Scanning depth engine
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsAlexander Shpunt, Raviv Erlich
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Mapping apparatus includes a transmitter, which is configured to emit at least one beam including a sequence of pulses of light toward a plurality of points in a scene. A receiver is configured to receive the light reflected from the scene and to generate an output indicative of a time of flight of the pulses to and from the points in the scene. A processor is coupled to process the output of the receiver so as to generate a 3D map of the scene, while controlling a power level of the pulses emitted by the transmitter responsively to a level of the output from the receiver in response to one or more previous pulses.
Claims20
Mapping apparatus, comprising:
- a transmitter, which is configured to emit at least one beam comprising a sequence of pulses of light toward a plurality of points in a scene;
- a receiver, which is configured to receive the light reflected from the scene and to generate an output indicative of a time of flight of the pulses to and from the points in the scene;
- and
- a processor, which is coupled to process the output of the receiver so as to generate a 3D map of the scene, while controlling a power level of the pulses emitted by the transmitter responsively to a level of the output from the receiver in response to one or more previous pulses.
A method for mapping, comprising:
- directing at least one beam comprising a sequence of pulses of light toward a plurality of points in a scene;
- receiving the light reflected from the scene and generating an output indicative of a time of flight of the pulses to and from the points in the scene;
- processing the output so as to generate a 3D map of the scene;
- and
- controlling a power level of the pulses emitted by the transmitter responsively to a level of the output in response to one or more previous pulses.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.