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US 12,112,493 B2Granted
Structured light projector
AssigneeTexas Instruments Incorporated
InventorsSrikanth Gurrapu, Yangxi Wang, Zhongyan Sheng
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Abstract
Described examples include a structured light projector including a light source. The structured light projector also includes a spatial light modulator arranged to modulate light from the light source. The structured light projector also includes a diffractive optical element arranged to modulate the light from the light source. The structured light projector further includes projection optics arranged to project the light modulated by the spatial light modulator and the diffractive optical element to a target.
Claims20
An apparatus comprising:
- a spatial light modulator configured to produce first modulated light, wherein the first modulated light has a pixel pattern of dark pixels and bright pixels;
- a diffractive optical element;
- a lens optically coupled between the spatial light modulator and the diffractive optical element, the lens configured to focus the pixel pattern of dark pixels and bright pixels towards the diffractive optical element, wherein the diffractive optical element is configured to modulate the pixel pattern of dark pixels and bright pixels, to produce second modulated light, the second modulated light having dark regions and bright regions, the bright regions each having the pixel pattern of dark pixels and bright pixels;
- a camera configured to receive an image of a reflection of the second modulated light;
- a controller coupled to the spatial light modulator;
- and
- a processor coupled to the controller and to the camera, the processor configured to:
- process the image, to produce a processed image;
- and
- instruct the controller to control the spatial light modulator, based on the processed image.
7 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a light source configured to produce light;
- a spatial light modulator optically coupled to the light source, the spatial light modulator configured to modulate the light, to produce modulated light, wherein the modulated light has a pixel pattern of dark pixels and bright pixels;
- a diffractive optical element;
- and
- a lens optically coupled between the spatial light modulator and the diffractive optical element, the lens configured to focus the pixel pattern of dark pixels and bright pixels towards the diffractive optical element, wherein the diffractive optical element is configured to modulate the pixel pattern of dark pixels and bright pixels, to produce a structured light pattern, the structured light pattern having dark regions and bright regions, the bright regions each having the pixel pattern of dark pixels and bright pixels.
2 more elements
A method comprising:
- providing, by a light source, light;
- modulating, by a spatial light modulator, the light, to produce modulated light, wherein the modulated light has a pixel pattern of dark pixels and bright pixels;
- focusing, towards a diffractive optical element, the pixel pattern of dark pixels and bright pixels;
- and
- modulating, by the diffractive optical element, the pixel pattern of dark pixels and bright pixels, to produce a structured light pattern, the structured light pattern having dark regions and bright regions, the bright regions each having the pixel pattern of dark pixels and bright pixels.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.