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US 2016/0080709 A1Published application
Scanning Laser Planarity Detection
AssigneeMicrovision, Inc.
InventorsP. Selvan Viswanathan, Robert James Jackson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A scanning laser projector includes a proximity sensor and a planarity detector. When the proximity sensor detects an object closer than a proximity threshold, laser power is turned down. The scanning laser projector can measure distance at a plurality of projection points in the projector's field of view. If the projection points lie substantially in a plane, laser power may be turned back up.
Claims23
A method comprising:
- measuring distances between a scanning laser projector and a plurality of projection points in a field of view of the scanning laser projector;
- determining if the plurality of projection points lie substantially in a plane;
- and
- if the plurality of projection points do not lie substantially in a plane, performing at least one action in response to an obstruction in the field of view.
1 more element
A method comprising:
- determining that at least one projection point in a field of view of a scanning laser projector violates a proximity threshold;
- reducing laser power within the scanning laser projector;
- measuring distances between the scanning laser projector and a plurality of projection points within the field of view;
- determining if the plurality of projection points lie substantially in a plane;
- and
- if the plurality of projection points lie substantially in a plane, increasing the laser power.
3 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a laser light source;
- a scanning mirror to reflect light from the laser light source in a raster pattern in a field of view;
- a proximity sensor that measures distances between the scanning mirror and objects in the field of view;
- a planarity detector to determine if projection points corresponding to the distances measured by the proximity sensor lie substantially in a plane;
- and
- a laser power controller that controls output power of the laser light source in response to signals from both the proximity sensor and the planarity detector.
3 more elements
A method comprising:
- measuring distances between a scanning laser projector and a plurality of projection points in a field of view of the scanning laser projector;
- determining if the plurality of projection points lie substantially on a reference surface;
- and
- if the plurality of projection points do not lie substantially on the reference surface, performing at least one action in response to an obstruction in the field of view.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.