Three dimensional imaging utilizing stacked imager devices and associated methods
First Claim
1. An imaging system capable of deriving three dimensional information from a three dimensional subject, comprising:
- a first imager array having a first light incident surface;
a second imager array having a second light incident surface, the second imager array being coupled to the first imager array at a surface that is opposite the first light incident surface, the second light incident surface being oriented toward the first imager array and at least substantially uniformly spaced at a distance of from 2 microns to 150 microns from the first light incident surface;
a system lens positioned to direct incident light along an optical pathway onto the first light incident surface, wherein the first imager array is operable to detect a first portion of the light passing along the optical pathway and to pass through a second portion of the light, wherein the second imager array is operable to detect at least a part of the second portion of light, and wherein the first portion of light and the second portion of light have at least one wavelength of from 500 nm to 1100 nm; and
a computation module configured to receive first image data collected by the first imager array from the first portion of light and second image data collected by the second imager array from the second portion of light, wherein the computation module is operable to calculate distance data from the imaging system to the three dimensional subject based on a difference in at least one dimension of a first image pattern indicated by the first image data and the corresponding dimension of a second image pattern indicated by the second image data.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
Stacked imager devices that can determine distance and generate three dimensional representations of a subject and associated methods are provided. In one aspect, an imaging system can include a first imager array having a first light incident surface and a second imager array having a second light incident surface. The second imager array can be coupled to the first imager array at a surface that is opposite the first light incident surface, with the second light incident surface being oriented toward the first imager array and at least substantially uniformly spaced. The system can also include a system lens positioned to direct incident light along an optical pathway onto the first light incident surface. The first imager array is operable to detect a first portion of the light passing along the optical pathway and to pass through a second portion of the light, where the second imager array is operable to detect at least a part of the second portion of light.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An imaging system capable of deriving three dimensional information from a three dimensional subject, comprising:
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a first imager array having a first light incident surface; a second imager array having a second light incident surface, the second imager array being coupled to the first imager array at a surface that is opposite the first light incident surface, the second light incident surface being oriented toward the first imager array and at least substantially uniformly spaced at a distance of from 2 microns to 150 microns from the first light incident surface; a system lens positioned to direct incident light along an optical pathway onto the first light incident surface, wherein the first imager array is operable to detect a first portion of the light passing along the optical pathway and to pass through a second portion of the light, wherein the second imager array is operable to detect at least a part of the second portion of light, and wherein the first portion of light and the second portion of light have at least one wavelength of from 500 nm to 1100 nm; and a computation module configured to receive first image data collected by the first imager array from the first portion of light and second image data collected by the second imager array from the second portion of light, wherein the computation module is operable to calculate distance data from the imaging system to the three dimensional subject based on a difference in at least one dimension of a first image pattern indicated by the first image data and the corresponding dimension of a second image pattern indicated by the second image data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of determining distance to a subject, comprising:
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focusing incident light along an optical pathway onto a first light incident surface of a first imaging array, wherein the first imaging array captures a first portion of the light having at least one wavelength of from 500 nm to 1100 nm to generate a first data set and allows passage of a second portion of the light along the optical pathway; receiving the second portion of the light onto a second light incident surface of a second imaging array, wherein the second imaging array captures the second portion of the light having at least one wavelength of from 500 nm to 1100 nm to generate a second data set; and deriving the distance to the subject from a variation in at least one dimension between a first image pattern indicated by the first data set and a second image pattern indicated by the second data set. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification