Interference reduction for TOF systems

US9442186B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC · US

Inventors

• Andrew Dean Payne · Mountain View, US
• Cyrus Bamji · Fremont, US
• Dawson Yee · Clyde Hill, US
• Barry Thompson · Menlo Park, US
• Zhanping Xu · Sunnyvale, US
• Brock Roland · San Francisco, US
• Larry Prather · Ramona, US
• Travis Perry · Boise, US
• Mike Fenton · Palo Alto, US
• Sunil ACHARYA · Cupertino, US
• Algird M. Gudaitis · Fall City, US
• Matthew Morris · Seattle, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 16, 2013
• Grant date: Sep 13, 2016
• Expiry date: Oct 16, 2033

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01S17/894
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to time-of-flight (TOF) systems, and methods for use therewith, that substantially reduce interference that the TOF system may cause to at least one other system that is configured to wirelessly receive and respond to IR light signals. Some such embodiments involve emitting IR light having a low frequency (LF) power envelope that is shaped to substantially reduce frequency content within at least one frequency range known to be used by at least one other system that may be in close proximity to the TOF system. Such embodiments can also involve detecting at least a portion of the emitted RF modulated IR light that has reflected off one or more objects. A TOF system can produce depth images in dependence on results of the detecting, as well as update an application in dependence on the depth images.