# US 11,445,164 B2 · Structured light projection module based on VCSEL array light source > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,445,164 B2 - Document ID: US11445164B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/153,275 - Filed: 2021-01-20 - Published: 2021-06-17 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2017-05-19 - Assignees: Orbbec Inc. - Applicants: Orbbec Inc. - Inventors: Zhenzhong Xiao; Xing Xu; Xu Chen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11445164B2 ## CPC - H04N 13/254: in combination with electromagnetic radiation sources for illuminating objects - G01B 11/2513: {with several lines being projected in more than one direction, e.g. grids, patterns} - G02B 3/0006: {Arrays (G02B3/02, G02B5/188 take precedence)} - G02B 19/0014: {at least one surface having optical power} - G02B 19/0057: {in the form of a laser diode array, e.g. laser diode bar (semiconductor laser arrays with beam combining arrangement H01S5/4012)} - G02B 27/0944: {Diffractive optical elements, e.g. gratings, holograms (gratings per se G02B5/18; holograms used as optical elements per se G02B5/32)} - G02B 27/0961: {Lens arrays (lens arrays per se G02B3/0006)} - G02B 27/30: Collimators - G02B 27/4205: {having a diffractive optical element [DOE] contributing to image formation, e.g. whereby modulation transfer function MTF or optical aberrations are relevant} - G02B 27/48: Laser speckle optics - G06T 17/00: Three-dimensional [3D] modelling for computer graphics - H01S 5/04256: {characterised by the configuration} - H01S 5/423: {having a vertical cavity} - H04N 23/56: provided with illuminating means - H01S 5/005: {Optical components external to the laser cavity, specially adapted therefor, e.g. for homogenisation or merging of the beams or for manipulating laser pulses, e.g. pulse shaping (H01S5/026, H01S5/18388 take precedence)} - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - 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 - H01S: DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL ## Abstract The present disclosure provides a structured light projection module comprising: a Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser (VCSEL) array light source that includes a semiconductor substrate and at least two VCSEL sub-arrays arranged thereon. The at least two VCSEL sub-arrays include VCSEL light sources. The structured light projection module further includes a diffractive optical element (DOE) that includes at least two DOE sub-units. The DOE sub-units are respectively corresponding to the VCSEL sub-arrays and configured to project multiple copies of light beams emitted by the corresponding at least two VCSEL sub-arrays. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A structured light projection module, comprising: a Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser (VCSEL) array light source comprising a semiconductor substrate and at least two VCSEL sub-arrays, wherein the at least two VCSEL sub-arrays are arranged on the semiconductor substrate, and each of the at least two VCSEL sub-arrays includes VCSEL light sources; and a diffractive optical element (DOE) comprising at least two DOE sub-units, wherein the at least two DOE sub-units correspond to the at least two VCSEL sub-arrays respectively, and the at least two DOE sub-units are configured to project multiple copies of light beams emitted by the corresponding at least two VCSEL sub-arrays, wherein the at least two DOE sub-units include a first DOE sub-unit and a second DOE sub-unit, wherein the first DOE sub-unit splits the light beams of a first corresponding VCSEL sub-array into a first number of first split light beams, and the second DOE sub-unit splits the light beams of a second corresponding VCSEL sub-array into a second number of second split light beams, and wherein the first number of the first split light beams is greater than the second number of the second split light beams, wherein each of the second split light beams is brighter than each of the first split light beams, and wherein the first split light beams and the second split light beams are respectively projected outward by the first DOE sub-unit and the second DOE sub-unit to a substantial same field of view. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The structured light projection module of claim 1, wherein the first DOE sub-unit projects the first split light beams to the substantial same field of view to form a low-brightness structured light pattern, and the second DOE sub-unit projects the second split light beams to the substantial same field of view to form a high-brightness structured light pattern, wherein at least a portion of the low-brightness structured light pattern is overlapped with at least a portion of the high-brightness structured light pattern at the substantial same field of view. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The structured light projection module of claim 2, wherein the second corresponding VCSEL sub-array has a number of VCSEL light sources less than a number of VCSEL light sources of the first corresponding VCSEL sub-array. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The structured light projection module of claim 1, wherein a power of each VCSEL light source of the first corresponding VCSEL sub-array is less than a power of each VCSEL light source of the second corresponding VCSEL sub-array. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The structured light projection module of claim 1, further comprising a lens unit, wherein the lens unit is configured to receive and collimate a light beam emitted by the VCSEL array light source, or to receive a light beam projected by the DOE and emit the received light beam into a space. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The structured light projection module of claim 5, wherein the lens unit includes one or more of a microlens array, a lens, or a lens group. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The structured light projection module of claim 1, wherein the at least two VCSEL sub-arrays are independently controlled or synchronously controlled. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The structured light projection module of claim 1, wherein patterns of the at least two VCSEL sub-arrays are irregular and are different. ### Claim 9 A depth camera, comprising: a structured light projection module configured to project a structured light pattern onto a target, wherein the structured light projection module comprises: a Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser (VCSEL) array light source comprising a semiconductor substrate and at least two VCSEL sub-arrays, wherein the at least two VCSEL sub-arrays are arranged on the semiconductor substrate, and each of the at least two VCSEL sub-arrays includes VCSEL light sources; and a diffractive optical element (DOE) comprising at least two DOE sub-units, wherein the at least two DOE sub-units correspond to the at least two VCSEL sub-arrays respectively, and the at least two DOE sub-units are configured to project multiple copies of light beams emitted by the corresponding at least two VCSEL sub-arrays, wherein the at least two DOE sub-units include a first DOE sub-unit and a second DOE sub-unit, wherein the first DOE sub-unit splits the light beams of a first corresponding VCSEL sub-array into a first number of first split light beams, and the second DOE sub-unit splits the light beams of a second corresponding VCSEL sub-array into a second number of second split light beams, and wherein the first number of the first split light beams is greater than the second number of the second split light beams, wherein each of the second split light beams is brighter than each of the first split light beams, and wherein the first split light beams and the second split light beams are respectively projected outward by the first DOE sub-unit and the second DOE sub-unit to a substantial same field of view; an acquisition module configured to collect a structured light pattern reflected by the target; and a processor configured to calculate a depth image based on the collected structured light pattern. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The depth camera of claim 9, wherein the first DOE sub-unit projects the first split light beams to the substantial same field of view to form a low-brightness structured light pattern, and the second DOE sub-unit projects the second split light beams to the substantial same field of view to form a high-brightness structured light pattern, wherein at least a portion of the low-brightness structured light pattern is overlapped with at least a portion of the high-brightness structured light pattern at the substantial same field of view. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The depth camera of claim 10, wherein the second corresponding VCSEL sub-array has a number of VCSEL light sources less than a number of VCSEL light sources of the first corresponding VCSEL sub-array. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The depth camera of claim 9, wherein a power of each VCSEL light source of the first corresponding VCSEL sub-array is less than a power of each VCSEL light source of the second corresponding VCSEL sub-array. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The depth camera of claim 9, wherein the structured light projection module further comprises a lens unit, wherein the lens unit is configured to receive and collimate a light beam emitted by the VCSEL array light source, or to receive a light beam projected by the DOE and emit the received light beam into a space. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The depth camera of claim 13, wherein the lens unit includes one or more of a microlens array, a lens, or a lens group. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The depth camera of claim 9, wherein the at least two VCSEL sub-arrays are independently controlled or synchronously controlled. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The depth camera of claim 9, wherein patterns of the at least two VCSEL sub-arrays are irregular and are different.