Abstract:
A system and method are disclosed for determining a depth map using TOF with low power consumption. In order to disambiguate, or de-alias, the returned distance(s) for a given phase shift, the system may emit n different frequencies of light over n successive image frames. After n frames of data are collected, the distances may be correlated by a variety of methodologies to determine a single distance to the object as measured over n image frames. As one frequency may be emitted per image frame, the depth map may be developed while consuming low power.
Abstract:
There is provided a lighting device arranged to produce a controllable light beam for illuminating a scene. The device comprises an addressable spatial light modulator arranged to provide a selectable phase delay distribution to a beam of incident light. The device further comprises fourier optics arranged to receive phase-modulated light from the spatial light modulator and form a light distribution. The device further comprises projection optics arranged to project the light distribution to form a pattern of illumination as said controllable light beam.
Abstract:
A laser distance meter includes a laser light source configured to emit temporally modulated laser light toward target objects. The laser distance meter further includes a light detector configured to detect laser light reflected by target objects. The laser distance meter further includes a light detector configured to detect laser light reflects by target objects. The laser distance meter also includes an electronic control and analyzing unit configured to control the laser light source and configured to analyze signals of the light detector. The electronic control and analyzing unit is designed to drive the laser light source, detect laser light reflected by target object by directly synchronously sampling a reception signal over a measurement time duration, generating a detection signal for each modulation frequencies, carry out an inverse Fourier transformation of the detection signal, and evaluate the propagation time spectrum.
Abstract:
A GT-TOF camera that illuminates a scene with a train of light pulses to determine amounts of light reflected from the transmitted light pulses by features in a scene for each of N different exposure periods and determines a distance to a feature in the scene responsive to a direction in an N-dimensional space of an N-dimensional vector defined by the amounts of reflected light determined for the feature for the N gates.
Abstract:
A method for generating M demodulation signals is disclosed. In one aspect, the method includes: providing M input signals, injecting each input signal into at least one first interferometer, and detecting M demodulation signals. The method also includes choosing M positive integers that are not all equal to zero and computing M demodulation signals. The ith demodulation signal being the product of Ri+1 functions, Ri being the chosen integer that corresponds to the first delay of the ith first interferometer, and the pth function being equal to St,p(t)=S(t=pτi), where p is an integer between 0 and Ri, τi is the first delay introduced by the delay line of the ith first interferometer, and S is a transform of the signal at the output of the ith first interferometer.
Abstract:
A method is provided for illuminating an object and for determining a distance value R. The object is illuminated with a light source and the light intensity of the light source is switched at a time T0 from an intensity Iout,h to an intensity Iout,l being lower than Iout,h and switched back to Iout,h at a time T0+Tn. A signal value U is outputted at the end of an integration window time period which has such a predetermined delay relative to T0 that either Ttof or Ttof+Tn is between an integration start point in time Tsd of the integration window time period and an integration end point in time Tsd+Ts, with Ttof being a point in time when light with the intensity Iin,l arrives first at the photo element, and Ts is longer than Tn.
Abstract:
A 3-dimensional (3D) image acquisition apparatus and a method of calculating depth information in the 3D image acquisition apparatus, the 3D image acquisition apparatus including: an optical modulator for modulating light reflected from a subject by sequentially projected N (N is 3 or a larger natural number) light beams; an image sensor for generating N sub-images by capturing the light modulated by the optical modulator; and a signal processor for calculating depth information regarding a distance to the subject by using the N sub-images.
Abstract:
A system and method for determining a distance to a surface of interest, such as in a Time of Flight (ToF) system, includes projecting modulated electromagnetic radiation of at least two frequencies to a point on the surface of interest, receiving the electromagnetic radiation reflected from the point on the surface of interest and demodulating the received electromagnetic radiation. Whereupon, a weighted phase difference between the frequencies may be calculated, in accordance with the present systems and methods, and one bin for each of the reflected frequencies for an actual distance to the point on the surface of interest is calculated using the weighted phase difference. A final phase of the bin for the actual distance is calculated as a weighted average of the phases of the bins based on the reflected signal strengths, and the actual distance to the point on the surface of interest is then output.
Abstract:
A distance between a light source and a surface may be determined by emitting pulses of light from the light source and measuring an intensity of the light after the light reaches the surface. To determine a true distance, aliased distances, which are outside of a known distance segment, are disregarded. The distance segment may be defined by a modulation period of light emitted by the light source. The distance segment may be determined based on a ratio of a measured intensity of light captured during a first time interval and a second time interval, and a comparison of other types of evidence data that identifies a correct distance segment. The evidence data may include data associated with the amplitude (intensity) of the light captured, temporal variations in data, and/or analysis data collected from other surfaces that are adjacent to the surface.
Abstract:
A pixel of a distance sensor includes a photosensor that generates photocharges corresponding to light incident in a first direction. The photosensor includes a plurality of first layers having a cross-sectional area increasing along the first direction after a first depth and at least one transfer gate which receives a transfer control signal for transferring the photocharges to a floating diffusion node. A strong electric field is formed in the direction in which the photocharges move horizontally or vertically in the pixel, thereby accelerating the photocharges, allowing for increased sensitivity and demodulation contrast.