Generation of coded structured light patterns using VCSEL arrays

• US 10,353,215 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2018
• Issued: 07/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Princeton Optronics Inc (Ams-Osram AG)
• Original Assignee: Princeton Optronics Inc (Ams-Osram AG)
• Inventors: Chen, Tong, Ghosh, Chuni, Watkins, Laurence
• Primary Examiner(s): Chowdhury, Sultan
• Application Number:
  US15/919,563
• Publication Number:
  US 20180203247A1
• Time in Patent Office: 490 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/004 using microlenses
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/005 using microprisms
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/008 Combination of two or more successive refractors along an optical axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/04 of lens shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/043 the lens having cylindrical faces, e.g. rod lenses, toric lenses
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/30 Semiconductor lasers
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/2513 with several lines being projected in more than one direction, e.g. grids, patterns
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/08 for measuring distance only indirect measurement G01S17/46; active triangulation systems G01S17/48
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4815 using multiple transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/12 operating by refraction only
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/126 The splitting element being a prism or prismatic array, including systems based on total internal reflection
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/30 Collimators
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/425 in illumination systems mask illumination systems in photolithographic systems G03F7/70158
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/46 Systems using spatial filters
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0037 characterized by the distribution or form of lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/2033 LED or laser light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/521 from laser ranging, e.g. using interferometry; from the projection of structured light
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/145 Illumination specially adapted for pattern recognition, e.g. using gratings
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/20 Movements or behaviour, e.g. gesture recognition recognition of facial expressions G06V40/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/207 : using a single 2D image sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/254 : in combination with electromagnetic radiation sources for illuminating objects

Abstract

A coded pattern projector apparatus comprises a surface-emitting array of emitters comprising a plurality of emitters where each of the plurality of emitters generates one of a plurality of optical beams in response to an electrical drive signal applied to a respective electrical input of each of the plurality of emitters. A first optical element projects each the plurality of optical beams generated by the surface-emitting array of emitters. A second optical element collimates the plurality of optical beams in a first dimension and diverges the plurality of optical beams in a second dimension such that the plurality of optical beams form at least one stripe patterns. A controller has electrical outputs, each of the electrical outputs is connected to a respective electrical input of each of the plurality of emitters. The controller generates electrical drive signals that produce a coded stripe pattern.

Claims

1. A coded pattern projector apparatus comprising:

a surface-emitting array of emitters comprising a plurality of emitters, each of the plurality of emitters operable to generate one of a plurality of optical beams in response to an electrical drive signal applied to a respective electrical input of each of the plurality of emitters;

a first optical element positioned in an optical path of the plurality of optical beams generated by the surface-emitting array of emitters, the first optical element operable to project each of the plurality of optical beams generated by the surface-emitting array of emitters;

a second optical element that is positioned in the optical path of the plurality of optical beams, the second optical element operable to collimate the plurality of optical beams in a first dimension and operable to diverge the plurality of optical beams in a second dimension such that the plurality of optical beams form a pattern; and

a controller having a plurality of electrical outputs, each of the plurality of electrical outputs being connected to the respective electrical input of each of the plurality of emitters, the controller operable to generate electrical drive signals so as to produce the pattern.

2. The coded pattern projector apparatus of claim 1 wherein the surface-emitting array of emitters is a regular array.

3. The coded pattern projector apparatus of claim 1 wherein the surface-emitting array of emitters is a non-regular array.

4. The coded pattern projector apparatus of claim 1 wherein the surface-emitting array of emitters is configured as a commonly activated array.

5. The coded pattern projector apparatus of claim 1 wherein the surface-emitting array of emitters is configured as individual-addressable emitters.

6. The coded pattern projector apparatus of claim 1 wherein the surface-emitting array of emitters is configured as group-addressable emitters.

7. The coded pattern projector apparatus of claim 1 wherein the surface-emitting array of emitters is configured in a regular geometric pattern.

8. The coded pattern projector apparatus of claim 1 wherein the surface-emitting array of emitters is configured in a non-regular random pattern.

9. The coded pattern projector apparatus of claim 1 wherein the emitters of the surface-emitting array are arranged to form a circular array.

10. The coded pattern projector apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pattern formed by the plurality of optical beams after passing through the first and second optical elements includes a spot pattern.

11. The coded pattern projector apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pattern formed by the plurality of optical beams after passing through the first and second optical elements includes a fringe pattern.

12. The coded pattern projector apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pattern formed by the plurality of optical beams after passing through the first and second optical elements includes a stripe pattern.