Imaging device based on lens assembly with embedded filter

A method comprising:

• generating collimated light using light received from a local area, the collimated light including reflected illumination light and ambient light;
• generating filtered light substantially without the ambient light using a filtering element embedded within an imaging device at a location where light rays of the collimated light are incident to a surface of the filtering element within a range of angles around a center angle of incidence for which the filtering element is designed to reduce an intensity of incident light;
• and
• capturing one or more images of the local area including the filtered light.

A head-mounted display (HMD) comprising:

• a display configured to emit image light;
• a light generator configured to illuminate a local area with illumination light in accordance with emission instructions;
• a lens assembly configured to generate collimated light using light received from a local area, the collimated light including reflected illumination light and ambient light;
• a filtering element embedded within the imaging device at a location where light rays of the collimated light are incident to a surface of the filtering element within a range of angles around a center angle of incidence for which the filtering element is designed to reduce an intensity of incident light to generate filtered light substantially without the ambient light;
• and
• a detector configured to capture one or more images of the local area including the filtered light;
• a controller configured to:
• generate the emission instructions,
• provide the emission instructions to the light generator, and
• determine depth information for the local area using the captured one or more images;
• and
• an optical assembly configured to direct the image light to an eye-box of the HMD corresponding to a location of a user's eye, the image light comprising the determined depth information.