METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ILLUMINATING A FIELD OF VIEW OF AN OPTICAL SYSTEM FOR GENERATING THREE DIMENSIONAL IMAGE INFORMATION

摘要

An apparatus for generating three dimensional image information, the apparatus comprising: an optical system having an imaging path disposed to capture light within a field of view of the optical system; an image modulator operably configured to cause first and second images to be received through respective first and second imaging portions of the imaging path, said first portion of the imaging path having a first perspective viewpoint within the field of view, said second portion of the imaging path having a second perspective viewpoint within the field of view; an illuminator operably configured to alternate between: directing said illumination flux through said second portion of the imaging path to illuminate a first portion of the field of view of the optical system while said first image is being received; and directing said illumination flux through said first portion of the imaging path to illuminate a second portion of the field of view of the optical system, while said second image is being received; said first and second images together being operable to represent three dimensional spatial attributes of objects within the field of view.