公开(公告)号：US10436910B2

公开(公告)日：2019-10-08

申请号：US15700231

申请日：2017-09-11

Applicant: APPLE INC.

Inventor： Thierry Oggier ,  Scott T. Smith ,  Andrew Herrington

IPC: H04N5/228 ,  G01S17/89 ,  G01S17/06 ,  G06T7/521 ,  G01S7/486 ,  H04N13/128 ,  H04N13/296 ,  G01S17/42 ,  G01S17/48 ,  G01S7/481 ,  H04N13/254 ,  H04N13/271

Abstract: Optical apparatus includes a scanning line projector, which is configured to scan a line of radiation across a scene. A receiver includes an array of sensing elements, which are configured to output signals in response to the radiation that is incident thereon, and collection optics configured to image the scene onto the array, such that each sensing element receives the radiation reflected from a corresponding point in the scene. A processor is coupled to receive the signals output by the sensing elements, to identify respective times of passage of the scanned line across the points in the scene by comparing a time-dependent waveform of the signals from the corresponding sensing elements to an expected waveform, and to derive depth coordinates of the points in the scene from the respective times of passage.

公开(公告)号：US20190004156A1

公开(公告)日：2019-01-03

申请号：US15950186

申请日：2018-04-11

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Cristiano L. Niclass ,  Scott T. Smith ,  Thierry Oggier

IPC: G01S7/486 ,  G01S17/42 ,  G01S17/89

Abstract: An optical sensing device includes a light source, which is configured to emit one or more beams of light pulses at respective angles toward a target scene. An array of sensing elements is configured to output signals in response to incidence of photons on the sensing elements. Light collection optics are configured to image the target scene onto the array. Control circuitry is coupled to actuate the sensing elements only in one or more selected regions of the array, each selected region containing a respective set of the sensing elements in a part of the array onto which the light collection optics image a corresponding area of the target scene that is illuminated by the one of the beams, and to adjust a membership of the respective set responsively to a distance of the corresponding area from the device.

公开(公告)号：US20180081062A1

公开(公告)日：2018-03-22

申请号：US15700231

申请日：2017-09-11

Applicant: APPLE INC.

Inventor： Thierry Oggier ,  Scott T. Smith ,  Andrew Herrington

IPC: G01S17/89 ,  G01S17/06 ,  G01S7/486 ,  H04N13/00 ,  H04N13/02 ,  G06T7/521

CPC classification number: G01S17/89 ,  G01S7/4815 ,  G01S7/4817 ,  G01S7/4863 ,  G01S7/4865 ,  G01S17/06 ,  G01S17/42 ,  G01S17/48 ,  G06T7/521 ,  H04N13/128 ,  H04N13/254 ,  H04N13/271 ,  H04N13/296

Abstract: Optical apparatus includes a scanning line projector, which is configured to scan a line of radiation across a scene. A receiver includes an array of sensing elements, which are configured to output signals in response to the radiation that is incident thereon, and collection optics configured to image the scene onto the array, such that each sensing element receives the radiation reflected from a corresponding point in the scene. A processor is coupled to receive the signals output by the sensing elements, to identify respective times of passage of the scanned line across the points in the scene by comparing a time-dependent waveform of the signals from the corresponding sensing elements to an expected waveform, and to derive depth coordinates of the points in the scene from the respective times of passage.

公开(公告)号：US11762066B2

公开(公告)日：2023-09-19

申请号：US17954397

申请日：2022-09-28

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： David S. Gere ,  Brad V. Johnson ,  Neil MacKinnon ,  Scott T. Smith ,  Seyedeh Nasim Habibi

IPC: G02B26/08 ,  G01S7/481 ,  G02B26/10 ,  G02B26/12 ,  G02B27/09 ,  G01S17/89 ,  G01S17/08

CPC classification number: G01S7/4817 ,  G01S7/4815 ,  G01S17/08 ,  G01S17/89 ,  G02B26/0816 ,  G02B26/0875 ,  G02B26/101 ,  G02B26/123 ,  G02B26/124 ,  G02B26/125 ,  G02B27/0922 ,  G02B27/0944

Abstract: Optical apparatus includes a projector, which is configured to direct a pattern of one or more stripes, extending along a longitudinal dimension across a target. A receiver includes an array of optical sensors, and objective optics, which are configured to image the target onto the array, and which have a non-circular aperture, which is elongated in a direction dependent upon the longitudinal dimension of the stripes.

公开(公告)号：US11681027B2

公开(公告)日：2023-06-20

申请号：US17026365

申请日：2020-09-21

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Cristiano L. Niclass ,  Scott T. Smith ,  Thierry Oggier

IPC: G01C3/08 ,  G01S7/4865 ,  G01S7/4863 ,  G01S17/10 ,  H01L31/107 ,  H01L27/144 ,  G01S17/89 ,  G01S17/42

CPC classification number: G01S7/4865 ,  G01S7/4863 ,  G01S17/10 ,  G01S17/42 ,  G01S17/89 ,  H01L27/1443 ,  H01L31/107

Abstract: An optical sensing device includes a light source, which is configured to emit one or more beams of light pulses at respective angles toward a target scene. An array of sensing elements is configured to output signals in response to incidence of photons on the sensing elements. Light collection optics are configured to image the target scene onto the array. Control circuitry is coupled to actuate the sensing elements only in one or more selected regions of the array, each selected region containing a respective set of the sensing elements in a part of the array onto which the light collection optics image a corresponding area of the target scene that is illuminated by the one of the beams, and to adjust a membership of the respective set responsively to a distance of the corresponding area from the device.

公开(公告)号：US11493606B1

公开(公告)日：2022-11-08

申请号：US16537581

申请日：2019-08-11

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： David S. Gere ,  Brad V. Johnson ,  Neil MacKinnon ,  Scott T. Smith ,  Seyedeh Nasim Habibi

IPC: G02B27/10 ,  G01S7/481 ,  G02B26/08 ,  G02B26/10 ,  G02B26/12 ,  G02B27/09 ,  G01S17/89 ,  G01S17/08

Abstract: Optical apparatus includes a plurality of emitters arranged in a row and configured to emit respective beams of optical radiation. Projection optics, which are configured to project the beams toward a target, include first cylindrical lenses, which have respective, mutually-parallel first cylinder axes and are aligned respectively with the emitters in the row so as to receive and focus the respective beams in a first dimension, and a second cylindrical lens, which has a second cylinder axis perpendicular to the first cylinder axes and is positioned to receive and focus all of the beams in a second dimension, perpendicular to the first dimension. A scan driver is configured to shift the second cylindrical lens in a direction perpendicular to the second cylinder axis so as to scan the beams across the target.

公开(公告)号：US09525863B2

公开(公告)日：2016-12-20

申请号：US14698912

申请日：2015-04-29

Applicant: APPLE INC.

Inventor： Jawad Nawasra ,  Scott T. Smith

IPC: H04N1/04 ,  H04N13/02 ,  H04N13/00

CPC classification number: H04N13/254 ,  G01S17/023 ,  G01S17/42 ,  G01S17/89 ,  H04N13/128 ,  H04N13/25 ,  H04N2013/0081

Abstract: Imaging apparatus includes an image sensor, which acquires an image of a scene, and a scanner, which includes an optical transmitter, which emits a sequence of optical pulses toward the scene, and an optical receiver, which receives the optical pulses reflected from the scene and generates an output indicative of respective times of flight of the pulses. Scanning optics are configured to scan the optical pulses over the scene in a scan pattern that covers and is contained within a non-rectangular area within the scene. A processor identifies an object in the image of the scene, defines the non-rectangular area so as to contain the identified object, and processes the output of the optical receiver so as to extract a three-dimensional (3D) map of the object.

Abstract translation: 成像装置包括获取场景的图像的图像传感器和包括向场景发射一系列光脉冲的光发送器的扫描器，以及接收从场景反射的光脉冲的光接收器 并产生指示脉冲的相应飞行时间的输出。 扫描光学器件被配置为以覆盖并包含在场景内的非矩形区域内的扫描图案扫描场景上的光脉冲。 处理器识别场景图像中的对象，定义非矩形区域以便包含所识别的对象，并且处理光接收器的输出以提取对象的三维（3D）图。

公开(公告)号：US09285477B1

公开(公告)日：2016-03-15

申请号：US14160382

申请日：2014-01-21

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Scott T. Smith ,  Matthew E. Last ,  Edward A. Valko

IPC: G01S17/89

CPC classification number: G01S17/89 ,  G01S7/4817 ,  G01S17/10 ,  G01S17/36 ,  G01S17/42

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system has an emitter which produces a sequence of outgoing pulses of coherent collimated light that transmitted in a given direction, a mirror system having a scanning mirror that is positioned to deflect the outgoing pulse sequence towards a scene, and a detector collocated with the emitter and aimed to detect a sequence of incoming pulses being reflections of the outgoing pulses that are returning from said given direction and have been deflected by the scanning mirror. An electronic controller communicates with the emitter and the detector and controls the scanning mirror, so that the outgoing pulses scan the scene and the controller computes a radial distance or depth for each pair of outgoing and incoming pulses and uses the computed radial distance to provide a scanned 3D depth map of objects in the scene. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract translation: 光检测和测距（LIDAR）系统具有发射器，其产生沿给定方向传输的相干准直光的输出脉冲序列，镜系统具有扫描镜，定位成将输出脉冲序列偏转到场景， 以及与发射器并置的检测器，目的在于检测输入脉冲序列，作为从所述给定方向返回并被扫描镜偏转的输出脉冲的反射。 电子控制器与发射器和检测器通信并控制扫描镜，使得输出脉冲扫描场景，并且控制器计算每对输出和输入脉冲的径向距离或深度，并使用计算的径向距离来提供 扫描场景中物体的3D深度图。 还描述了其它实施例。

公开(公告)号：US20150355326A1

公开(公告)日：2015-12-10

申请号：US14296340

申请日：2014-06-04

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Scott T. Smith ,  Iain A. McAllister ,  Jeffrey N. Gleason ,  Neil MacKinnon

IPC: G01S17/10 ,  G03B13/36 ,  G01S7/486 ,  G03B9/08 ,  G01S7/481

CPC classification number: G01S17/10 ,  G01S7/481 ,  G01S7/4868 ,  G01S17/88 ,  G03B9/08 ,  G03B13/36

Abstract: A camera includes a pulse transmitter for transmitting at a transmit time through an aperture and along an optical path to a target a coherent electromagnetic ranging pulse at a first wavelength range outside the visible spectrum. In some embodiments, the camera includes a reflected pulse detector for receiving a reflected electromagnetic pulse reflected by the target back along the optical path and through the aperture at a detect time subsequent to the transmit time. In some embodiments, the camera includes a shutter positioned for shielding the pulse detector from at least transmit time to an intermediate time between the transmit time and the detect time. In some embodiments, the shutter includes a layer of semiconductor material placed in the optical path at a point between the target and the detector.

Abstract translation: 相机包括脉冲发射器，用于在发射时通过孔径并沿着光路向目标物发射在可见光谱外的第一波长范围的相干电磁测距脉冲。 在一些实施例中，相机包括反射脉冲检测器，用于在发射时间之后的检测时间沿着光路接收由目标背反射的反射的电磁脉冲并通过孔径。 在一些实施例中，照相机包括一个快门，定位成将脉冲检测器从至少传输时间屏蔽到发送时间与检测时间之间的中间时间。 在一些实施例中，快门包括位于目标和检测器之间的点处的光路中的半导体材料层。

公开(公告)号：US08761594B1

公开(公告)日：2014-06-24

申请号：US13781325

申请日：2013-02-28

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Kevin A. Gross ,  Scott T. Smith

IPC: G03B15/03

CPC classification number: H04N5/2354 ,  G01S7/4814 ,  G01S7/4815 ,  G01S7/4817 ,  G01S17/66 ,  G03B15/03 ,  H04N5/2256 ,  H04N13/271

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing spatially dynamic illumination in camera systems. A spatially dynamic illumination source enables the illumination of only desired objects in the field of view of the camera, thereby reducing the amount of light required from the illumination source. The spatially dynamic illumination source may include an array of illumination elements and a control component. Each illumination element in the illumination array may include a light-emitting element combined with an optical element. A camera and the spatially dynamic illumination source may be combined in a camera and illumination system. The camera and illumination system may dynamically detect, track, and selectively illuminate only desired objects in the camera field of view.

Abstract translation: 在相机系统中提供空间动态照明的系统和方法。 空间动态的照明光源使得能够在照相机的视野中仅照射所需的物体，从而减少照明源所需的光量。 空间动态照明源可以包括照明元件阵列和控制部件。 照明阵列中的每个照明元件可以包括与光学元件组合的发光元件。 相机和空间动态照明源可以组合在相机和照明系统中。 相机和照明系统可以在相机视场中动态地检测，跟踪和选择性地照亮所需物体。