Systems and methods for 3-D imaging

• US 20070076089A1
• Filed: 09/29/2005
• Published: 04/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies ECBU IP Singapore Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Avago Technologies ECBU IP Singapore Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Xie, Tong, DePue, Marshall
• Granted Patent: US 7,738,733 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/42
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/89 for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/89 for mapping or imaging

Abstract

The various embodiments generally describe systems and methods related to 3-dimensional (3-D) imaging. In one exemplary embodiment, an imaging system incorporates a 2-dimensional (2-D) image capture system that generates 2-D digital image information representing an object, a signal transmitter that transmits a ranging signal towards the object, and a signal receiver that receives the ranging signal returned by the object. Also included, is an image processor that computes distance information from the time difference between signal transmission and reception of the ranging signal. The image processor combines the distance information and 2-D digital image information to produce 3-D digital image information representing the object.

Claims

1. An imaging system, comprising:

an image capture system operable to generate 2-dimensional (2-D) digital image information representing a first object;

a signal transmitter operable to transmit a ranging signal towards the first object;

a signal receiver operable to receive the ranging signal returned by the first object; and

an image processor operable to compute distance information from a time difference between transmission and reception of the ranging signal;

the image processor being further operable to combine the distance information and the 2-D digital image information to produce 3-dimensional (3-D) digital image information representing the first object.

2. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the 3-D digital image information further comprises azimuth information of the first object.

3. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the image capture system comprises an image scanner.

4. The imaging system of claim 3, wherein the scanner, the signal transmitter, the signal receiver, and the image processor are located inside a hand-held housing.

5. The imaging system of claim 1, further comprising:

an image reproduction system operable to generate from the 3-D digital image information of the first object, a 3-D digital image of the first object.

6. The imaging system of claim 1, further comprising:

a system controller that is part of a mobile system, the system controller being operable to generate from the 3-D digital image information of the first object, a control signal to control an element of the mobile system.

7. The imaging system of claim 6, wherein the mobile system comprises one of a) a robot, b) a vacuum cleaner, and c) a lawnmower.

8. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the ranging signal comprises one of a) an ultrasonic signal and b) a radio-frequency (RF) signal, and c) a light signal

9. The imaging system of claim 1, further comprising:

a piezoelectric transducer operable to generate an ultrasonic signal as the ranging signal.

10. The imaging system of claim 9, wherein the piezoelectric transducer is further operable to receive the ultrasonic signal returned by the first object.

11. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the image capture system is an auto-focus system.

12. The imaging system of claim 11, wherein the auto focus system is configured to receive a control signal from the image processor for specifying the first object as a focal object.

14. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the 3-D digital image information further comprises azimuth information of the first object and azimuth information of the second object.

15. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the 3-D digital image information further comprises azimuth difference between the first object and the second object.

13. An imaging system, comprising:

an image capture system operable to capture 2-dimensional (2-D) digital image information representing a first object and a second object;

a signal transmitter operable to transmit a ranging signal towards the first object and the second object;

a signal receiver operable to receive the ranging signal returned by the first object and the second object; and

an image processor operable to compute distance information of the first object and the second object from a time difference between transmission and reception of the ranging signal;

the image processor being further operable to combine the distance information of the first object and the second object with the 2-D digital image information to produce a 3-dimensional (3-D) digital image information representing the first object and the second object.

16. An imaging method, comprising:

capturing 2-dimensional (2-D) digital image information of a first object;

computing distance information of the first object from a time difference between transmission and receiving of a ranging signal; and

combining the distance information of the first object and the 2-D digital image information of the first object to generate 3-dimensional (3-D) digital image information of the first object.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

generating a 3-D image of the first object in response to the 3-D digital image information.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

capturing 2-dimensional (2-D) digital image information of a second object;

computing distance information of the second object from a time difference between transmission and receiving of the ranging signal; and

combining the distance information of the first object, the 2-D digital image information of the first object, the distance information of the second object, the 2-D digital image information of the second object to generate 3-dimensional (3-D) digital image information of the first object and the second object.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

determining azimuth information of the first object and azimuth information of the second object.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

determining azimuth difference between the first object and the second object.