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US 12,724,130 B2Granted
Optical device, light applying method, and service providing method
AssigneeJapan Cell Co., Ltd.
InventorsSatoshi Hayata, Hideo Ando, Yuki Endo, Sueo Ueno, Yuta Hiraide
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A light source emits modulation light and irradiates a measured object with the modulation light, and a measurer receives modulated detection light obtained from the measured object. Charge is accumulated with respect to a relative exposure timing in the measurer according to the modulated detection light. Using a variation profile of charge accumulation values respectively relating to the relative exposure timings, a system controller calculates distance to the measured object.
Claims9
An optical device comprising:
- a light source including a light emitter and a light control circuit,
- the light control circuit configured to flow an electric current through the light emitter to emit irradiated modulation light to a measured object in accordance with a light emission signal, the light control circuit further configured to control a peak value of light intensity of the irradiated modulation light,
- a measurer including an image sensor configured to receive modulated detection light to generate a measured signal, the modulated detection light corresponding to the irradiated modulation light being reflected by the measured object, the measurer having relative exposure timings, one of the relative exposure timings corresponding to a relative timing between an exposure timing and the light emission signal, the modulated detection light accounting for charge accumulation in the measurer, each of values of the charge accumulation relating to each of the relative exposure timings, and the measured signal including the values of the charge accumulation;
- an image forming lens to form an image pattern of the measured object on the image sensor;
- and
- a system controller configured to calculate a first distance to the measured object by a use of the measured signal, the system controller further configured to calculate 3D coordinate information of the measured object based on a second distance between the image forming lens and the image sensor,
- wherein the light control circuit includes a changeover switch configured to flow the electric current through the light emitter.
4 more elements
A method, comprising:
- flowing an electric current through a light emitter to emit irradiated modulation light, the irradiated modulation light traveling to a measured object;
- controlling a peak value of light intensity of the irradiated modulation light;
- causing the irradiated modulation light to be reflected by the measured object to form modulated detection light;
- receiving the modulated detection light;
- accumulating charge according to the modulated detection light;
- forming, by an image forming lens, an image pattern of the measured object on an image sensor;
- calculating a first distance to the measured object;
- calculating 3D coordinate information of the measured object based on a second distance between the image forming lens and the image sensor;
- and
- flowing the electric current through the light emitter based on a changeover switch.
7 more elements
A method, comprising:
- flowing an electric current through a light emitter to emit irradiated modulation light, the irradiated modulation light traveling to a measured object;
- controlling a peak value of light intensity of the irradiated modulation light;
- causing the irradiated modulation light to be reflected by the measured object to form modulated detection light;
- receiving the modulated detection light;
- accumulating charge according to the modulated detection light,
- forming, by an image forming lens, an image pattern of the measured object on an image sensor;
- calculating a first distance to the measured object;
- calculating 3D coordinate information of the measured object based on a second distance between the image forming lens and the image sensor;
- providing a service for a user based on the calculated 3D coordinate information of the measured object;
- flowing the electric current through the light emitter based on a changeover switch.
7 more elements
An optical device comprising:
- a light source including a light emitter and a light control circuit,
- the light control circuit configured to flow an electric current through the light emitter to emit irradiated modulation light to a measured object in accordance with a light emission signal, the light control circuit further configured to control a peak value of light intensity of the irradiated modulation light,
- a measurer including an image sensor configured to receive modulated detection light to generate a measured signal, the modulated detection light corresponding to the irradiated modulation light being reflected by the measured object, the measurer having relative exposure timings, one of the relative exposure timings corresponding to a relative timing between an exposure timing and the light emission signal, the modulated detection light accounting for charge accumulation in the measurer, each of values of the charge accumulation relating to each of the relative exposure timings, and the measured signal including the values of the charge accumulation;
- an image forming lens to form an image pattern of the measured object on the image sensor;
- and
- a system controller configured to calculate a first distance to the measured object by a use of the measured signal, the system controller further configured to calculate 3D coordinate information of the measured object based on a second distance between the image forming lens and the image sensor,
- wherein the optical device further comprises a light power detector to generate a time-varying signal relating to the light intensity,
- wherein the light control circuit is further configured to smooth the time-varying signal to control the peak value of light intensity of the irradiated modulation light.
5 more elements
A method comprising:
- flowing an electric current through a light emitter to emit irradiated modulation light, the irradiated modulation light traveling to a measured object;
- controlling a peak value of light intensity of the irradiated modulation light;
- causing the irradiated modulation light to be reflected by the measured object to form modulated detection light;
- receiving the modulated detection light;
- accumulating charge according to the modulated detection light;
- forming, by an image forming lens, an image pattern of the measured object on an image sensor;
- calculating a first distance to the measured object;
- calculating 3D coordinate information of the measured object based on a second distance between the image forming lens and the image sensor;
- measuring at least a part of the light intensity of the irradiated modulation light;
- generating a time-varying signal relating to the light intensity;
- and
- smoothing the time-varying signal to control the peak value of light intensity of the irradiated modulation light.
9 more elements
A method comprising:
- flowing an electric current through a light emitter to emit irradiated modulation light, the irradiated modulation light traveling to a measured object;
- controlling a peak value of light intensity of the irradiated modulation light;
- causing the irradiated modulation light to be reflected by the measured object to form modulated detection light;
- receiving the modulated detection light;
- accumulating charge according to the modulated detection light,
- forming, by an image forming lens, an image pattern of the measured object on an image sensor;
- calculating a first distance to the measured object;
- calculating 3D coordinate information of the measured object based on a second distance between the image forming lens and the image sensor;
- providing a service for a user based on the calculated 3D coordinate information of the measured object;
- measuring at least a part of the light intensity of the irradiated modulation light;
- generating a time-varying signal relating to the light intensity;
- and
- smoothing the time-varying signal to control the peak value of light intensity of the irradiated modulation light.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.