IMAGING SYSTEM

• US 20120300024A1
• Filed: 05/25/2011
• Published: 11/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: McEldowney, Scott
• Application Number:
  US13/115,694
• Publication Number:
  US 20120300024A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/42
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/254 in combination with electromagnetic radiation sources for illuminating objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/271 wherein the generated image signals comprise depth maps or disparity maps

Abstract

A three-dimensional imaging system to reduce detected ambient light comprises a wavelength stabilized laser diode to project imaging light onto a scene, an optical bandpass filter, and a camera to receive imaging light reflected from the scene and through the optical bandpass filter, the camera configured to use the received imaging light for generating a depth map of the scene.

Claims

1. A 3-D imaging system comprising:

a wavelength stabilized laser diode to project imaging light onto a scene;

a temperature controller configured to stabilize a temperature of the wavelength stabilized laser diode throughout a range of ambient temperatures;

an optical bandpass filter having a transmission range less than 5 nm full width at half maximum; and

a camera to receive imaging light reflected from the scene and through the optical bandpass filter.

2. The 3-D imaging system of claim 1, wherein the temperature controller includes a thermoelectric cooling device coupled to the wavelength stabilized laser diode.

3. The 3-D imaging system of claim 2, wherein the thermoelectric cooling device includes a Peltier device.

4. The 3-D imaging system of claim 2, wherein the thermoelectric cooling device is configured to maintain a temperature of the wavelength stabilized laser diode to within 1°

C. of a predetermined set temperature while the wavelength stabilized laser diode is operated within an environment having an ambient temperature between 5°

C. and 40°

C.

5. The 3-D imaging system of claim 1, wherein the wavelength stabilized laser diode comprises a distributed bragg reflector.

6. The 3-D imaging system of claim 1, wherein the wavelength stabilized laser diode comprises a distributed feedback laser.

7. The 3-D imaging system of claim 1, wherein the camera is configured to analyze the received imaging light using time of flight analysis.

8. The 3-D imaging system of claim 1, wherein the camera is configured to analyze the received imaging light using structured light analysis.

9. The 3-D imaging system of claim 1, wherein the optical bandpass filter has a transmission range no greater than 2 nm full width at half maximum.

10. The 3-D imaging system of claim 1, wherein the laser diode is tuned to emit light having a wavelength in a range of 824 nm to 832 nm.

11. The 3-D imaging system of claim 1, wherein the laser diode is tuned to emit light in a wavelength range that matches a range transmitted by the optical bandpass filter when operated within an environment having an ambient temperature between of 5°

C. and 40°

C.

12. A 3-D imaging system comprising:

a wavelength stabilized laser diode to project imaging light onto a scene with a wavelength in a range of 824 nm to 832 nm;

a cooling device coupled to the wavelength stabilized laser diode and configured to maintain the wavelength stabilized laser diode within a temperature range of 40°

to 45°

C. when operated within an environment having an ambient temperature between 5°

C. and 40°

C.;

an optical bandpass filter having a transmission range no greater than 5 nm full width at half maximum; and

a camera to receive imaging light reflected from the scene and through the optical bandpass filter.

13. The imaging system of claim 12, wherein the cooling device comprises a thermoelectric cooler, a heat sink, a thermocouple, and a fan.

14. The imaging system of claim 12, wherein the wavelength stabilized laser diode comprises a distributed bragg reflector.

15. The imaging system of claim 12, wherein the wavelength stabilized laser diode comprises a distributed feedback laser.

16. The imaging system of claim 12, wherein the camera is configured to analyze the received imaging light using time of flight analysis.

17. The imaging system of claim 12, wherein the camera is configured to analyze the received imaging light using structured light analysis.

18. A 3-D imaging system comprising:

a wavelength stabilized laser diode to project imaging light onto a scene;

a temperature controller configured to stabilize a temperature of the wavelength stabilized laser diode throughout a range of ambient temperatures;

an optical bandpass filter having a transmission range less than 15 nm full width at half maximum;

a camera to receive imaging light reflected from the scene and through the optical bandpass filter;

a data-holding subsystem holding instructions executable by a logic subsystem to analyze the imaging light received at the camera to generate a depth map; and

an output for outputting the depth map.

19. The 3-D imaging system of claim 18, wherein the temperature controller includes a thermoelectric cooling device coupled to the wavelength stabilized laser diode.

20. The 3-D imaging system of claim 18, wherein the range of ambient temperatures comprises 5°

to 40°

C.