Integrated optical emitters and applications thereof

    公开(公告)号:US11178392B2

    公开(公告)日:2021-11-16

    申请号:US16537580

    申请日:2019-08-11

    Applicant: Apple Inc.

    Abstract: An opto-electronic device includes a semiconductor substrate having a planar surface. An emitter is formed on the substrate and configured to emit a beam of light away from the planar surface. A reflective layer is formed on the planar surface adjacent to the emitter. A transparent layer is formed over the planar surface and has a curved outer surface including a first segment positioned vertically over the emitter and configured to internally reflect the emitted beam of light toward the reflective layer, and a second segment positioned and configured to collimate and transmit the beam reflected from the reflective layer.

    Switchable flood and spot illuminator

    公开(公告)号:US11236885B1

    公开(公告)日:2022-02-01

    申请号:US16876136

    申请日:2020-05-18

    Applicant: Apple Inc.

    Abstract: An optical apparatus includes a transparent envelope having opposing first and second faces. An electro-optic material is contained within the transparent envelope and includes molecules oriented in respective predefined directions selected so as to form a geometric-phase structure across an area of the transparent envelope. First and second transparent electrodes are disposed respectively across the first and second faces of the transparent envelope. A controller is coupled to apply a voltage between the first and second transparent electrodes that is sufficient to displace the molecules of the electro-optic material from the predefined directions.

    Detecting loss of alignment of optical imaging modules

    公开(公告)号:US11025898B2

    公开(公告)日:2021-06-01

    申请号:US16554647

    申请日:2019-08-29

    Applicant: Apple Inc.

    Abstract: Imaging apparatus includes a housing, with imaging optics mounted in the housing and configured to form an optical image, at a focal plane within the housing, of an object outside the housing. An image sensor, including a matrix of detector elements, is positioned at the focal plane in alignment with the imaging optics and is configured to output an electronic image signal in response to optical radiation that is incident on the detector elements. At least one emitter is fixed within the housing and is configured to emit a test beam toward one or more reflective surfaces within the housing, which reflect the test beam toward the image sensor. A processor is configured to process the electronic image signal output by the image sensor in response to the reflected test beam so as to detect a change in the alignment of the image sensor with the imaging optics.

    Systems and methods for performing temperature-dependent reference image correction for light projectors

    公开(公告)号:US20240007606A1

    公开(公告)日:2024-01-04

    申请号:US17810098

    申请日:2022-06-30

    Applicant: Apple Inc.

    CPC classification number: H04N13/254 G06T5/006 G06T7/521 G01B11/2504

    Abstract: One disclosed embodiment includes techniques for temperature-dependent reference image correction in structured light projectors that may be used for generating three-dimensional (3D) scene depth maps. The techniques disclosed herein include receiving an indication of a temperature (e.g., an actual current operating temperature or a change in the current operating temperature relative to an established reference temperature) associated with one or more components of a projector and then determining, based on the temperature indication, an amount of adjustment needed to correct a reference pattern image based on an estimated effective focal length change of the projector. Next, a reference pattern image may be appropriately adjusted, e.g., based on the determined amount of effective focal length adjustment caused by the current operating temperature of the projector, to generate a corrected reference image, which may then be used to generate a more accurate 3D scene depth maps at the projector's current operating temperature.

    Proximity sensing using structured light

    公开(公告)号:US20230073962A1

    公开(公告)日:2023-03-09

    申请号:US17885573

    申请日:2022-08-11

    Applicant: Apple Inc.

    Abstract: Sensing apparatus includes a projector, which projects toward a target a pattern of spots extending over a predefined angular range about a projection axis. An imaging assembly includes an image sensor and objective optics, which form on the image sensor an image of the target along an imaging axis, which is offset transversely relative to the projection axis. A processor is configured to process signals output by the image sensor so as generate, while the target is within a first span of distances from the apparatus, a depth map of the target responsively to shifts of the spots in the image, and to estimate, while the target is within a second span of distances, nearer to the apparatus than the first span, a distance to the target from the apparatus by detecting in the image a part of the pattern located at an edge of the angular range.

    Flood projector with microlens array

    公开(公告)号:US12123589B1

    公开(公告)日:2024-10-22

    申请号:US18321025

    申请日:2023-05-22

    Applicant: APPLE INC.

    CPC classification number: F21V5/007 F21V3/04 F21V5/004

    Abstract: An optoelectronic apparatus includes a semiconductor substrate and an array of emitters disposed on the semiconductor substrate and configured to emit beams of optical radiation having respective chief rays. An optical diffuser is mounted over the semiconductor substrate and configured to diffuse the beams. Microlenses are disposed between the semiconductor substrate and the optical diffuser in respective alignment with the emitters and configured to steer the beams at different, respective angles, which are selected so that at least some of the chief rays cross one another before passing through the diffuser.

    Electronic devices with adjustable display windows

    公开(公告)号:US11079797B1

    公开(公告)日:2021-08-03

    申请号:US16874557

    申请日:2020-05-14

    Applicant: Apple Inc.

    Abstract: An electronic device may have a display with an array of pixels for displaying images. The display may have a window region. During operation, a component such as an optical component may operate through the window region. The window region may overlap a movable portion of the display. The window region may be operated in open and closed states. In the closed state, the movable portion of the display overlaps the window region and pixels in the movable display portion emit light through the window region. In the open state, the movable portion of the display is moved away from the window region so that light for the optical component may pass through the window region. The optical component may be a camera or other component that receives light through the window region or may be an optical component that emits light through the window region.

    Pattern projector
    10.
    发明申请

    公开(公告)号:US20240393551A1

    公开(公告)日:2024-11-28

    申请号:US18321021

    申请日:2023-05-22

    Applicant: APPLE INC.

    Abstract: An optoelectronic apparatus includes a semiconductor substrate and multiple arrays of emitters disposed on the semiconductor substrate and configured to emit beams of optical radiation. An optical substrate is mounted over the semiconductor substrate. An optical metasurface disposed on the optical substrate includes multiple optical apertures. Each aperture is configured to receive, collimate and split the beams emitted by a respective array of the emitters into a respective group of collimated sub-beams, so as to direct the collimated sub-beams toward a target at different, respective angles to form a pattern of spots on the target.

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