System and method for sensing geometric and photometric attributes of a scene with multiplexed illumination and solid states optical devices

• US 20070268363A1
• Filed: 05/17/2006
• Published: 11/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc. (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc. (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Zhao, Yong, Raskar, Ramesh, Westhues, Jonathan, Summet, Jay W., Dietz, Paul H., Noland, Michael, Branzoi, Vlad, Nayar, Shree, Nii, Hideaki, Bruns, Erich
• Granted Patent: US 8,009,192 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/135
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/42 using electric radiation detectors optical or mechanical part G01J1/04; by comparison with a reference light or electric value G01J1/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/557 Detecting specular reflective parts on sample
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/55 Specular reflectivity
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10016 Video; Image sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30204 Marker
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/73 using feature-based methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/145 Illumination specially adapted for pattern recognition, e.g. using gratings
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/245 by locating a pattern; Special marks for positioning

Abstract

An optical receiver is arranged at a location in a scene. The optical receiver includes a photo sensor configured to detect spatio-temporal modulated optical signals directed at the scene from a set of spatially dispersed optical transmitters, and to convert the optical signals from each of the optical transmitters to a corresponding electronic signal. The electronic signals can be analyzed to determine geometric properties of the location in the scene.

Claims

1. An optical receiver arranged at a location in a scene, comprising:

a photo sensor arranged at a location in a scene and configured to detect spatio-temporal modulated optical signals directed at the scene from a set of spatially dispersed optical transmitters, and to convert the optical signals from each of the optical transmitters to a corresponding electronic signal; and

means, connected to the photo sensor, for analyzing values of the electronic signals to determine geometric properties of the location in the scene.

2. The optical receiver of claim 1, in which the geometric properties include three-dimensional coordinates of the location.

3. The optical receiver of claim 1, in which the geometric properties include three-dimensional orientations of the location.

4. The optical receiver of claim 1, in which the geometric properties include a six-dimensional pose of the location.

5. The optical receiver of claim 1, in which the geometric properties include a rate of change of coordinates of the location and a rate of change of an orientation of the location.

6. The optical receiver of claim 1, in which the optical signals are multiplexed.

7. The optical receiver of claim 1, in which the optical signals have frequencies that are selected from the group consisting of ultraviolet, visible, near-infrared and far-infrared light.

8. The optical receiver of claim 1, in which the optical light is modulated according to modulation selected from the group consisting of amplitude, time, wavelength, frequency, code, phase, and polarization modulation

9. The optical receiver of claim 1, in which the optical signal is unique at all locations in the scene to generate a space labeling projection.

10. The optical receiver of claim 1, further comprising:

means for transmitting the geometric properties.

11. The optical receiver of claim 1, in which the optical receiver includes an radio frequency identification tag.

12. The optical receiver of claim 1, in which the optical receiver is mounted on a moving object.

13. The optical receiver of claim 1, further comprising:

means for transceiving with optical communication signals.

14. The optical receiver of claim 1, in which a wavelength of the optical signals is in a range of about 0.01 to 1000 micrometers.

15. The optical receiver of claim 3, in which the orientation is determined by measuring a cosine falloff of the optical signals as the photo sensor is tilted.

16. The optical receiver of claim 1, further comprising:

measuring a reflectance in the scene.

17. The optical receiver of claim 1, further comprising:

means for setting parameters of a camera according to the detected optical signals.