Structured light module and autonomous mobile device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022369890-A1
Application number	US-202017780931-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 15, 2020
Priority date	Dec 30, 2019
Publication date	Nov 24, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

Provided are a structured light module and an autonomous mobile device. A structured light module comprises a camera module and line laser emitters distributed on two sides of the camera module; the line laser emitters emit line laser outwards; and the camera module collects an environmental image detected by the line laser. By virtue of the advantage of high detection accuracy of the line laser, front environmental information may be detected more accurately. In addition, the line laser emitters are located on two sides of the camera module. This mode occupies a small size, may save more space, and is beneficial to expand an application scenario of a line laser sensor.

First claim

1 . A structured light module, comprising:
a camera module and line laser emitters distributed on two sides of the camera module; wherein:
the line laser emitters responsible for emitting line laser outwards, and
the camera module is responsible for collecting an environmental image detected by the line laser.

2 . The structured light module according to claim 1 , wherein, the line laser emitters and the camera module are located at the same height in an installation position.

3 . The structured light module according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a fixing seat wherein, the camera module and the line laser emitters are assembled on the fixing seat.

4 . The structured light module according to claim 3 , wherein:
the fixing seat comprises a main body portion and end portions located on two sides of the main body portion, the camera module is assembled on the main body portion, the line laser emitters are assembled on the end portions, end surfaces of the end portions are oriented to a reference plane so that center lines of the line laser emitters intersect with a center line of the camera module at a point, and the reference plane is a plane perpendicular to an end surface or end surface tangent line of the main body portion.

5 . The structured light module according to claim 4 , wherein:
a middle position of the main body portion is provided with a groove, the camera module is installed in the groove, the end portions are provided with installation holes, and the line laser emitters are installed in the installation holes.

6 . The structured light module according to claim 4 , further comprising:
a fixing cover assembled over the fixing seat; wherein a cavity is formed between the fixing cover and the fixing seat to accommodate connecting lines of the camera module and the line laser emitters with a host controller.

7 . The structured light module according to claim 4 , wherein, a lens of the camera module is located within an outer edge of the groove.

8 . The structured light module according to claim 4 , wherein, the end surface of the main body portion is an inwardly recessed curved surface.

9 . The structured light module according to claim 1 , wherein:
there are two line laser emitters, and the two line laser emitters are symmetrically distributed on two sides of the camera module.

10 . The structured light module according to claim 1 , wherein, the camera module is an infrared camera module.

11 . An autonomous mobile device, comprising:
a device body, wherein:
the device body is provided with a first control unit, a second control unit, and a structured light module;
the structured light module includes a camera module and line laser emitters distributed on two sides of the camera module;
the first control unit is electrically connected to the line laser emitters;
the second control unit is electrically connected to the camera module;
the first control unit controls the line laser emitters to emit line laser outwards; and
the second control unit controls the camera module to collect an environmental image detected by the line laser, and is responsible for performing functional control on the autonomous mobile device according to the environmental image.

12 . The device according to claim 11 , wherein:
the first control unit is further electrically connected to the camera module and the second control unit; the second control unit performs exposure control on the camera module, a synchronization signal generated by the camera module at each exposure is output to the first control unit; the first control unit controls the line laser emitters to work alternately according to the synchronization signal, and outputs a laser source distinguishing signal to the second control unit; the second control unit performs left-right marking on environmental images collected by the camera module at each exposure according to the laser source distinguishing signal.

13 . The device according to claim 12 , wherein;
the structured light module is arranged on a front side of the device body, and the front side is a side to which the device body is oriented during the forward movement of the autonomous mobile device.

14 . The device according to claim 13 , wherein
a striking plate is further installed on the front side of the device body, the striking plate is located outside the structured light module, and windows are provided in a region on the striking plate corresponding to the structured light module so as to expose the camera module and the line laser emitters in the structured light module.

15 . The device according to claim 14 , wherein, windows are provided respectively in positions on the striking plate corresponding to the camera module and the line laser emitters.

16 . The device according to claim 14 , wherein, the structured light module is installed on an inside wall of the striking plate.

17 . The device according to claim 13 , wherein, the structured light module is arranged in a middle position, a top position or a bottom position in a height direction of the device body.

18 . The device according to claim 11 , wherein, the autonomous mobile device is a floor sweeping robot or a window cleaning robot.

19 . An autonomous mobile device, comprising:
a device body, wherein;
the device body is provided with a main controller;
a structured light module includes a camera module and line laser emitters distributed on two sides of the camera module; and
the main controller controls the line laser emitters to emit line laser outwards, controls the camera module to collect an environmental image detected by the line laser, and is responsible for performing functional control on the autonomous mobile device according to the environmental image.

20 . The device according to claim 19 , wherein, the main controller is specifically configured to:
perform exposure control on the camera module, and acquire a synchronization signal generated by the camera module at each exposure; and control, according to the synchronization signal, the line laser emitters to work alternately, and perform left-right marking on environmental images collected by the camera module at each exposure.

21 . The device according to claim 20 , wherein;
the structured light module is arranged on a front side of the device body, and the front side is a side to which the device body is oriented during the forward movement of the autonomous mobile device.

22 . The device according to claim 21 , wherein;
a striking plate is further installed on the front side of the device body, the striking plate is located outside the structured light module, and windows are provided in a region on the striking plate corresponding to the structured light module so as to expose the camera module and the line laser emitters in the structured light module.

Assignees

• Ecovacs Robotics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Wu Xianyong
• Chen Wei
• Luo Xiao

Classifications

• H04N23/56

  provided with illuminating means · CPC title

• H04N23/57

  Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices · CPC title

• A47L1/02 Primary

  Power-driven machines or devices · CPC title

• A47L2201/04

  Automatic control of the travelling movement; Automatic obstacle detection · CPC title

• A47L11/4061 Primary

  Steering means; Means for avoiding obstacles; Details related to the place where the driver is accommodated · CPC title