US 7,375,803 B1Granted

RGBZ (red, green, blue, z-depth) filter system usable with sensor systems, including sensor systems with synthetic mirror enhanced three-dimensional imaging

AssigneeCanesta, Inc.

InventorCyrus Bamji

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Abstract

For use with an imaging system, in one aspect, the present invention implements a filter system that provides a precise narrow band pass for IR-NIR wavelengths, while also providing individual dye-type filters that can be disposed above individual RGB pixels to create dedicated red, green, and blue pixel responses. An interference dichotic filter provides a non-critical first pass band that adequately encompassed RGB wavelengths, and provides a more critical IR-NIR pass band for Z-pixels. The individual dye-type filters have individual R, G, B pass band shapes that fall within the interference filter. Preferably a dye-type NIR-IR filter is also in a common optical path with the other filters to contribute to the overall filtering. In a second aspect, the invention provides an RGB-Z system with dynamically updated image renderings to better enable a viewer of the image to acquire a sense of depth.

Claims20

Dependent claims

For use in a sensor system having a first plurality of detectors responsive to a broad first range of wavelengths dividable into at least a first sub-range and a second sub-range, and having a second plurality of detectors responsive to a narrower second range of longer wavelengths, said first plurality of detectors and said second plurality of detectors sharing a common optical path, a method of filtering incoming optical energy falling upon said sensor system comprising:

(a) inputting said incoming optical energy to an interference filter disposed in said common optical path, said interference filter having a broad first pass band passing at least said first range of wavelengths, and having a more sharply defined second pass band that defines said second narrower range of longer wavelengths;
(b) subjecting optical energy exiting said interference filter as input to at least a first dye filter having a band pass defining said first sub-range, and as input to a second dye filter having a band pass defining said second sub-range, and as input to a third dye filter having a band pass encompassing said sharply defined second pass band;
said first dye filter disposed above at least one detector in said first plurality of detectors responsive to said first sub-range, said second dye filter disposed above at least one detector in said first plurality of detectors responsive to said second sub-range, and said third dye filter disposed above at least one detector in said second plurality of detectors;
wherein detectors in said first sub-range, detectors in said second sub-range, and detectors in said second range of longer wavelengths each receive optical energy having wavelengths defined by an intersection of a band pass of a respective dye filter and a band pass of said interference filter.

1 more element

For use in a sensor system having a first plurality of detectors responsive to a broad first range of wavelengths dividable into at least a first sub-range and a second sub-range, and having a second plurality of detectors responsive to a narrower second range of longer wavelengths, said first plurality of detectors and said second plurality of detectors sharing a common optical path, a filter system to filter incoming optical energy falling upon said sensor system, said filter system comprising:

an interference filter disposed in said common optical path so as to receive as input incoming optical energy falling upon said filter system, said interference filter having a broad first pass band passing at least said first range of wavelengths, and having a more sharply defined second pass band that defines said second narrower range of longer wavelengths;
at least a first dye filter having a band pass defining said first sub-range;
at least a second dye filter having a band pass defining said second sub-range;
and
a third dye filter having a band pass encompassing said sharply defined second pass band;
said first, said second, and said third dye filter disposed so as to receive as input optical energy exiting said interference filter such that said first dye filter is disposed above at least one detector in said first plurality of detectors responsive to said first sub-range, said second dye filter is disposed above at least one detector in said first plurality of detectors responsive to said second sub-range, and said third dye filter disposed above at least one detector in said second plurality of detectors;
wherein detectors in said first sub-range, detectors in said second sub-range, and detectors in said second range of longer wavelengths each receive optical energy having wavelengths defined by an intersection of a band pass of a respective dye filter and a band pass of said interference filter.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/804,653Filed 18 May 2007 · us provisional application
Priority: 18 May 2006
Granted: 20 May 2008
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification15 codes

G02B 27/145
Operating by reflection only: having sequential partially reflecting surfaces
G01S 7/4816
Constructional features, e.g. arrangements of optical elements: of receivers alone
G01S 17/89
Lidar systems specially adapted for specific applications: for mapping or imaging
G02B 27/1013
For splitting or combining different wavelengths: for colour or multispectral image sensors, e.g. splitting an image into monochromatic image…