Three dimensional camera
First Claim
1. Apparatus for creating an image indicating distances to points in objects in a scene, comprising:
- a modulated source of radiation, having a first modulation function, which directs radiation toward a scene such that a portion of the modulated radiation is reflected from the points and reaches the apparatus;
an array detector which detects radiation from the scene, modulated by a second modulation function, each element of the array detector being associated with a point in the scene, each element of the array detector generating a signal, responsive to a part of the portion of the reflected radiation reaching the apparatus, the magnitude of particular element'"'"'s signal being dependent on the distance of a point in the scene, associated with that element'"'"'s signal; and
a processor which forms an image, having an intensity value distribution indicative of the distance of each of the points in the scene from the apparatus, based on the magnitude of the signal associated with the point;
wherein the first and second modulation functions comprise repetitive pulsed modulation functions which are different from each other.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for creating an image indicating distances to points in objects in a scene, comprising:
a modulated source of radiation, having a first modulation function, which directs radiation toward a scene such that a portion of the modulated radiation is reflected from the points and reaches the apparatus;
an array detector which detects radiation from the scene, modulated by a second modulation function, each element of the array detector being associated with a point in the scene, each element of the array detector generating a signal, responsive to a part of the reflected radiation reaching the apparatus, the magnitude of particular element'"'"'s signal being dependent on the distance of a point in the scene, associated with that element'"'"'s signal; and
a processor which forms an image, having an intensity value distribution indicative of the distance of each of the points in the scene from the apparatus, based on the magnitude of the signal associated with the point;
wherein the first and second modulation functions comprise repetitive pulsed modulation functions which are different from each other.
318 Citations
21 Claims
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1. Apparatus for creating an image indicating distances to points in objects in a scene, comprising:
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a modulated source of radiation, having a first modulation function, which directs radiation toward a scene such that a portion of the modulated radiation is reflected from the points and reaches the apparatus; an array detector which detects radiation from the scene, modulated by a second modulation function, each element of the array detector being associated with a point in the scene, each element of the array detector generating a signal, responsive to a part of the portion of the reflected radiation reaching the apparatus, the magnitude of particular element'"'"'s signal being dependent on the distance of a point in the scene, associated with that element'"'"'s signal; and a processor which forms an image, having an intensity value distribution indicative of the distance of each of the points in the scene from the apparatus, based on the magnitude of the signal associated with the point; wherein the first and second modulation functions comprise repetitive pulsed modulation functions which are different from each other. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18)
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16. Apparatus for creating an image indicating distances to objects in a scene, comprising:
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a modulated source of radiation which directs radiation toward a scene such that a portion of the radiation from the source is from points in the scene and reaches the apparatus; a detector comprising a photographic film; and a modulator which receives said portion, modulates it, and transmits a part of the portion of the radiation to the detector, said part being dependent on the distance of respective in the scene from the apparatus; forms an image having an intensity distribution indicative of the distance of objects from the apparatus on the photographic film.
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19. A method of determining the distance to portions of a scene comprising:
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illuminating the scene with a plurality of consecutive mutually identical pulses of energy such that energy from the portion is received at a detector, said pulses occurring during a plurality of spaced first time periods; determining the part of the received energy which is within a plurality of mutually identical, spaced, consecutive second time periods; and ascertaining the distance to the portion of the scene based on the value of the determined part, wherein the plurality of mutually identical first time periods and the plurality of mutually identical second time periods are not identical to each other. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification