Apparatus for real-time 3D capture

A real-time 3D capture system for a mobile electronic device having a camera comprising:

• an infrared projector comprising a laser, lens, and diffraction gratings that projects a pseudo-random speckle pattern onto an imaging target;
• a CMOS image sensor with an infrared bandpass filter that captures the pattern;
• two infrared light-emitting diodes;
• a signal microprocessor that takes data from the sensor, determines depth information from the data, and transmits the depth information to the mobile electronic device;
• a system microprocessor that controls the projector, sensor, and signal microprocessor and reduces power to the signal microprocessor when the signal microprocessor is not in use;
• a control module comprising the system microprocessor and the signal microprocessor;
• a battery that provides power to the projector, sensor, light-emitting diodes, and control module;
• a software module connected to the mobile electronic device that controls communication between the control module and the mobile electronic device, wherein communication comprises data from the camera and the depth information;
• a calibration module that enables correction for rotation and translation of the sensor relative to the camera for registering the depth information with the output from the camera;
• a chassis that holds the projector, sensor, control module, and battery, and couples to the mounting bracket, wherein the projector, sensor, and control module are fixed to the chassis;
• and,
• a rigid mounting bracket that removably couples the capture system to at least two corners of the mobile electronic device such that the capture system when coupled maintains alignment with the camera, and does not prevent the use of a button on the mobile electronic device.