Compact multi-zone infrared laser illuminator
US10244181B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 10, 2016 |
| Grant date | Mar 26, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 10, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S2301/176
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Methods, devices and systems are described for selectively illuminating different zones of a field of view by a multi-zone illumination device. In one aspect, a multi-zone illuminator may include a plurality of vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs), and a plurality of micro-optical devices aligned with apertures of individual or groups of VCSELs, which are configured to be individually activated to provide adjustable illumination to different zones of a field of view of an image sensor. In another aspect, a method of selective illumination may include receiving information specifying a field of view of a camera, and controlling at least two sub arrays or individual illuminators of an illuminating array to output light at independently adjustable illumination powers, wherein each of the at least two sub arrays are independently configurable to illuminate at least one of a plurality of separate zones corresponding to the field of view of the camera.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.