Three dimensional imaging utilizing stacked imager devices and associated methods

• US 9,939,251 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2014
• Issued: 04/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SiOnyx, LLC (DC Capital Partners, LLC)
• Original Assignee: SiOnyx, LLC (DC Capital Partners, LLC)
• Inventors: Haddad, Homayoon, Feng, Chen, Forbes, Leonard
• Primary Examiner(s): COLEMAN, STEPHEN P
• Application Number:
  US14/206,890
• Publication Number:
  US 20140307059A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,490 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/026 by measuring distance between sensor and object G01B11/0608 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10148 Varying focus
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/557 from light fields, e.g. from plenoptic cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/571 from focus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/236 using varifocal lenses or mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/271 wherein the generated image signals comprise depth maps or disparity maps

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.

Claims

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. The system of claim 1, wherein the first portion of light and the second portion of light have at least one wavelength of from 750 nm to 1100 nm.

3. The imaging system of claim 1, further comprising an active light emitter configured to emit active light radiation at least substantially toward the three dimensional subject and having a center wavelength of from 750 nm to 1100 nm.

4. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the computation module is operable to generate a three dimensional representation of the three dimensional subject from the distance data based on variations between the first image pattern and the second image pattern.

5. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the imaging system is incorporated into a computing system operable to alter computation based on variations in distance data derived from movements of a subject.

6. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the distance between the first light incident surface and the second light incident surface is from 10 microns to 100 microns.

7. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the first imager array is operable to capture a visible light image.

8. The imaging system of claim 1, further comprising a reflector coupled to the second imager array on a side opposite the first imager array, wherein the reflector is positioned to reflect light passing through the second imager array back into the second imager array.

9. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the system lens has a focal point located in between the first light incident surface and the second light incident surface.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein a size of the three dimensional object is determined by the computation module based on a cross correlation between an inverse scaled first image generated from the first image data and a second image generated from the second image data.

11. The imaging system of claim 1, further comprising a textured region coupled to the second imager array on a side opposite the first imager array, wherein the textured region is positioned to redirect light passing through the second imager array back into the second imager array.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the first imager array does not include a textured region.

13. A method of determining distance to a subject, comprising:

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.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising redirecting at least part of the second portion of the light that passes through the second imaging array back into the second imaging array.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the first portion of the light has at least one wavelength of from 750 nm to 1100 nm and the second portion of the light has at least one wavelength of from 750 nm to 1100 nm.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising emitting active light radiation toward the subject such that at least a portion of the incident light focused along the optical pathway includes the active light radiation.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing an input into a computing system and altering computation of the computing system based on variations in distance data derived from movements of the subject.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising deriving a size of the subject via a cross correlation between an inverse scaled first image generated from the first data set and a second image generated from the second data set.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising generating a three dimensional representation of the subject due to variations between the first image pattern and the second image pattern.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein generating the three dimensional representation includes combining image data gathered by the first imager array with distance data derived from differences between data gathered by the first imager array and the second imager array.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein a textured region is coupled to the second imager array on a side opposite the first imager array, wherein the textured region is positioned to redirect light passing through the second imager array back into the second imager array.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein a textured region is not coupled to the first imager array.