Mirror tilt actuator
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsRichard J. Topliss, Thomas M. Gregory
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In some embodiments, a depth map acquisition system, includes a housing, a light source for emitting light to illuminate objects in a scene subject to depth mapping, fixedly mounted to the housing, a mirror tilt actuator, fixedly mounted to the housing, for tilting a mirror fixedly mounted to the mirror tilt actuator, a mirror fixedly mounted to the mirror tilt actuator, for reflecting light from the light source to the objects, and a partially transparent photosensitive detector in the direct path of the light from the mirror to the objects.
Claims20
A depth map acquisition system, comprising:
- a housing;
- a light source for emitting light to illuminate objects in a scene subject to depth mapping, fixedly mounted to the housing;
- a mirror tilt actuator, fixedly mounted to the housing, for tilting a mirror fixedly mounted to the mirror tilt actuator;
- the mirror, fixedly mounted to the mirror tilt actuator, for reflecting outgoing light from the light source to the objects;
- and
- a partially transparent photosensitive detector in the direct path of the outgoing light from the mirror to the objects;
- wherein the depth map acquisition system is to construct, based at least in part on reflected light from the objects, a depth map of the scene.
A method for generating a depth map, the method comprising:
- a light source emitting light to illuminate objects in a scene subject to depth mapping;
- reflecting the light at an outgoing angle using a mirror fixedly mounted to a mirror tilt actuator, for reflecting outgoing light from the light source to one or more objects in the scene;
- measuring an outgoing angle of the light using a partially transparent photosensitive detector in a direct path of the outgoing light;
- a detector mounted within the housing, receiving reflected light from the objects;
- and
- based on the reflected light, constructing a depth map of the scene.
A mirror tilt actuator, comprising:
- a base member, fixedly mounted to a housing;
- a magnet mount post, fixedly mounted to the base member, for mounting a mirror pivot;
- the mirror pivot, comprising a magnetic component, moveably mounted to the magnet mount post, wherein the mirror fixedly mounts to the mirror pivot;
- and
- at least two magnetic coils, fixedly mounted to the base member, for providing at least two magnetic forces to adjust an orientation of the mirror pivot about at least two orthogonal axes relative to a pivot location.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.