Raster scanning for depth detection
First Claim
1. A depth camera, comprising:
- a point light source configured to emit a point of light;
a raster scanning element configured to optically communicate with the point light source;
logic configured to control the raster scanning element to raster scan the point of light from the point light source in a raster scanned pattern over a field of view of the depth camera, wherein only one point of the raster scanned pattern is projected in the field of view at any one time by the point light source;
a light detector configured to receive reflected images of the raster scanned light from an object within the field of view, the reflected images including at least a portion of the raster scanned pattern; and
logic configured to determine a distance from the depth camera to the object based on apparent deformation in the raster scanned pattern in the reflected images.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques are provided for determining distance to an object in a depth camera'"'"'s field of view. The techniques may include raster scanning light over the object and detecting reflected light from the object. One or more distances to the object may be determined based on the reflected image. A 3D mapping of the object may be generated. The distance(s) to the object may be determined based on times-of-flight between transmitting the light from a light source in the camera to receiving the reflected image from the object. Raster scanning the light may include raster scanning a pattern into the field of view. Determining the distance(s) to the object may include determining spatial differences between a reflected image of the pattern that is received at the camera and a reference pattern.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A depth camera, comprising:
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a point light source configured to emit a point of light; a raster scanning element configured to optically communicate with the point light source; logic configured to control the raster scanning element to raster scan the point of light from the point light source in a raster scanned pattern over a field of view of the depth camera, wherein only one point of the raster scanned pattern is projected in the field of view at any one time by the point light source; a light detector configured to receive reflected images of the raster scanned light from an object within the field of view, the reflected images including at least a portion of the raster scanned pattern; and logic configured to determine a distance from the depth camera to the object based on apparent deformation in the raster scanned pattern in the reflected images. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of scanning to determine depth information, the method comprising:
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transmitting light from a point light source in a camera; controlling a scanning element while transmitting the light to scan the light in a field of view of the camera, including raster scanning a raster scanned pattern in the field of view, wherein only one point of the raster scanned pattern is projected in the field of view at any one time by the point light source; receiving reflected images from an object in the field of view of the camera while controlling the scanning element, the reflected images include at least a portion of the raster scanned pattern; analyzing spatial properties of the received images, the spatial properties including warping in the raster scanned pattern; and determining a distance from the camera to the object based on the warping in the raster scanned pattern. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A depth camera, comprising:
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a point light source configured to emit collimated light; a scanning element configured to optically communicate with the point light source; logic configured to raster scan lines of the collimated light from the point light source in a raster scanned pattern over a field of view of the depth camera, wherein only one point of the raster scanned pattern is projected in the field of view at any one time by the point light source; a light detector configured to receive reflected images of the raster scanned light from an object within the field of view, the reflected images include at least a portion of the raster scanned pattern; logic configured to determine multiple distances from the depth camera to the object based on spatial properties of the reflected images, the logic configured to determine is configured to compare the raster scanned pattern in the reflected images with a plurality of reference images, each of the plurality of reference images is an image that would result by raster scanning the pattern over a reference object at different distances from the depth camera, each reference image contains an amount and a nature of deformation for the respective different distances; and logic configured to generate a 3D mapping of the object based on the multiple distances. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification