Sensor array for image recognition
AssigneeSiemens Aktiengesellschaft
InventorThorsten Kohler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to a sensor array for image recognition, comprising several optical sensor elements (R, G, B) of a first type that are disposed in the shape of a grid and react to light in the visible wavelength range, wherein additional sensor elements (IR) of a second type are provided in addition to the sensor elements (R, G, B) of the first type, which react to light in the invisible wavelength range.
Claims17
A sensor arrangement for image recognition,
- having a plurality of optical sensor elements (R,G,B) of a first type, said sensor elements being arranged in a raster layout and responding to light in the visible wavelength range in each case,
- characterized in that
- further sensor elements (IR) of a second type are provided in addition to the sensor elements (R,G,B) of the first type, said further sensor elements responding to light in the invisible wavelength range.
The sensor arrangement as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims,
- characterized in that
- the sensor elements (R,G,B) of the first type and/or the sensor elements (IR) of the second type have a light-sensitive cell and a color filter.
The sensor arrangement as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims,
- characterized in that
- a plurality of modules comprising at least one sensor element (R,G,B) of the first type and at least one sensor element (IR) of the second type are arranged adjacently in a raster layout.
The sensor arrangement as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims,
- characterized in that
- the sensor elements (R,G,B) of the first type are connected to a first electric signal output, while the sensor elements (IR) of the second type are connected to a second electric output.
The sensor arrangement as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims,
- characterized in that
- the distribution density of the sensor elements (R.G,B) of the first type is significantly greater than the distribution density of the sensor elements (IR) of the second type.
The sensor arrangement as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims,
- characterized in that
- at least one spotlight (3, 4) is provided for lighting the image object, said spotlight emitting light with a wavelength to which only the sensor elements (IR) of the second type respond.
The sensor arrangement as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims,
- characterized in that
- a selector unit (2) is provided for selecting either the sensor elements (R,G,B) of the first type or the sensor elements (IR) of the second type.
The sensor arrangement as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims,
- characterized in that
- the selector unit (2) is connected to the spotlight (3, 4) in order to synchronize the activation of the spotlight (3, 4) with the selection of the sensor elements (R,G,B,IR).
The sensor arrangement as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims,
- characterized in that
- the sensor elements (R,G,B) of the first type and the sensor elements (IR) of the second type are connected to an exposure controller (2), in order to set the exposure duration of the sensor elements (R,G,B,IR).
The sensor arrangement as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims,
- characterized in that
- the sensor elements (R,G,B) of the first type and/or the sensor elements (IR) of the second type are connected to a sampling unit (2) which, at a predetermined image refresh rate, samples images generated by the sensor elements.
The sensor arrangement as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims,
- characterized in that
- the sensor elements are CCD elements or CMOS elements.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.