Summary
- Profile Type
- Technology offer
- POD Reference
- TODE20240806002
- Term of Validity
- 6 August 2024 - 6 August 2025
- Company's Country
- Germany
- Type of partnership
- Investment agreement
- Commercial agreement with technical assistance
- Research and development cooperation agreement
- Targeted Countries
- All countries
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General information
- Short Summary
- A German university has developed a new 3D-Camera, offers a working range from ten centimeters to several meters by utilizing laser illumination, a monochrome camera, and advanced electroabsorption modulators (EAMs). The integration of hardware and modern software ensures enhanced precision and depth resolution. The University is looking for cooperation partners, licensee and/or investors to further develop the new technology to series maturity.
- Full Description
-
Optical 3D image capture has gained prominence in industrial and consumer applications in recent years. Time-of-flight (ToF) measurement, particularly using the DREAM project's approach, offers a simplified yet real-time-capable method for 3D image acquisition. The invention combines laser illumination, a monochrome camera, and a high frequency modulated global shutter synchronized with the laser to enhance the ToF process.
Existing 3D cameras face challenges related to multiple reflections, motion artifacts, and noise, impacting data accuracy. The power consumption and computing requirements also need to be revised, especially in mobile devices and applications requiring lightweight and energy-efficient solutions.
Scientists at a German university have developed an innovative solution to overcome these challenges. The DREAM invention addresses these challenges by developing optoelectronic electroabsorption modulators (EAMs) and integrating them with a hardware setup for ToF image acquisition. Modern software approaches, including deep learning, are employed for data evaluation and error correction. The proposed camera demonstrates improved precision and depth resolution compared to existing technologies.
Due to its versatile working range, the DREAM camera has potential applications in robotics, process monitoring, and control. Its compact design also allows integration into existing camera systems, making it suitable for mobile devices in virtual and augmented reality applications. MedTech would be another potential application for this invention. Consideration for power consumption and computing power is crucial, with the possibility of implementing lightweight networks for simple error corrections on smartphones and more complex corrections on separate servers, particularly in stationary industrial environments. - Advantages and Innovations
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Advantages of the innovation are:
• Working range from 10 cm to several meters.
• Reduced interference from multiple reflections, motion artifacts, and noise.
• High lateral resolution with resonant electroabsorption modulators.
• Comparable depth resolution quality to existing technologies, even without complex modulation forms and extensive image processing.
• Doubling of the frame rate of the 3D camera at a minimum. - Stage of Development
- Lab tested
- Sustainable Development Goals
- Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- Goal 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal
- IPR status
- IPR applied but not yet granted
Partner Sought
- Expected Role of a Partner
- The University is looking for cooperation partners, licensee and/or investors to further develop the new technology to series maturity. The cooperation partners, licensee and/or investors should have knowledge in the development and production of TOF-cameras and have access to the necessary production structure.
- Type and Size of Partner
- Big company
- SME 50 - 249
- SME 11-49
- SME <=10
- Other
- Type of partnership
- Investment agreement
- Commercial agreement with technical assistance
- Research and development cooperation agreement
Dissemination
- Technology keywords
- 02003001 - Process automation
- 01003012 - Imaging, Image Processing, Pattern Recognition
- 01001001 - Automation, Robotics Control Systems
- 05003002 - Optics
- Market keywords
- 08002003 - Process control equipment and systems
- 08002005 - Machine vision software and systems
- 08002002 - Industrial measurement and sensing equipment
- 08002004 - Robotics
- Targeted countries
- All countries
