Depth mapping with a head mounted display using stereo cameras and structured light

A system for generating a structured light pattern comprising:

• an array of lasers that generate light, the array of lasers including a plurality of lasers that are grouped into at least two subsets of lasers, and wherein each of the at least two subsets of lasers is independently switchable;
• an optical element that comprises a plurality of cells that are each aligned with a respective subset of the array of lasers such that each cell receives light from a corresponding laser of the array of lasers, and each cell individually and dynamically applies a modulation to the received light passing through the cell to form a corresponding portion of the structured light pattern that is projected onto a local area, wherein the structured light pattern includes at least a first portion and a second portion that has a different modulation than that of the first portion, the first portion generated in part by a first cell of the plurality of cells, and the second portion is generated in part by a second cell of the plurality of cells, and the first portion of the structured light pattern is projected onto the region of interest;
• an imager configured to capture one or more images of the local area, and the one or more images include at least a portion of the structured light pattern;
• and
• a controller configured to analyze the one or more images of the local area to determine a region of interest within the local area and determine depth information for one or more objects in the three-dimensional space using the one or more images.

A system for generating a structured light pattern comprising:

• an array of lasers that generate light, the array of lasers including a plurality of lasers that are grouped into at least two subsets of lasers, and wherein each of the at least two subsets of lasers is independently switchable;
• an optical element that comprises a plurality of cells that are each aligned with a respective subset of the array of lasers such that each cell receives light from a corresponding laser of the array of lasers, and each cell individually and dynamically applies a modulation to the received light passing through the cell to form a corresponding portion of the structured light pattern that is projected onto a local area, wherein the structured light pattern includes at least a first portion and a second portion that has a different modulation than that of the first portion, the first portion generated in part by a first cell of the plurality of cells, and the second portion is generated in part by a second cell of the plurality of cells, and the first portion of the structured light pattern is projected onto the region of interest;
• an imager configured to capture one or more images of the local area, and the one or more images include at least a portion of the structured light pattern;
• and
• a controller configured to analyze the one or more images of the local area to determine a region of interest within the local area and change the modulation of one or more lasers based on the one or more captured frames.