Systems and methods for determining depth using shuttered light pulses
US7095487B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 12, 2004 |
| Grant date | Aug 22, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 23, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B7/32
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Systems and methods are presented that use light sensors and computing devices to compute the depth of an object using shuttered light pulses. In one embodiment, depth is determined as follows: A light emitter emits a pulse of light that is directed toward an object. The pulse is reflected off the object and travels toward a beam splitter. The beam splitter splits the reflected pulse into multiple pulses, with each pulse directed to a shuttered sensor with a different shutter location. The shuttered sensors measure the integrated intensity of the light, and these values are used to determine the depth of the object. A method is presented which calibrates a system that has an arbitrary number of shutters and enables the system to determine the depth of an object, even in the presence of ambient illumination and scattered light.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.