Optical ranging apparatus
First Claim
1. An optical depth resolver, comprising:
- a converging lens receiving light from objects in an object field and directing the received light to an image field of the converging lens;
a plurality of imaging elements distributed about the image field of the converging lens in the image field of the lens such that each imaging element receives light from the converging lens and forms an image from the light it receives;
a photodetector array divided into a plurality of macropixels each of which is made up of a plurality of subpixels, each macropixel receiving an image formed by one of the imaging elements such that each subpixel of a macropixel receives light from one portion of the lens as imaged by one of the imaging elements, each subpixel generating an electrical signal indicative of the intensity of light incident upon it; and
a data processor receiving the electrical signals from the subpixels and processing the signals from different subpixels, the data processor identifying subimages of subpixels having like spatial positions within different macropixels and performing, across the image field, a plurality of local displacement estimates of image displacement between subimages, to create a range image of depths of objects across the object field.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical ranging apparatus is provided which resolves the depth of objects in an object field of a main lens. Light is directed by the main lens to a lenticular array consisting of an array of lenticules each of which generates an image of the lens surface. Each of the generated images is directed to a photodetector array divided into macropixels each of which receives one of the lenticule images. Each macropixel is made up of a number of subpixels, each of which is a discrete photodetector element and generates an electrical signal proportional to the intensity of light upon it. A data processor receives the signals from the subpixels and assembles subimages, each of which consists of one subpixel from each macropixel. Each subimage represents a view of the entire object field through one portion of the main lens. The data processor determines depth of objects in the object field by comparing the parallax between subimages. A diffuser may be provided between the object field and the lenticular array to low pass filter light from the object field and reduce aliasing. A field lens may also be provided between the main lens and the lenticular array to redirect light from the main lens and prevent skewing of the light reaching the macropixels. The images from the lenticular array may be relayed to a photodetector array set back from the lenticular array by using a relay lens.
287 Citations
44 Claims
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1. An optical depth resolver, comprising:
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a converging lens receiving light from objects in an object field and directing the received light to an image field of the converging lens; a plurality of imaging elements distributed about the image field of the converging lens in the image field of the lens such that each imaging element receives light from the converging lens and forms an image from the light it receives; a photodetector array divided into a plurality of macropixels each of which is made up of a plurality of subpixels, each macropixel receiving an image formed by one of the imaging elements such that each subpixel of a macropixel receives light from one portion of the lens as imaged by one of the imaging elements, each subpixel generating an electrical signal indicative of the intensity of light incident upon it; and a data processor receiving the electrical signals from the subpixels and processing the signals from different subpixels, the data processor identifying subimages of subpixels having like spatial positions within different macropixels and performing, across the image field, a plurality of local displacement estimates of image displacement between subimages, to create a range image of depths of objects across the object field. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An optical depth resolver comprising:
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a converging lens receiving light from objects in an object field and directing the received light to an image field of the converging lens; a lenticular array having a two dimensional array of lenticules distributed about the image field of the converging lens such that each lenticule receives light directed from a different portion of the object field and receives the directed light at a different angle relative to an optic axis of the main lens, each lenticule forming an image from the light it receives; a photodetector array divided into a plurality of macropixels each of which is made up of a plurality of subpixels, each macropixel receiving the image formed by one of the lenticules such that each subpixel of a macropixel receives light from one portion of the converging lens as imaged by one lenticule, each subpixel generating an electrical signal indicative of the intensity of light incident upon it; a data processor receiving the electrical signals from the subpixels and processing the subpixel signals to detect variations in intensity of light directed from a plurality of locations in the object field relative to the portion of the converging lens through which the light passes, the data processor identifying subimages of subpixels having like spatial positions within different macropixels and performing, across the image field, estimates of depths of objects across the object field based on local derivatives of intensity between subimages to create a range image. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method of making depth measurements, comprising:
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providing a converging lens receiving light from objects in an object field and directing the received light to an image field of the converging lens; receiving said light from the converging lens with a plurality of imaging elements distributed about the image field of the converging lens, each imaging element forming an image from light it receives; receiving the images formed by the imaging elements with a photodetector array divided into a plurality of macropixels each of which is made up of a plurality of subpixels, each macropixel receiving an image formed by one of the imaging elements such that each subpixel of a macropixel receives light from one portion of the lens as imaged by one of the imaging elements, each subpixel generating an electrical signal indicative of the intensity of light incident upon it; and receiving the electrical signals from the subpixels with a data processor and processing the signals from different subpixels to create a range image of estimates of depths of objects across the object field. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification