Time-of-flight depth mapping with flexible scan pattern
US9525863B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 29, 2015 |
| Grant date | Dec 20, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 29, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N2013/0081
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Imaging apparatus includes an image sensor, which acquires an image of a scene, and a scanner, which includes an optical transmitter, which emits a sequence of optical pulses toward the scene, and an optical receiver, which receives the optical pulses reflected from the scene and generates an output indicative of respective times of flight of the pulses. Scanning optics are configured to scan the optical pulses over the scene in a scan pattern that covers and is contained within a non-rectangular area within the scene. A processor identifies an object in the image of the scene, defines the non-rectangular area so as to contain the identified object, and processes the output of the optical receiver so as to extract a three-dimensional (3D) map of the object.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.