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US 10,650,540 B2Granted
Determining sparse versus dense pattern illumination
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsThorsten Gernoth, Ian R. Fasel, Haitao Guo, Atulit Kumar
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An estimate of distance between a user and a camera on a device is used to determine an illumination pattern density used for speckle pattern illumination of the user in subsequent images. The distance may be estimated using an image captured when the user is illuminated with flood infrared illumination. Either a sparse speckle (dot) pattern illumination pattern or a dense speckle pattern illumination pattern is used depending on the distance between the user's face and the camera.
Claims20
A method, comprising:
- capturing a first image using a camera located on a device, the device comprising a computer processor and a memory, wherein the first image comprises an image captured while illuminating with flood infrared illumination from a first illuminator located on the device;
- determining a distance between a user and the camera by assessing two-dimensional information in the first image;
- and
- illuminating the user with patterned illumination having a first pattern density from a second illuminator located on the device in response to the determined distance being less than a threshold distance, wherein the second illuminator is configured to project one of the first pattern density or a second pattern density, the first pattern density being less than the second pattern density.
1 more element
A device, comprising:
- a camera;
- a first illuminator providing flood infrared illumination;
- a second illuminator providing patterned illumination;
- circuitry coupled to the camera, the first illuminator, and the second illuminator, wherein the circuitry is programmed to:
- capture a first image using the camera while illuminating with flood infrared illumination from the first illuminator;
- determine a distance between a user and the camera by assessing two-dimensional information in the first image;
- and
- illuminate the user with patterned illumination having a first pattern density from the second illuminator in response to the determined distance being less than a threshold distance, wherein the second illuminator is configured to project one of the first pattern density or a second pattern density, the first pattern density being less than the second pattern density.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.