# US 2016/0366395 A1 · Led surface emitting structured light > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0366395 A1 - Document ID: US20160366395A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/737,920 - Filed: 2015-06-12 - Published: 2016-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2015-06-12 - Assignees: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC - Applicants: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC - Inventors: Samuli Wallius; Mikko Juhola - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160366395A1 ## CPC - H04N 13/271: wherein the generated image signals comprise depth maps or disparity maps - F21V 5/048: {the lens being a simple lens adapted to cooperate with a point-like source for emitting mainly in one direction and having an axis coincident with the main light transmission direction, e.g. convergent or divergent lenses, plano-concave or plano-convex lenses} - 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}) - G02B 27/62: Optical apparatus specially adapted for adjusting optical elements during the assembly of optical systems - G03B 15/03: Combinations of cameras with lighting apparatus; Flash units - H04N 23/56: provided with illuminating means - F21Y 2101/00: Point-like light sources - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D) - F21Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED ## Abstract Structured light is produced by utilizing the surface structure of a light emitting diode. A lens is positioned at a distance of a focal or hyperfocal length from the surface. The surface of the light emitting diode has light emitting areas and other structures, such as conductors that do not emit light. This contrast is projected as structured light. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus, comprising: a light emitting diode having a surface; a projecting lens having a focal length; wherein the projecting lens is positioned at a distance of the focal length or a hyperfocal length from the surface of the light emitting diode; and the projecting lens is configured to project an image of the surface of the light emitting diode. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the light emitting diode comprises elements configured to block a portion of rays of light from traveling from the light emitting diode to the projecting lens, and configured to cause the projecting lens to project a structured light pattern. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the projecting lens is a collimating lens. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting diode is selected from the group including an infrared light emitting diode, an ultraviolet light emitting diode and a visible light emitting diode. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) An apparatus according to claim 2, comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: projecting the structured light pattern on a first surface; receiving the structured light pattern; and storing the structured light pattern in the at least one memory. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) An apparatus according to claim 2, comprising: a camera; at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: the camera capturing an image; detecting at least a portion of the structured light pattern from the image; and calculating the distance between the portion of the structured light pattern and the apparatus. ### Claim 7 A method for manufacturing an apparatus, said method comprising: moving a projecting lens having a focal length along an optical axis; and fixing the projecting lens at a distance from a surface of a light emitting diode when detecting that the surface of the projecting lens is in focus on the optical axis. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A method according to claim 7, comprising aligning components actively by capturing the projected image from the apparatus and assembling the apparatus components in response to the projected image focus. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) A method according to claim 7, comprising fixing the projecting lens at a distance of the focal length or a hyperfocal length from the surface of the light emitting diode. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A method according to claim 9, the apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs; and the method comprising: projecting the surface image of the light emitting diode on a first surface at a first distance from the projecting lens; receiving a first structured light pattern from the first surface image; and storing the first structured light pattern in the at least one memory. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) A method according to claim 9, the apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs; and the method comprising: projecting the surface image of the light emitting diode on a second surface at a second distance from the projecting lens; receiving a second structured light pattern from the second surface image; storing the second structured light pattern in the at least one memory; and calibrating a distance detecting module by comparing the first structured light pattern and the second structured light pattern. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) A method according to claim 7, wherein the projecting lens is a collimating lens. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) An method according to claim 7, wherein the light emitting diode is selected from the group including an infrared light emitting diode, an ultraviolet light emitting diode and a visible light emitting diode. ### Claim 14 A depth camera system, comprising: a light emitting diode having a surface; a projecting lens having a focal length; wherein the projecting lens is positioned at a distance of the focal length or a hyperfocal length from the surface of the light emitting diode; and the projecting lens is configured to project an image of the surface of the light emitting diode. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A depth camera system according to claim 14, wherein the surface of the light emitting diode comprises elements configured to block a portion of rays of light from traveling from the light emitting diode to the projecting lens, configured to cause the projecting lens to project a structured light pattern. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) A depth camera system according to claim 14, wherein the projecting lens is a collimating lens. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) A depth camera system according to claim 14, wherein the light emitting diode is selected from the group including an infrared light emitting diode, an ultraviolet light emitting diode and a visible light emitting diode. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) A depth camera system according to claim 15, comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the system to perform at least the following: projecting the structured light pattern on a first surface; receiving the structured light pattern; and storing the structured light pattern in the at least one memory. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) A depth camera system according to claim 15, comprising: a camera; at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the system to perform at least the following: the camera capturing an image; detecting at least a portion of the structured light pattern from the image; and calculating the distance between the portion of the structured light pattern and the apparatus. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) A depth camera system according to claim 14, comprising an image detector module configured to capture an image of the structured light as reflected from one or more objects within the capture area.