SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GLINT REDUCTION
First Claim
1. A method of reducing glint from a returned electromagnetic radiation signal, comprising:
- illuminating a scene with an electromagnetic radiation signal having a predetermined first polarization;
receiving, at a receiver, the returned electromagnetic radiation signal that is scatter or reflected from the scene as a result of illuminating the scene with the electromagnetic radiation signal; and
passing the returned electromagnetic radiation signal through a polarizer included in the receiver, the polarizer having a second polarization that differs from the predetermined first polarization of the electromagnetic radiation signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for reducing the deleterious effects of specular reflections (e.g., glint) on active illumination systems are disclosed. An example system includes an illuminator or light source configured to illuminate a scene with electromagnetic radiation having a defined polarization orientation. The system also includes a receiver for receiving portions of the electromagnetic radiation reflected or scatter from the scene. Included in the receiver is a polarizer having a polarization axis crossed with the polarization orientation of the emitted electromagnetic radiation. By crossing the polarizer with the polarization of the emitted electromagnetic radiation, the polarizer may filter out glint or specular reflections in the electromagnetic radiation returned from the scene.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of reducing glint from a returned electromagnetic radiation signal, comprising:
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illuminating a scene with an electromagnetic radiation signal having a predetermined first polarization; receiving, at a receiver, the returned electromagnetic radiation signal that is scatter or reflected from the scene as a result of illuminating the scene with the electromagnetic radiation signal; and passing the returned electromagnetic radiation signal through a polarizer included in the receiver, the polarizer having a second polarization that differs from the predetermined first polarization of the electromagnetic radiation signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system, comprising:
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an illuminator configured to illuminate a scene with electromagnetic radiation having a predetermined first polarization; and a polarizer having a second polarization that differs from the predetermined first polarization of the electromagnetic radiation, the polarizer configured to receive a portion of the electromagnetic radiation returned from the scene. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A 3D imaging system, comprising:
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an illuminator configured to illuminate a scene with electromagnetic radiation having a predetermined first polarization; a sensor subsystem including; a polarizer having a second polarization that differs from the predetermined first polarization of the electromagnetic radiation, the polarizer configured to receive a portion of the electromagnetic radiation returned from the scene; a modulator configured to modulate the returned portion of the electromagnetic radiation as a function of time; and a sensor configured to receive the returned portion of the electromagnetic radiation that has passed through the polarizer and modulator; and a processor, operatively coupled to the modulator and sensor, configured to compute 3D information regarding the scene based on one or more signals from the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification