Systems and methods for 3-D imaging

• US 7,738,733 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2005
• Issued: 06/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies ECBU IP Singapore Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Avago Technologies ECBU IP Singapore Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: DePue, Marshall T., Xie, Tong
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehta; Bhavesh M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Koziol; Stephen R
• Application Number:
  US11/238,472
• Publication Number:
  US 20070076089A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,720 Days
• Field of Search: 348/42, 382/285, 382/106, 382/312
• US Class Current: 382/285
• 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 configured to generate 2-dimensional (2-D) digital image information representing a first object;

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

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

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

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

a control signal transmitter configured to transmit a control signal for controlling the first object, the control signal derived using the 3-D digital information representing the first object.

2. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the 3-D digital 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 transmitters, 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 configured to generate from the 3-D digital 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 configured to generate from the 3-D digital 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.

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

10. The imaging system of claim 9, 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.

16. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the control signal is a radio-frequency signal having a radiation pattern that is configured for selectively controlling the first object while not affecting other objects located in the vicinity of the first object.

17. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the image capture system is configured to capture a blurred image of the first object and derive therefrom, the 2-dimensional digital image information representing the first object.

11. An imaging system, comprising:

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

a signal transmitter configured to transmit a ranging signal towards the first object at a first instant in time, and towards the second object at a second instant in time, the ranging signal having a radiation pattern that is selected to preclude concurrent incidence of the ranging signal upon the first and second objects;

a signal receiver configured to receive the ranging signal after reflection by one of the first object or the second object; and

an image processor configured to compute distance information of the first object from a time difference between transmission of the ranging signal towards the first object and reception of the ranging signal after reflection by the first object, and distance information of the second object from a time difference between transmission of the ranging signal towards the second object and reception of the ranging signal after reflection by the second object;

the image processor further configured 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.

18. The imaging system of claim 11, wherein the signal transmitter is an ultrasonic signal transmitter that transmits an ultrasonic signal having a radiation pattern comprising a main lobe and at least two side lobes.

19. The imaging system of claim 18, wherein the main lobe has a narrow coverage that precludes concurrent incidence of the main lobe upon the first and second objects, and wherein the ultrasonic signal transmitter is operable to direct the main lobe along desired axes of transmission.

12. An imaging method, comprising:

using an image capture device for capturing a blurred 2-dimensional (2-D) digital image 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 spatial frequencies contained in the blurred 2-D digital image of the first object to generate 3-dimensional (3-D) digital information of the first object.

13. The method of claim 12, 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.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

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

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

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

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the image capture device comprises an optoelectronic sensor array, and wherein the blurred image is selected to contain spatial frequencies having wavelengths that are longer in size than individual sensing elements contained in the optoelectronic sensor array.