Patent · US Active

Distance estimation apparatus, distance estimation method, storage medium storing program, integrated circuit, and camera

US8159598B2 · kind B2 · utility

25Cited by
2References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 18, 2009
Grant dateApr 17, 2012
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 22, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04N2213/006
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Attempts to achieve a higher resolution and a higher frame rate of a distance image when a distance to an object within a target space is estimated using the TOF method would cause CCD saturation due to shot noise or environment light, and lower distance precision. A distance estimation apparatus illuminates an object with illumination light for distance estimation emitted from a light source that can emit light (electromagnetic wave) having a predetermined illumination frequency, receives reflected light of the illumination light, obtains information about the distance from the apparatus to the object, generates distance image data based on the distance information, extracts edge information of a color image formed using a visible light component obtained in synchronization with the reflected light, and corrects distance information of a target part of the distance image using distance information of a neighboring part of the target part based on the edge information.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.