# US 2013/0278787 A1 · Imaging and processing using dual clocks

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2013/0278787 A1
- Document ID: US20130278787A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/907,998
- Filed: 2013-06-03
- Published: 2013-10-24
- Earliest claimed: 2010-11-19
- Assignees: Primesense Ltd.
- Applicants: Primesense Ltd.
- Inventors: Alexander Shpunt
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130278787A1

## CPC

- H04N 13/271: wherein the generated image signals comprise depth maps or disparity maps
- G01B 11/25: by projecting a pattern, e.g. {one or more lines,} moiré fringes on the object (G01B11/255 takes precedence {; image analysis for depth or shape recovery G06T7/50})
- G01B 11/2513: {with several lines being projected in more than one direction, e.g. grids, patterns}
- G01B 11/2527: {with phase change by in-plane movement of the patern}
- H04N 25/771: comprising storage means other than floating diffusion
- H04N 25/7795: {Circuitry for generating timing or clock signals}
- G02B 7/40: using time delay of the reflected waves, e.g. of ultrasonic waves
- 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

## Abstract

A method for imaging includes capturing images of an object using a matrix of detector elements and performing a processing operation in the detector elements under control of a global clock. Results of the processing operation are read out under control of a rolling clock, which is unsynchronized with the global clock.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for imaging, comprising:
capturing images of an object using a matrix of detector elements;
performing a processing operation in the detector elements under control of a global clock; and
reading out results of the processing operation under control of a rolling clock, which is unsynchronized with the global clock.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein capturing the images comprises generating electrical charge in each of the detector elements, and
wherein performing the processing operation comprises applying a logical operation to the charge in each of the detector elements in order to generate a digital value, which is read out under the control of the rolling clock.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method according to claim 2, wherein capturing the images comprises illuminating the object with radiation that varies over time under the control of the global clock, and generating the charge responsively to the radiation that is received from the object at the detector elements.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method according to claim 3, wherein illuminating the object comprises applying the radiation in a time-coded pattern, and wherein the digital value generated by the logical operation comprises a digital shift value, and wherein reading out the results comprises reading out and processing digital shift values read out from the matrix of detector elements in order to generate a depth map of the object.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein capturing the images comprises generating electrical charge in each of the detector elements, and wherein performing the processing operation comprises switching the charge among different charge storage components associated with the detector elements in synchronization with the global clock.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method according to claim 5, wherein performing the processing operation comprises making a comparison of the charge stored in each of the charge storage components to a threshold level and generating digital values in response to the comparison, and wherein reading out the results comprises reading out the digital values.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method according to claim 6, wherein generating the digital values comprises generating bit values responsively to the comparison, and concatenating the bit values to generate the digital values.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein reading out the results comprises outputting the data from the detector elements row by row using a rolling shutter controlled by the local clock.

### Claim 9

Apparatus for imaging, comprising:
a matrix of detector elements, which is configured to capture images of an object;
embedded processing circuitry, which is configured to perform a processing operation in the detector elements under control of a global clock; and
a readout circuit, which is configured to read out results of the processing operation under control of a rolling clock, which is unsynchronized with the global clock.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the detector elements are configured to generate electrical charge responsively to the images, and
wherein the processing circuitry is configured to apply a logical operation to the charge in each of the detector elements under the control of the global clock in order to generate a digital value, which is read out under the control of the rolling clock.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The apparatus according to claim 10, and comprising an illumination subassembly, which is configured to illuminate the object with radiation that varies over time under the control of the global clock, wherein the detector elements generate the charge responsively to the radiation illuminating the object.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the illumination subassembly is configured to apply the radiation in a time-coded pattern, and wherein the digital value generated by the embedded processing circuitry comprises a digital shift value, which is read out by the readout circuit and which is converted by a processor into a depth coordinate in order to generate a depth map of the object.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the detector elements are configured to generate electrical charge in each of the detector elements, and
wherein the embedded processing circuitry comprises, in each of the detector elements, multiple charge storage components and a switch, which is configured to switch the charge from the detector elements among the charge storage components associated with the detector elements in synchronization with the global clock.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the processing circuitry comprises comparator logic, which is configured to make a comparison of the charge stored in each of the charge storage components to a threshold level, and to generate digital values in response to the comparison, and
wherein the readout circuit is configured to read out the digital values.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the comparator logic is configured to generate bit values responsively to the comparison, and to concatenate the bit values to generate the digital values,

### Claim 16 (depends on 9)

The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the readout circuit is configured to output the data from the detector elements row by row using a rolling shutter controlled by the local clock.

### Claim 17

Projection apparatus, comprising:
a radiation source, which is configured to generate an illumination beam;
scanning optics, which are configured to scan the illumination beam along a first axis;
a control circuit, which is coupled to modulate the illumination beam while the beam is scanned; and
a cylindrical optical element, which is configured to generate one or more spatial patterns by spreading the modulated beam along a second axis, perpendicular to the first axis.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the control circuit is configured to pulse the illumination beam on and off while the beam is scanned so as to generate a pattern of stripes along the second axis.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein a modulation of the illumination beam is varied so as to generate the stripes with different widths.

### Claim 20

Projection apparatus, comprising:
a patterned element comprising multiple areas, which when illuminated, create different, respective spatial patterns; and
at least one radiation source, which is configured to illuminate the areas sequentially so as to project the spatial patterns in a temporal sequence.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the at least one radiation source comprises an array of radiation sources, which are configured to irradiate different, respective ones of the areas, and
wherein the apparatus comprises a control circuit, which is coupled to turn the radiation sources on and off in succession so as to create the temporal sequence of the spatial patterns.