Reducing Interference Between Multiple Infra-Red Depth Cameras
First Claim
1. A depth camera system comprising:
- a plurality of cameras with at least partially overlapping field of views;
a plurality of sources, each arranged to project a structured light pattern; and
a controller arranged to control the plurality of sources to reduce the interference between projected structured light patterns and to receive signals from each of the cameras for use in depth determination.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for reducing interference between multiple infra-red depth cameras are described. In an embodiment, the system comprises multiple infra-red sources, each of which projects a structured light pattern into the environment. A controller is used to control the sources in order to reduce the interference caused by overlapping light patterns. Various methods are described including: cycling between the different sources, where the cycle used may be fixed or may change dynamically based on the scene detected using the cameras; setting the wavelength of each source so that overlapping patterns are at different wavelengths; moving source-camera pairs in independent motion patterns; and adjusting the shape of the projected light patterns to minimize overlap. These methods may also be combined in any way. In another embodiment, the system comprises a single source and a mirror system is used to cast the projected structured light pattern around the environment.
93 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A depth camera system comprising:
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a plurality of cameras with at least partially overlapping field of views; a plurality of sources, each arranged to project a structured light pattern; and a controller arranged to control the plurality of sources to reduce the interference between projected structured light patterns and to receive signals from each of the cameras for use in depth determination. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A computer-implemented method of controlling a depth camera system, the system comprising a plurality of infra-red cameras and a plurality of infra-red sources, and the method comprising:
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controlling the plurality of infra-red sources to reduce interference between projected infra-red structured light patterns from each source; and receiving signals from the plurality of infra-red cameras for use in depth determination. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A depth camera system comprising:
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a plurality of depth camera units, each unit comprising an optical-path movement device and a source-camera pair, the source-camera pair comprising an infra-red camera and an infra-red source arranged to project an infra-red structured light pattern; and a computing-based device comprising; a processor and a memory, wherein the memory is arranged to store device-executable instructions which, when executed, cause the processor to control the optical-path movement device to move the optical path of each source-camera pair in a motion pattern such that movement of the infra-red structured light patterns is different.
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Specification