Gated 3D camera
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A camera for determining distances to a scene, the camera comprising:
- a light source comprising at least one vertical cavity surface emitting light emitting laser (VCSEL) controllable to illuminate the scene with a train of pulses of light having a characteristic spectrum;
a photosurface;
optics for imaging light reflected from the light pulses by the scene on the photosurface; and
a shutter operable to gate the photosurface selectively on and off for light in the spectrum wherein bias error resulting from a temperature difference between the light source and the shutter is less than about 10 percent of the displacement of an imaging slice of the scene.
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Abstract
A camera for determining distances to a scene, the camera comprising: a light source comprising a VCSEL controllable to illuminate the scene with a train of pulses of light having a characteristic spectrum; a photosurface; optics for imaging light reflected from the light pulses by the scene on the photosurface; and a shutter operable to gate the photosurface selectively on and off for light in the spectrum.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A camera for determining distances to a scene, the camera comprising:
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a light source comprising at least one vertical cavity surface emitting light emitting laser (VCSEL) controllable to illuminate the scene with a train of pulses of light having a characteristic spectrum; a photosurface; optics for imaging light reflected from the light pulses by the scene on the photosurface; and a shutter operable to gate the photosurface selectively on and off for light in the spectrum wherein bias error resulting from a temperature difference between the light source and the shutter is less than about 10 percent of the displacement of an imaging slice of the scene. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus for determining distances to a scene, the apparatus comprising:
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a light source having an array of VCSELs provides improved matching of the light source to the camera shutter reduced bias errors, controllable to illuminate the scene with a train of pulses of light having a characteristic spectrum; a photosurface; a lens system for imaging light reflected from the light pulses by the scene on the photosurface; and a shutter operable to gate the photosurface selectively on and off for light in the spectrum; wherein a normalized convolution of shutter contrast ratio (CR) and characteristic spectrum is greater than or equal to about 10 for a temperature difference between the shutter and light source less than or equal to about 20°
C. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A camera for determining distances to a scene, the camera comprising:
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a light source having an array of VCSELs providing improved matching of the light source to the camera shutter and being controllable to illuminate the scene with a train of pulses of light having a characteristic spectrum, the light source has a characteristic spectrum with a FWHM width equal to or greater than about 1.5 nm, and a lasing cavity characterized by a diameter about equal to or greater than 20 microns; a controller coupled to the light source; a photosurface comprising a CCD or CMOS photosensitive surface; a lens system for imaging light reflected from the light pulses by the scene on the photosurface; and a shutter operable to gate the photosurface selectively on and off for light in the spectrum; wherein bias error resulting from a temperature difference between the light source and the shutter is less than about 10 percent of the displacement of an imaging slice of the scene.
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Specification