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Range image system for obtaining subject image of predetermined distance position

  • US 20080122933A1
  • Filed: 06/15/2007
  • Published: 05/29/2008
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2006
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A range image system comprising:

  • an infrared emitting device for emitting infrared pulsed light to a scene;

    an imaging device in which first light receive elements for receiving visible light and second light receive elements for receiving infrared light are two-dimensionally disposed, said imaging device photoelectrically converting the visible light and the infrared light of said scene received by said first and second light receive elements to output a first pixel signal, which corresponds to a charge amount of a signal charge accumulated in said first light receive element, and a second pixel signal, which corresponds to a charge amount of a signal charge accumulated in said second light receive element, in time series;

    an imaging controller for activating said imaging device to periodically output the first and second pixel signals of one frame every one-frame scanning period, said imaging controller delaying a light-receiving period of said second light receive element from the emission of said pulsed light of said infrared emitting device by a predetermined time so as to receive the pulsed light reflected from a predetermined distance position;

    an emission controller for controlling emission timing of said infrared emitting device to perform emission of said pulsed light every other one-frame scanning period;

    a first frame memory for storing the first and second pixel signals of one frame obtained by imaging of emission time of said pulsed light;

    a second frame memory for storing the first and second pixel signals of one frame obtained by imaging of non-emission time of said pulsed light; and

    a signal processor for producing a first visible-light image based on said first pixel signal stored in said first frame memory, and for producing a second visible-light image based on said first pixel signal stored in said second frame memory, said signal processor producing a range image by subtracting said second pixel signal stored in said second frame memory from said second pixel signal stored in said first frame memory.

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