Array based patterned illumination projector

• US 10,139,217 B1
• Filed: 02/16/2016
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Holt, Jason, Lewkow, Roman, Ansari, Sameer
• Primary Examiner(s): Decenzo, Shawn
• Assistant Examiner(s): Underwood, Jarreas C
• Application Number:
  US15/045,056
• Time in Patent Office: 1,015 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/043 the lens having cylindrical faces, e.g. rod lenses, toric lenses
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/043 with cylindrical surface
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2101/00 Point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/002 for measuring two or more coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/2513 with several lines being projected in more than one direction, e.g. grids, patterns
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/54 with projector
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/00 Projectors or projection-type viewers; Accessories therefor devices for changing pictures G03B23/00

Abstract

A light emitter is provided to emit, into an environment of interest, a plurality of different patterns of light during respective periods of time. Each of the different patterns of light varies according to angle in a first direction such the location of a light detector disposed in the environment can be determined based on illumination from the light emitter that is detected by the light detector over time. The light emitter includes an astigmatic optical element and a die on which are disposed multiple sets of one or more light emitters, each set corresponding to a respective pattern of illumination emitted from the light emitter. Such a configuration of the light emitter can provide means for producing the different patterns of illumination in an energy-efficient, low-cost, and/or size-constrained manner.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a die, wherein the die comprises a plurality of light emitting elements that are connected on the die to form a first set of one or more light emitting elements and a second set of two or more light emitting elements; and

an astigmatic optical element, wherein the die is disposed relative to the astigmatic optical element such that the astigmatic optical element projects light emitted from the first and second sets of light emitting elements to produce respective different patterns of illumination from the device within respective ranges of angles of a first range of angles in a first direction relative to the device, and further such that the astigmatic optical element projects light emitted from both of the first and second sets of light emitting elements across all of a second range of angles in a second direction relative to the device, the second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction, wherein each light emitting element of the second set of two or more light emitting elements emits illumination from the device, via the astigmatic optical element, across a respective range of angles within the first range of angles, and wherein each light emitting element of the second set of two or more light emitting elements emits illumination from the device, via the astigmatic optical element, across the second range of angles.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the astigmatic optical element is coupled to the die with an adhesive.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the astigmatic optical element comprises a refractive or reflective optical element having an aspheric cylindrical surface.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a second die, wherein the second die comprises a second plurality of light emitting elements that are connected on the second die to form a third set of one or more light emitting elements and a fourth set of two or more light emitting elements, wherein the second die is disposed relative to the astigmatic optical element such that the astigmatic optical element projects light emitted from the third and fourth sets of light emitting elements to produce respective different patterns of illumination from the device within respective ranges of angles within the first range of angles, and further such that the astigmatic optical element projects light emitted from both of the third and fourth sets of light emitting elements across all of the second range of angles.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the patterns of illumination emitted from the device illuminate respective ranges of angles within the first range of angles such that each pattern provides illumination to approximately half of the first range of angles.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein illumination emitted from the first set of one or more light emitting elements of the die illuminates a first range of angles, wherein illumination emitted from the second set of two or more light emitting elements of the die illuminates a second range of angles, and wherein the first range of angles and the second range of angles are substantially non-overlapping.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of light emitting elements are connected on the die to form at least eight further sets of two or more light emitting elements, wherein the light emitting elements of the at least eight further sets of two or more light emitting elements are disposed on the die relative to the astigmatic optical element such that the astigmatic optical element projects light emitted from the at least eight further sets of two or more light emitting elements to produce respective different patterns of illumination from the device within the first range of angles, wherein the patterns of illumination emitted from the device due to emission of light from the at least eight further sets of two or more light emitting elements through the astigmatic optical element illuminate respective ranges of angles within the first range of angles, and wherein the patterns of illumination emitted from the device due to emission of light from the at least eight further sets of two or more light emitting elements through the astigmatic optical element illuminate all of the second range of angles.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the first range of angles spans at least 60 degrees.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the die further comprises a third set of one or more light emitting elements, wherein the die is disposed relative to the astigmatic optical element such that the astigmatic optical element projects light emitted from the third set of one or more light emitting elements to across all of the first range of angles.

10. A system comprising:

a light emitter, wherein the light emitter comprises;

a die, wherein the die comprises a plurality of light emitting elements that are connected on the die to form a first set of one or more light emitting elements and a second set of two or more light emitting elements; and

an astigmatic optical element, wherein the die is disposed relative to the astigmatic optical element such that the astigmatic optical element projects light emitted from the first and second sets of light emitting elements to produce respective different patterns of illumination from the light emitter within respective ranges of angles of a first range of angles in a first direction relative to the light emitter, and further such that the astigmatic optical element projects light emitted from both of the first and second sets of light emitting elements across all of a second range of angles in a second direction relative to the light emitter, the second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction, wherein each light emitting element of the second set of two or more light emitting elements emits illumination from the device, via the astigmatic optical element, across a respective range of angles within the first range of angles, and wherein each light emitting element of the second set of two or more light emitting elements emits illumination from the device, via the astigmatic optical element, across the second range of angles; and

a light detector, wherein the light detector is operable to detect illumination emitted from the light emitter.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the astigmatic optical element comprises a refractive or reflective optical element having an aspheric cylindrical surface.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of light emitting elements are connected on the die to form at least eight further sets of two or more light emitting elements, wherein the light emitting elements of the at least eight further sets of two or more light emitting elements are disposed on the die relative to the astigmatic optical element such that the astigmatic optical element projects light emitted from the at least eight further sets of two or more light emitting elements to produce respective different patterns of illumination from the light emitter within respective ranges of angles within the first range of angles, and wherein each pattern of illumination emitted from the light emitter due to emission of light from the at least eight further sets of two or more light emitting elements through the astigmatic optical element illuminates all of the second range of angles.

13. The system of claim 10, further comprising at least one controller, wherein the at least one controller is operable to perform operations comprising:

producing, using the light emitter, different patterns of illumination during different periods of time by applying power, via interconnects of the die, to one of the first set of one or more light emitting elements or the second set of two or more light emitting elements during the different periods of time;

detecting, using the light detector, illumination that is emitted from the light emitter; and

determining, based on the illumination detected by the light detector, a location of the light detector relative to the light emitter.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising a further light emitter, wherein the further light emitter comprises:

a second die, wherein the second die comprises a second plurality of light emitting elements that are connected on the second die to form a third set of one or more light emitting elements and a fourth set of two or more light emitting elements; and

a second astigmatic optical element, wherein the second die is disposed relative to the second astigmatic optical element such that the second astigmatic optical element projects light emitted from the third and fourth sets of light emitting elements to produce respective different patterns of illumination from the second light emitter within respective ranges of angles within a third range of angles in a third direction relative to the second light emitter, and further such that the second astigmatic optical element projects light emitted from both of the third and fourth sets of light emitting elements across all of a fourth range of angles in a fourth direction relative to the second light emitter, the fourth direction substantially orthogonal to the third direction; and

wherein the operations further comprise;

producing, using the further light emitter, different patterns of illumination during different periods of time by applying power, via interconnects of the further die, to one of the third set of one or more light emitting elements or the fourth set of two or more light emitting elements during the different periods of time;

detecting, using the light detector, further illumination that is emitted from the further light emitter; and

determining, based on the further illumination detected by the light detector, a location of the light detector relative to the further light emitter.

15. A method comprising:

providing, from a light emitter, a plurality of different patterns of illumination during respective periods of time, wherein providing each pattern of illumination comprises providing illumination from the light emitter within respective ranges of angles within a first range of angles in a first direction relative to the light emitter, and wherein each provided pattern of illumination illuminates all of a second range of angles in a second direction relative to the light emitter, the second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction, and wherein the light emitter comprises;

a die, wherein the die comprises a plurality of light emitting elements that are connected on the die to form a first set of one or more light emitting elements and a second set of two or more light emitting elements; and

an astigmatic optical element, wherein the die is disposed relative to the astigmatic optical element such that the astigmatic optical element projects light emitted from each set of light emitting elements to produce a respective one of the plurality of different patterns of illumination from the light emitter, wherein producing a particular pattern of illumination during a period of time comprises applying power, via interconnects of the die, to one of the sets of light emitting elements, wherein each light emitting element of the second set of two or more light emitting elements emits illumination from the device, via the astigmatic optical element, across a respective range of angles within the first range of angles, and wherein each light emitting element of the second set of two or more light emitting elements emits illumination from the device, via the astigmatic optical element, across the second range of angles.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the astigmatic optical element comprises a refractive or reflective optical element having an aspheric cylindrical surface.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein each of the different patterns of illumination illuminate a respective range of angles within the first range of angles such that each pattern provides illumination to approximately half of the first range of angles.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the plurality of light emitting elements are connected on the die to form at least ten sets of two or more light emitting elements.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

detecting, using a light detector, illumination that is emitted from the light emitter; and

determining, based on the illumination detected by the light detector, a location of the light detector relative to the light emitter.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

providing, from a second light emitter, a second plurality of different patterns of illumination during respective periods of time, wherein providing each pattern of illumination of the second plurality of patterns of illumination comprises providing illumination from the second light emitter within respective ranges of angles within a third range of angles in a third direction relative to the second light emitter, and wherein each provided pattern of illumination of the second plurality of patterns of illumination illuminates all of a fourth range of angles in a fourth direction relative to the second light emitter, the fourth direction substantially orthogonal to the third direction, and wherein the second light emitter comprises;

a second die, wherein the second die comprises a second plurality of light emitting elements that are connected on the second die to form at least two sets or two or more light emitting elements; and

a second astigmatic optical element, wherein the second die is disposed relative to the second astigmatic optical element such that the second astigmatic optical element projects light emitted from each set of two or more light emitting elements of the second die to produce a respective one of the second plurality of different patterns of illumination from the second light emitter, and wherein producing a particular pattern of illumination from the second light emitter during a period of time comprises applying power, via interconnects of the second die, to one of the sets of two or more light emitting elements of the second die.