Camera with through-the-lens lighting

• US 20010055482A1
• Filed: 04/10/2001
• Published: 12/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft International Holdings BV (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: 3DV Systems Ltd. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Yahav, Giora, Braun, Ori J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,654,556 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 396/89
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/50 Projected symbol or information, e.g. onto the road or car body
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/141 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/147 the main emission direction of the LED being angled to the optical axis of the illuminating device
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/663 by switching light sources by switching incandescent light sources F21S41/162
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 11/025 by scanning the object
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/08 for measuring distance only indirect measurement G01S17/46; active triangulation systems G01S17/48
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/18 wherein range gates are used
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/88 Lidar systems specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/89 for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4812 transmitted and received beams following a coaxial path
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/51 Display arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/32 using active means, e.g. light emitter including both an active and a passive focus detecting device G02B7/285; using ultrasound G02B7/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/74 by influencing the scene brightness using illuminating means

Abstract

A camera with through-the-lens lighting, comprising:

a light source that produces incoherent light;

a photosensitive surface;

focusing optics, having an optical axis, that forms an image of a scene, within a field of view, on the photosensitive surface,

wherein the light is boresighted with the optical axis and directed toward the scene, illuminating substantially only the field of view of the camera.

Claims

1. A method of imaging a scene on a photo-surface comprising a plurality of light sensitive pixels, the method comprising:

determining an amount of light from the scene reaching each pixel of the plurality of pixels; and

thereafter controlling an amount of light from the scene that is registered by the pixel responsive to the determined amount of light.

2. A method of imaging a scene on a photo-surface comprising a plurality of light sensitive pixels the method comprising:

determining a distance from each pixel of the plurality of pixels of a region of the scene imaged on the pixel; and

controlling an amount of light from the region that is registered by the pixel responsive to the distance.