Structured light projector
AssigneeTexas Instruments Incorporated
InventorsSrikanth Gurrapu, Yangxi Wang, Zhongyan Sheng
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Described examples include an apparatus includes a spatial light modulator configured to receive input light; and modulate the input light, to produce modulated light, where the modulated light has a pixel pattern of dark pixels and bright pixels. The apparatus also includes a diffractive optical element optically coupled to the spatial light modulator, the diffractive optical element configured to: receive the modulated light; and 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.
Claims20
An apparatus comprising:
- a spatial light modulator configured to:
- receive input light;
- and
- modulate the input light, to produce modulated light, wherein the modulated light has a pixel pattern of dark pixels and bright pixels;
- and
- a diffractive optical element configured to:
- receive the modulated light;
- and
- 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.
An apparatus comprising:
- a spatial light modulator configured to produce first modulated light responsive to receiving input light, wherein the first modulated light has a pixel pattern of dark pixels and bright pixels;
- a diffractive optical element 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 controller coupled to the spatial light modulator;
- projection optics configured to project the second modulated light, to produce projected light;
- a camera configured to receive an image of a reflection of the second modulated light;
- 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.
A method comprising:
- receiving, by a spatial light modulator, input light;
- modulating, by the spatial light modulator, the input light, to produce modulated light, wherein the modulated light has a pixel pattern of dark pixels and bright pixels;
- receiving, by a diffractive optical element, the modulated light;
- 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.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.