Illumination light projection for a depth camera

摘要

Various embodiments of TOF depth cameras and methods for illuminating image environments with illumination light are provided herein. In one example, a TOF depth camera configured to collect image data from an image environment illuminated by illumination light includes a light source including a plurality of surface-emitting lasers configured to generate coherent light. The example TOF camera also includes an optical assembly configured to transmit light from the plurality of surface-emitting lasers to the image environment and an image sensor configured to detect at least a portion of return light reflected from the image environment.

主权项

1. A time-of-flight depth camera configured to collect image data from an image environment illuminated by illumination light, the time-of-flight depth camera comprising:
a light source including a plurality of surface-emitting lasers configured to generate coherent light, the light source comprising an arrangement of the plurality of surface-emitting lasers in a rectangular shape; a lens system configured to project an image of the light source to the image environment by transmitting collimated light emitted from a first surface-emitting laser to the image environment in a different direction than collimated light emitted from a second surface-emitting laser, the lens system comprising:
a first stage positioned to condense light received from the light source, anda second stage positioned to receive light from the first stage, the second stage being configured to relay the image of the light source into the image environment to illuminate the image environment; and an image sensor configured to detect at least a portion of return light reflected from the image environment.