined by one skilled in the art without contradiction.

In this embodiment, the dimension-increasing imaging device is used for capturing and acquiring image information of a target scene. Preferably, the dimension-increasing camera device can acquire depth information of a target scene to acquire three-dimensional image information. Further, the dimension-increasing camera device acquires depth information of the target scene based on a TOF time flight technology. Or, the dimension-increasing camera device provided by the invention is matched with other camera modules to provide dimension-increasing information for image information shot by other camera modules, wherein the dimension-increasing information refers to depth information of a target scene which can be acquired by the dimension-increasing camera device. Alternatively, the dimension-increasing camera device may also acquire information of other dimensions, for example, the dimension information may be information of different angles, depths, different functions, different features such as colors, physical dimensions, or time dimensions. Or the dimension information comprises color information for acquiring an RGB color image and the like. Or the dimension information includes time dimension information, that is, the dimension-increasing camera device can obtain image information within a certain time for recording video images and the like, which is not limited herein.

According to different application scenes, the dimension increasing camera device is applied to different application equipment, wherein the dimension increasing camera device acquires the image information of the target scene and sends the image information to the application equipment, and the image information is processed by the application equipment and gives corresponding actions or results and the like. The application equipment comprises but is not limited to a sweeping robot, a linear array laser radar, an area array laser radar, a depth camera, living body detection, a mobile phone, face recognition, iris recognition, AR/VR technology, robot recognition, robot risk avoidance, smart home, an automatic driving vehicle or an unmanned aerial vehicle and the like, the application range is wide, and the application equipment is suitable for diversified application scenes.

In other words, part of the parameters or random regular variables of each microlens unit are preset within a certain range, so that each microlens unit has a shape and size or a spatial arrangement mode which are randomly regulated, that is, the shape and size between any two microlens units are different from each other, and the arrangement mode is irregular, so that light beams are prevented from generating interference during spatial propagation, the dodging effect is improved, and the regulation and control on the required facula illumination pattern and light intensity distribution of the target scene are met.

Preferably, the microlens unit has an aspherical surface type having an optical structure for a power function. For example, the microlens unit may be a concave lens or a convex lens, and is not particularly limited herein. The regulation and control of the light spot illumination pattern and the light intensity distribution of the required target scene are realized by carrying out random regularization treatment, namely a modulation process on partial parameters or variables of the micro-lens unit. Some parameters of the microlens unit include, but are not limited to, the curvature radius, the conic constant, the aspheric coefficients, the shape and size of the effective clear aperture of the microlens unit, i.e., the cross-sectional profile of the microlens unit in the X-Y plane, the spatial arrangement of the microlens unit, and the surface profile of the microlens unit along the Z-axis direction.

s01, dividing areas where the micro lens units are located on the surface of the base material, wherein the cross-sectional shapes or the sizes of the areas where the micro lens units are located are different, and the areas are rectangular, circular, triangular, trapezoidal, polygonal or other irregular shapes;

s03, for each microlens unit, the surface profile along the Z-axis direction is expressed by a curved function f:

where ρ is²＝(x_i-x₀)²+(y_i-y₀)².

Wherein R is a radius of curvature of the microlens unit, K is a conic constant, Aj is an aspherical coefficient, and Z_OffsetIs the offset in the Z-axis direction corresponding to each microlens unit.

It should be noted that the curvature radius R, the conic constant K, and the aspheric coefficient Aj of the microlens unit are randomly regulated in a certain range according to an application scenario used by the application terminal. On the basis of carrying out random regularization processing on parameters such as curvature radius R, a conical constant K and an aspheric surface coefficient Aj of the microlens units within a preset range, wherein the parameters such as the curvature radius R, the conical constant K and the aspheric surface coefficient Aj of the microlens units are subjected to random regularization processing within a certain range, and the coordinate of each microlens unit is converted into the global coordinate system (X, Y, Z) from the local coordinate system (xi, yi, zi) so that the offset Z along the Z-axis direction corresponding to each microlens unit is enabled to be in a way that_OffsetRandom regularization is performed within a range such that the surface profile of each microlens unit in the Z-axis direction is randomly regularizedThe interference of the light beams is avoided, so that the light uniformizing effect is achieved.

s101, dividing areas where the micro-lens units are located on the surface of a base material, wherein the cross-sectional shapes or the sizes of the areas where the micro-lens units are located are basically consistent;

s103, setting the real central position of each micro-lens unit to be respectively added with a random offset X in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction at the central coordinate of the area_Offset、Y_Offset(ii) a And

s104, for each microlens unit, the surface profile of the microlens unit along the Z-axis direction is expressed by a curved function f:

where ρ is²＝(x_i-x₀-X_Offset)²+(y_i-y₀-Y_Offset)²。

Wherein R is a radius of curvature of the microlens unit, K is a conic constant, Aj is an aspherical coefficient, and Z_OffsetIs the offset in the Z-axis direction corresponding to each microlens unit.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the embodiments of the invention described above and shown in the drawings are given by way of example only and are not limiting of the invention. The objects of the invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. The functional and structural principles of the present invention have been shown and described in the examples, and any variations or modifications of the embodiments of the present invention may be made without departing from the principles.