Optical sensing with tessellated diffraction-pattern generators
AssigneeRambus Inc.
InventorsPatrick R. Gill, David G. Stork
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An array of diffraction-pattern generators employ phase anti-symmetric gratings to projects near-field spatial modulations onto a closely spaced array of photoelements. Each generator in the array of generators produces point-spread functions with spatial frequencies and orientations of interest. The generators are arranged in an irregular mosaic with little or no short-range repetition. Diverse generators are shaped and placed with some irregularity to reduce or eliminate spatially periodic replication of ambiguities to facilitate imaging of nearby scenes.
Claims20
A light-transmissive grating comprising:
- adjacent diffraction-pattern generators extending in a transverse plane, each diffraction-pattern generator occupying a respective generator area, from a perspective normal to the transverse plane, and including:
- a periphery of the generator area in the transverse plane;
- and
- boundaries of odd symmetry that separate a plurality of high and low segments of the diffraction-pattern generator, the high and low segments having segment widths in the transverse plane, wherein the widths of the high and low segments increase toward the periphery.
A light-transmissive grating comprising:
- tessellated and dissimilar adjacent diffraction-pattern generators extending in a transverse plane, each diffraction-pattern generator occupying a respective generator area, from a perspective normal to the transverse plane, and including:
- a periphery of the generator area in the transverse plane;
- and
- boundaries of odd symmetry that separate a plurality of high and low segments having segment widths in the transverse plane, wherein the widths of the high and low segments increase toward the periphery.
A light-transmissive grating comprising:
- adjacent means for generating diffraction patterns, each means for generating a diffraction pattern extending in a transverse plane and occupying a respective generator area, from a perspective normal to the transverse plane, and including:
- a periphery of the generator area in the transverse plane;
- and
- boundaries of odd symmetry that separate a plurality of high and low segments having segment widths in the transverse plane, wherein the widths of the high and low segments increase toward the periphery.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.