Detection of close-range specular targets
US12335613B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 30, 2023 |
| Grant date | Jun 17, 2025 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 17, 2044 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N23/745
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Imaging apparatus includes a camera, which includes an autofocus mechanism. A range sensor includes a transmitter, which includes multiple emitters configured to transmit optical pulses at different angles toward the scene, and a receiver, to receive and sense respective times of flight of the optical pulses that are reflected from the scene. A photodetector outputs a signal indicative of an intensity of reflections from the scene. Control circuitry drives the emitters in alternation to transmit the optical pulses, estimates a range to a target in the scene responsively to the times of flight sensed by the receiver, detects a difference in the signal output by the photodetector in response to the pulses transmitted by different ones of the emitters, and sets the autofocus mechanism responsively to the estimated range as long as the detected difference is no greater than a predefined threshold difference.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.