# US 10,310,362 B2 · LED pattern projector for 3D camera platforms > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,310,362 B2 - Document ID: US10310362B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/024,024 - Filed: 2018-06-29 - Published: 2019-02-07 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2018-06-29 - Assignees: Intel Corporation - Applicants: Intel Corporation - Inventors: Anders Grunnet-Jepsen; John Sweetser; Akihiro Takagi; Paul Winer; John Woodfill - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10310362B2 ## CPC - G03B 21/2033: {LED or laser light sources} - G01B 11/2513: {with several lines being projected in more than one direction, e.g. grids, patterns} - G02B 27/0961: {Lens arrays (lens arrays per se G02B3/0006)} - G03B 17/54: with projector - G03B 21/005: {Projectors using an electronic spatial light modulator but not peculiar thereto} - G06T 7/521: from laser ranging, e.g. using interferometry; from the projection of structured light - H04N 5/7416: {involving the use of a spatial light modulator, e.g. a light valve, controlled by a video signal} - H04N 9/3176: {wherein the projection device is incorporated in a camera (details of cameras adapted for combination with a projector not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B17/54)} - H04N 9/3185: {Geometric adjustment, e.g. keystone or convergence (optical or mechanical adjustment of convergence H04N9/317; using scanning means H04N3/22; optical or mechanical adjustments of projectors not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/14)} - H04N 9/3194: {including sensor feedback} - G03B 35/00: Stereoscopic photography - G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D) - G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A light pattern projector with a pattern mask to spatially modulate an intensity of a wideband illumination source, such as an LED, and a projector lens to reimage the spatially modulated emission onto regions of a scene that is to be captured with an image sensor. The projector lens may comprise a microlens array (MLA) including a first lenslet to reimage the spatially modulated emission onto a first portion of a scene, and a second lenslet to reimage the spatially modulated emission onto a first portion of a scene. The MLA may have a fly's eye architecture with convex curvature over a diameter of the projector lens in addition to the lenslet curvature. The pattern mask may be an amplitude mask comprising a mask pattern of high and low amplitude transmittance regions. In the alternative, the pattern mask may be a phase mask, such as a refractive or diffractive mask. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A camera platform comprising: an image sensor array to collect light from portions of a scene within a field of view of the image sensor array; and a light projector to cast a light pattern upon portions of the scene, wherein the light projector further comprises: a light emitting diode (LED) source; a mask to spatially modulate an intensity of emission from the LED source; and a projector lens to reimage the spatially modulated emission onto the portions of the scene, wherein the projector lens comprises a microlens array (MLA) including a first lenslet to reimage the spatially modulated emission onto a first portion of the scene, and a second lenslet to reimage the spatially modulated emission onto a second portion of the scene. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The camera platform of claim 1, wherein: the LED source comprises a first emitter having a half-emission cone angle of at least 45°, and an emission spectrum of at least 4 nm; a first sensor pixel line is to integrate photocharge for a first portion of the scene over a first time increment; a second sensor pixel line is to integrate photocharge for a second portion of the scene over a second time increment; and the light projector is to illuminate the first portion and second portion of the scene with illumination from the first emitter during the first and second time increments. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The camera platform of claim 1, wherein the mask is an amplitude mask comprising a mask pattern of high and low amplitude transmittance regions. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The camera platform of claim 3, wherein the mask is between the LED source and the projector lens. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The camera platform of claim 1, wherein the lenslets each have a convex surface distal from the LED source and wherein the mask is in contact with a surface of the projector lens proximal to the LED source. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The camera platform of claim 5, wherein the mask comprises at least 400 features and wherein the MLA comprises at least 9 lenslets. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The camera platform of claim 5, wherein the mask is in contact with a substantially planar lens surface, wherein the MLA comprise a first material, and wherein the low transmittance regions comprise a second material of a different composition than the first material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The camera platform of claim 1, wherein the projector lens has a fly's eye architecture in which the MLA has convex surface curvature over a diameter of the projector lens. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The camera platform of claim 1, wherein the mask and the projector lens comprise a monolithic optical element of substantially homogeneous composition. ### Claim 10 A pattern projector to cast a light pattern upon portions of a scene, wherein the pattern projector further comprises: an amplitude mask comprising a mask pattern of high and low transmittance regions to spatially modulate an intensity of an illumination source; and a projector lens, wherein the projector lens comprises a microlens array (MLA) including a first lenslet to reimage the spatially modulated emission onto a first portion of a scene, and a second lenslet to reimage the spatially modulated emission onto a second portion of the scene. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The pattern projector of claim 10, wherein the mask is in contact with a first projector surface, and wherein the first and second lenslets each have a convex surface distal from the mask. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The pattern projector of claim 11, wherein the mask pattern comprises at least 400 features and wherein the MLA comprises at least 9 lenslets. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The pattern projector of claim 11, wherein the projector lens has a fly's eye architecture in which the MLA has convex surface curvature over a diameter of the projector lens. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The pattern projector of claim 10, further comprising a second MLA, the second MLA comprising a plurality of lenslets, each having a convex surface opposite the convex surface of the first MLA. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The pattern projector of claim 14, wherein the first and second MLA comprise a monolithic optical element of substantially homogeneous composition. ### Claim 16 A method of fabricating a pattern projector, the method comprising: molding a projector lens, the projector lens including a microlens array (MLA) having a first lenslet and a second lenslet, each having a convex surface; and applying a mask to a surface of the projector lens opposite the convex surfaces of the lenslets, wherein the mask comprises a pattern of high and low amplitude transmittance regions. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein applying the mask further comprises at least one of: printing the low transmittance regions with an ink, laminating a dry film onto the projector lens and patterning the dry film into the low transmittance regions, or modifying portions of the projector lens material into the low transmittance regions through laser processing. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein molding the projector lens further comprises molding an optically transmissive material into a fly's eye projector lens in which the MLA has convex surface curvature over a diameter of the projector lens. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising assembling the projector lens with an LED light source.