Time-of-flight calculations using a shared light source

摘要

In some embodiments, distances associated with a surface may be calculated using time-of-flight (ToF) of a plurality of pulses of light occurring at a predetermined frequency. Reflected light from a light emitter may be captured by two or more light sensors. At least one light sensor may be located in a sensor pod that is separate from the light emitter, which may be housed in an emitter pod with or without a light sensor. The sensor pod may be synchronized with the emitter pod to enable ToF of light distance calculations. The calculated distance may be used to determine movement of a surface and/or one or more pixels of a surface. In some instances, the calculated distance may be used to identify a profile of a surface, which may then be used associate the profile with an object, a command, or another association.

主权项

1. A system comprising:
an emitter unit including:
a light emitter to emit light in pulses having predetermined time intervals;a first light sensor to capture light that is emitted from the light emitter and reflected off a surface;one or more processors to calculate a first distance between the first light sensor and the surface and a second distance between a second light sensor and the surface based at least in part on a ratio of light captured during two consecutive instances of the time intervals, the one or more processors to create a profile of the surface based at least in part on the first distance and the second distance; andan emitter unit communications port to broadcast a synchronization signal to synchronize the second light sensor with the light emitter to operate during the time intervals, and to receive data indicating a ratio of light captured during the two consecutive instances of the time intervals by the second light sensor; and a sensor unit including:
the second light sensor, located separate from the emitter unit, to capture light that is emitted from the light emitter and reflected off the surface, the second light sensor being synchronized with the light emitter using the synchronization signal to operate during the time intervals; anda sensor communications port to receive the synchronization signal from the emitter unit communications port and to transmit information indicating the ratio of light captured by the second light sensor during the two consecutive instances of the time intervals to the one or more processors using the emitter unit communications port.