OPTICAL MODULES FOR USE WITH DEPTH CAMERAS
First Claim
1. An optical module for use with a depth camera, the optical module comprising:
- a laser source that outputs a laser beam; and
an optical structure thatreceives the laser beam output by the laser source,spreads out the laser beam output by the laser source in at least two stages so that the laser beam output from the optical structure has horizontal and vertical angles of divergence substantially equal to desired horizontal and vertical angles of divergence, andmodifies an illumination profile of the laser beam so that the illumination profile of the laser beam output from the optical structure is substantially equal to a desired illumination profile.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed herein are optical modules for use with depth cameras, and systems that include a depth camera. The optical module spreads out a laser beam, output by a laser source of the optical module, so that the laser beam output by the optical module does not look bright, and thus, does not draw attention to the laser light. Such an optical module can include an optical structure that modifies the laser beam so that its horizontal and vertical angles of divergence are substantially equal to desired horizontal and vertical angles of divergence, and so that its illumination profile is substantially equal to a desired illumination profile. This is beneficial since a scene should be illuminated by light having predetermined desired horizontal and vertical angles of divergence and a predetermined desired illumination profile in order for a depth camera to obtain high resolution depth images.
54 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An optical module for use with a depth camera, the optical module comprising:
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a laser source that outputs a laser beam; and an optical structure that receives the laser beam output by the laser source, spreads out the laser beam output by the laser source in at least two stages so that the laser beam output from the optical structure has horizontal and vertical angles of divergence substantially equal to desired horizontal and vertical angles of divergence, and modifies an illumination profile of the laser beam so that the illumination profile of the laser beam output from the optical structure is substantially equal to a desired illumination profile. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. For use with a depth camera, a method comprising:
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producing a laser beam; spreading out the laser beam in at least two stages so that the laser beam, when used to illuminate an object within a field of view of the depth camera, has horizontal and vertical angles of divergence substantially equal to desired horizontal and vertical angles of divergence; and modifying an illumination profile of the laser beam so that the illumination profile of the laser beam, when used to illuminate an object within a field of view of the depth camera, is substantially equal to a desired illumination profile. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A depth camera system, comprising:
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a laser source that outputs a laser beam; an optical structure that receives the laser beam output by the laser source, spreads out the laser beam output by the laser source in at least two stages so that the laser beam output from the optical structure has horizontal and vertical angles of divergence substantially equal to desired horizontal and vertical angles of divergence, and modifies an illumination profile of the laser beam so that the illumination profile of the laser beam output from the optical structure is substantially equal to a desired illumination profile; and an image pixel detector array that detects a portion of the laser beam, output by the optical structure, that has reflected of an object within a field of view of the depth camera and is incident on the image pixel detector array. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification