Polarization detection improved sensing

US11099259B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• TRUMPF PHOTONIC COMPONENTS GMBH · DE

Inventors

• Holger Moench · Vaals, NL
• Matthew John Lawrenson · Vevey, CH
• Nicholas Walker · El Paso, US
• Jan Jasper van den Berg · London, GB

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 30, 2020
• Grant date: Aug 24, 2021
• Expiry date: Apr 30, 2040

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06T2207/10028
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A time-of-flight camera module includes a controller, a time-of-flight detector, a laser device, and an optical unit comprising a polarization rotator arranged to rotate a plane of polarized light. The controller is configured to modulate the time-of-flight detector and the laser device in a depth sensing mode. The time-of-flight detector is configured to record depth data of a scene in the depth sensing mode by means of modulated laser light emitted by the laser device and reflected from an object in the scene. The depth data is descriptive of a distance to the object in the scene. The controller is further configured to modulate the time-of-flight detector and the polarization rotator in a surface polarization sensing mode. The time-of-flight detector is configured to record polarization data of the scene in the surface polarization sensing mode by detection light received from the object in the scene after traversing the polarization rotator.