DEPTH-SENSITIVE IMAGING VIA POLARIZATION-STATE MAPPING
First Claim
1. A depth-sensitive imager for imaging a scene in three dimensions, the scene comprising a surface, the depth-sensitive imager comprising:
- a light source configured to project a polarized illumination onto the surface;
a detector configured to capture an image of the scene by detecting light from the scene, in which image a polarization state of the light is encoded, the light including a portion of the polarized illumination reflected from the surface; and
an analyzer configured to generate output responsive to a distance between the light source and the surface based on the image
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Accused Products
Abstract
A depth-sensitive imager for imaging a scene in three dimensions. The depth-sensitive imager comprises a light source configured to project a polarized illumination onto a surface of the scene, and a detector configured to capture an image of the scene by detecting light from the scene, in which image a polarization state of the light is encoded. The detected light includes a portion of the polarized illumination reflected from the surface. The depth-sensitive imager further comprises an analyzer configured to generate output responsive to a distance between the light source and the surface based on the image.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A depth-sensitive imager for imaging a scene in three dimensions, the scene comprising a surface, the depth-sensitive imager comprising:
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a light source configured to project a polarized illumination onto the surface; a detector configured to capture an image of the scene by detecting light from the scene, in which image a polarization state of the light is encoded, the light including a portion of the polarized illumination reflected from the surface; and an analyzer configured to generate output responsive to a distance between the light source and the surface based on the image - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for imaging a scene in three dimensions, the scene comprising a surface, the method comprising:
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projecting a polarized illumination onto the surface; capturing an image of the scene by detecting light from the scene, in which image a polarization state of the light is encoded, the light including a portion of the polarized illumination reflected from the surface; and analyzing the image to generate output responsive to a distance between the light source and the surface based on the image. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A depth-sensitive imager for imaging a scene in three dimensions, the scene comprising a surface, the depth-sensitive imager comprising:
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a laser configured to project onto the surface a polarized illumination comprising a plurality of polarized features spaced apart from each other; a camera configured to capture an image of the scene by detecting light from the scene, in which image a degree of polarization of the light is encoded, the light including a portion of the polarized illumination reflected from the surface; and an analyzer configured to triangulate a distance between the laser and the surface based on a spacing between adjacent polarized features in the image and further based on an angle between the adjacent polarized features in the polarized illumination. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification