Light-emitting device and information processing device

Abstract

To provide a configuration in which light can be emitted in units of regions on a substrate on which a light emitting element is arranged to suppress variations in the amount of reflected light from an object received by a light receiving portion compared to a case in which the amount of light irradiated from each region to the object is the same.SOLUTION: A light-emitting device includes a substrate, and at least a light-emitting element arranged in each region of a plurality of regions separated so as to be arranged one-dimensionally or two-dimensionally on the substrate and irradiating an object with irradiation light, and from among the plurality of regions, the amount of light emitted from the light-emitting element arranged in a first region, which is a region located at the end in the arrangement direction, is larger than the amount of light emitted from the light-emitting element arranged in a second region, which is a region located other than the end in the arrangement direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a light-emitting device and an information processing device.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a light-emitting component in which degradation of the characteristics of an element used for light emission is suppressed as compared with the case of using a substrate on which a semiconductor laminate constituting an element used for light emission is grown on a semiconductor laminate constituting an element used for driving.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Conventionally, three-dimensional measurement of an object has been performed using a three-dimensional sensor of the TOF (= Time of Flight) method.

[0005] At this time, when the amount of irradiation light on the object from a plurality of light-emitting elements included in the light-emitting device is made the same, a difference in the amount of reflected light from the object received by the three-dimensional sensor as the light-receiving unit occurs between the inside and the outside in the crossing direction with respect to the irradiation direction. In this case, the accuracy of three-dimensional measurement of the object is lowered because the amount of reflected light on the outside in the crossing direction received by the three-dimensional sensor is smaller than the amount of reflected light on the inside in the crossing direction, and there is room for improvement.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to suppress variations in the amount of reflected light from an object received by a light-receiving unit as compared with the case where the amount of irradiation light on the object from each region is the same in a configuration capable of emitting light in units of regions on a substrate on which light-emitting elements are arranged.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The light-emitting device according to the first aspect includes a substrate, and at least one light-emitting element disposed in each of a plurality of regions separated so as to be arranged one-dimensionally or two-dimensionally on the substrate, and irradiating the object with irradiation light. Among the plurality of regions, the amount of irradiation light of the light-emitting element disposed in the first region, which is a region located at an end in the arrangement direction, is larger than the amount of irradiation light of the light-emitting element disposed in the second region, which is a region located other than the end in the arrangement direction.

[0008] The light-emitting device according to the second aspect is the light-emitting device according to the first aspect, and each of the regions is separated by a groove formed on the substrate.

[0009] The light-emitting device according to the third aspect is the light-emitting device according to the first or second aspect, and the magnitudes of the amounts of irradiation light of the light-emitting elements disposed in the respective regions of the first region are provided in a plurality of steps.

[0010] The light-emitting device according to the fourth aspect is the light-emitting device according to the third aspect. When the respective regions are separated so as to be arranged two-dimensionally on the substrate, the amount of irradiation light of the light-emitting element disposed in each region located at a corner of the first region is larger than the amount of irradiation light of the light-emitting element disposed in each region located other than the corner of the first region.

[0011] The light-emitting device according to the fifth aspect is the light-emitting device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, and the area of each region differs according to the magnitude of the amount of irradiation light of the light-emitting element disposed in each region.

[0012] The light-emitting device according to the sixth aspect is the light-emitting device according to the fifth aspect, and the area of each region of the first region is smaller than the area of each region of the second region, and the amount of current flowing through each region of the first region and the second region is the same.

[0013] The light-emitting device according to the seventh aspect is the light-emitting device according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein one of the light-emitting elements disposed in the first region or the light-emitting element disposed in the second region irradiates the object with irradiation light, and then the other of the light-emitting elements disposed in the first region or the light-emitting element disposed in the second region irradiates the object with irradiation light.

[0014] The light-emitting device according to the eighth aspect is the light-emitting device according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein both the light-emitting element disposed in the first region and the light-emitting element disposed in the second region irradiate the object with irradiation light at the same timing.

[0015] The light-emitting device according to the ninth aspect is the light-emitting device according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, wherein a plurality of the light-emitting elements are arranged in each region, and in each region, each of the plurality of light-emitting elements irradiates the object with irradiation light having a similar irradiation light amount.

[0016] The information processing apparatus according to the tenth aspect includes the light-emitting device according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, a light-receiving unit that receives reflected light that is irradiated from the light-emitting element included in the light-emitting device and reflected by the object, and a specifying unit that specifies a three-dimensional shape of the object using the reflected light received by the light-receiving unit.

[0017] The information processing apparatus according to the eleventh aspect is the information processing apparatus according to the tenth aspect, wherein the light-emitting device changes the magnitude relationship between the irradiation light amount of the light-emitting element disposed in the first region and the irradiation light amount of the light-emitting element disposed in the second region according to the processing content in which the specifying unit specifies the three-dimensional shape of the object.

Advantages of the Invention

[0018] According to the first aspect, in a configuration capable of emitting light in units of regions on a substrate on which light-emitting elements are arranged, compared with the case where the irradiation light amounts from each region to the object are the same, variations in the amount of reflected light from the object received by the light-receiving unit are suppressed.

[0019] According to the second aspect, each region is physically separated.

[0020] According to the third aspect, variations in the amount of reflected light from the object received by the light receiving unit are suppressed as compared with the case where the amount of irradiation light of the light emitting elements arranged in each region of the first region is the same.

[0021] According to the fourth aspect, when each region is two-dimensionally arranged, variations in the amount of reflected light from the object received by the light receiving unit are suppressed as compared with the case where the amount of irradiation light of the light emitting elements arranged in each region located at the corner of the first region is smaller than the amount of irradiation light of the light emitting elements arranged in each region located outside the corner.

[0022] According to the fifth aspect, an area difference is provided in each region.

[0023] According to the sixth aspect, the current supply to each of the regions is stably performed as compared with the case where the amount of current flowing through each region of the first region and the second region is different.

[0024] According to the seventh aspect, the timing at which the light emitting elements arranged in each region of the first region and the second region irradiate the object with irradiation light is shifted.

[0025] According to the eighth aspect, while providing a difference in the amount of irradiation light of the light emitting elements arranged in each region of the first region and the second region, all the light emitting elements arranged in each of the regions can irradiate the object with irradiation light at the same timing.

[0026] According to the ninth aspect, in each region, the irradiation control for each of the regions becomes easier as compared with the case where a plurality of light emitting elements irradiate the object with irradiation light having different amounts of irradiation light.

[0027] According to the tenth aspect, in a configuration capable of emitting light in units of regions on the substrate on which the light emitting elements are arranged, the three-dimensional shape of the object is specified with higher accuracy as compared with the case where the amount of irradiation light on the object from each region is the same.

[0028] According to the 11th aspect, the object is irradiated with light having an irradiation light amount corresponding to the processing content on the specific part side.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0029]

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0030] (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the appearance of the back surface of the information processing apparatus 20. As an example, the information processing apparatus 20 is applied to a general-purpose computer device such as a server computer or a personal computer (= PC: Personal Computer), or a mobile terminal such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal. In the first embodiment, the information processing apparatus 20 is regarded as a "smartphone".

[0031] As shown in FIG. 1, the information processing apparatus 20 includes, as an example, a light emitting device 28 and a three-dimensional sensor (hereinafter referred to as "3D sensor 29") disposed at the upper part of the back surface. Details of each configuration will be described later.

[0032] As an example, the information processing apparatus 20 uses the light emitting device 28 and the 3D sensor 29 to identify the three-dimensional shape of an object, specifically, a human face. In the first embodiment, "human face" is exemplified as an example of the object for explanation.

[0033] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus 20. As shown in FIG. 2, the information processing apparatus 20 includes a CPU 21 (= Central Processing Unit), a ROM 22 (= Read Only Memory), a RAM 23 (= Random Access Memory), a storage unit 24, an input unit 25, a display unit 26, a communication unit 27, a light emitting device 28, and a 3D sensor 29. Each configuration is connected to be communicable with each other via a bus 30.

[0034] The CPU 21 is a central processing unit that executes various programs and controls each unit. That is, the CPU 21 reads a program from the ROM 22 or the storage unit 24 and executes the program using the RAM 23 as a work area. The CPU 21 performs control of the above-described respective configurations and various arithmetic processes according to the program stored in the ROM 22 or the storage unit 24. The CPU 21 is an example of a "specifying unit".

[0035] The ROM 22 stores various programs and various data. The RAM 23 temporarily stores a program or data as a work area.

[0036] The storage unit 24 is composed of a storage device such as an HDD, an SSD (= Solid State Drive), or a flash memory, and stores various programs and various data.

[0037] The input unit 25 includes, for example, various buttons, a microphone, a camera, etc., and is used to perform various inputs.

[0038] The display unit 26 is, for example, a liquid crystal display, and displays various information. The display unit 26 adopts a touch panel method and also functions as the input unit 25.

[0039] The communication unit 27 is an interface for communicating with other devices. For such communication, for example, a standard for wired communication such as Ethernet (registered trademark) or FDDI, or a standard for wireless communication such as 4G, 5G, or Wi-Fi (registered trademark) is used.

[0040] The light emitting device 28 is a part that irradiates irradiation light toward a person's face in order to acquire a three-dimensional image. The light emitting device 28 in the first embodiment is configured as a light emitting element array in which a plurality of light emitting elements are two-dimensionally arranged. The light emitting element is, for example, a vertical cavity surface emitting laser element VCSEL (=Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser). Hereinafter, the light emitting element will be described assuming that it is the above VCSEL. That is, the VCSEL is an example of the "light emitting element".

[0041] The 3D sensor 29 receives the reflected light that has been reflected by a person's face after the irradiation light irradiated from the light emitting device 28 returns. The 3D sensor 29 is an example of a "light receiving unit". For example, the 3D sensor 29 has a function of acquiring a three-dimensional image of a person's face based on the so-called TOF (=Time of Flight) method.

[0042] Here, the 3D sensor 29 includes a plurality of light receiving regions (pixels). The 3D sensor 29 receives the reflected light from a person's face with respect to the irradiation light from the light emitting device 28, and accumulates the charge corresponding to the time until reception for each light receiving region. Then, the 3D sensor 29 outputs a signal corresponding to the time from when the irradiation light is irradiated from the light emitting device 28 until the reflected light is received by the 3D sensor 29.

[0043] Then, the CPU 21 acquires the signal output by the 3D sensor 29, calculates the distance to the face of a person for each light-receiving area of the 3D sensor 29, and identifies the three-dimensional shape of the face of the person. Thereafter, as an example, when the three-dimensional shape of the face of the identified person matches the three-dimensional shape stored in advance in the storage unit 24, the CPU 21 permits the use of the information processing apparatus 20 including various applications and the like provided by the information processing apparatus 20.

[0044] FIG. 3 is a first plan view of the light-emitting device 28. As an example, FIG. 3 shows, as the configuration of the light-emitting device 28, a substrate 40 and a plurality of VCSELs two-dimensionally arranged on the substrate 40.

[0045] Further, as shown in FIG. 3, separation grooves 45 extending along the lateral direction (hereinafter referred to as the "X direction") and the longitudinal direction (hereinafter referred to as the "Y direction") with respect to the substrate 40 are formed in the substrate 40. The separation grooves 45 are formed, for example, by subjecting the substrate 40 to an etching process. Then, the light-emitting device 28 is separated into four regions in the X direction and three regions in the Y direction, and a total of twelve regions by the grooves formed on the substrate 40, that is, the separation grooves 45. Also, an insulating process is performed on the separation grooves 45. Thereby, in the light-emitting device 28, each region is physically separated by the separation grooves 45, and adjacent regions are insulated. Note that the X direction and the Y direction in the first embodiment are examples of the "arrangement direction".

[0046] Hereinafter, among the twelve regions of the light-emitting device 28, a region located at an end in the X direction or the Y direction is referred to as a "first region 50", and a region located other than the end in the X direction or the Y direction is referred to as a "second region 55". As shown in FIG. 3, the first region 50 is composed of ten regions from the first region 50A to the first region 50J, and the second region 55 is composed of two regions, the second region 55A and the second region 55B.

[0047] Also, as shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of VCSELs are arranged in each of the first region 50 and the second region 55. As an example, in FIG. 3, twelve VCSELs are arranged in each region.

[0048] Here, in the light-emitting device 28, the amount of irradiation light of the VCSELs arranged in each of the first region 50 and the second region 55 is controlled by the drive current flowing through each region. And, a drive circuit (hereinafter referred to as "driver") (not shown) for controlling the drive current flowing through each of the first region 50 and the second region 55 is connected to the light-emitting device 28. Then, in the light-emitting device 28, the VCSELs arranged in each region through which the drive current flows under the control of the driver irradiate the irradiation light onto a predetermined range of a human face.

[0049] FIG. 4 is a second plan view of the light-emitting device 28, and FIG. 5 is a third plan view of the light-emitting device 28. In FIGS. 4 and 5, each region irradiated with the irradiation light is shown by hatching with diagonal lines slanting downward to the left, and each region not irradiated with the irradiation light is shown by white space.

[0050] In the first embodiment, after the VCSELs arranged in the second region 55 irradiate the irradiation light toward the human face, the VCSELs arranged in the first region 50 irradiate the irradiation light toward the human face. Specifically, FIG. 4 shows that the irradiation light is irradiated in the second region 55A and the second region 55B, and FIG. 5 shows that the irradiation of the irradiation light from the second region 55A and the second region 55B stops, and the irradiation light is irradiated from the first region 50A to the first region 50J. With the above configuration, in the light-emitting device 28, the timing at which the VCSELs arranged in each of the first region 50 and the second region 55 irradiate the irradiation light toward the human face can be shifted forward and backward.

[0051] Here, when performing three-dimensional measurement of an object using a three-dimensional sensor such as the 3D sensor 29 of the information processing device 20, if the amount of irradiation light from a plurality of light-emitting elements provided in the light-emitting device is made the same, a light amount difference occurs in the amount of reflected light from the object received by the three-dimensional sensor between the inner side and the outer side in the crossing direction with respect to the irradiation direction, for example, the orthogonal direction orthogonal to the irradiation direction. Specifically, in this case, the amount of reflected light on the outer side in the orthogonal direction received by the three-dimensional sensor becomes smaller than the amount of reflected light on the inner side in the orthogonal direction, thereby having a problem that the accuracy of three-dimensional measurement of the object is lowered.

[0052] Based on the above points, it is considered that by providing a light quantity difference in which the light quantity of the outer side is larger between the inner side and the outer side in the orthogonal direction orthogonal to the irradiation direction with respect to the irradiation light irradiated to the object, the accuracy of the three-dimensional measurement of the object is improved.

[0053] Therefore, in the first embodiment, the irradiation light quantity of the VCSEL arranged in the first region 50 is made larger than the irradiation light quantity of the VCSEL arranged in the second region 55. As an example, in the first embodiment, the driver controls the irradiation light quantity of the VCSEL arranged in each region by changing the current value of the drive current flowing through each of the first region 50 and the second region 55. Thereby, in the first embodiment, it is possible to provide a light quantity difference in which the light quantity of the outer side is larger between the inner side and the outer side in the orthogonal direction orthogonal to the irradiation direction with respect to the irradiation light from the light emitting device 28.

[0054] With the above configuration, according to the first embodiment, in a configuration capable of emitting light in units of regions on the substrate on which the light emitting elements are arranged, compared with the case where the irradiation light quantities for the object from each region are the same, the variation in the amount of reflected light from the face of a person, which is the object received by the 3D sensor 29, is suppressed. And according to the first embodiment, by suppressing the variation in the amount of reflected light, the three-dimensional shape of the face of a person, which is the object, is accurately specified.

[0055] Next, with reference to the graphs shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the relationship between the irradiation light from the light emitting device 28 and the reflected light received by the 3D sensor 29 will be described.

[0056] FIG. 6 is a first graph showing the observation results of the luminance distribution of the FFP (= far field pattern). Specifically, FIG. 6(A) shows the above observation results for the irradiation light from the VCSEL arranged in the second region 55 described with reference to FIG. 4, and FIG. 6(B) shows the above observation results for the irradiation light from the VCSEL arranged in the first region 50 described with reference to FIG. 5. Also, the vertical axis of the graph shown in FIG. 6 indicates "light intensity", and the horizontal axis indicates "emission angle".

[0057] As shown in FIGS. 6(A) and 6(B), the peak light intensity P1 of the irradiation light from the VCSEL arranged in the second region 55 indicated by the broken line is weaker than the peak light intensity P2 of the irradiation light from the VCSEL arranged in the first region 50 indicated by the broken line.

[0058] FIG. 7 is a second graph showing the observation result of the luminance distribution of the FFP. Specifically, FIG. 7 shows the result of synthesizing the graphs shown in FIGS. 6(A) and 6(B).

[0059] As shown in FIG. 7, the solid line L1 connecting the peak light intensity P1 and the peak light intensity P2 is a curve in which the central portion is bent and is at a lower position than the both end portions.

[0060] FIG. 8 is a third graph showing the observation result of the luminance distribution of the FFP. Specifically, FIG. 8 shows the above observation result for the reflected light that the irradiation light emitted from the light emitting device 28 is reflected by a human face and then returns.

[0061] As shown in FIG. 8, the solid line L2 indicating the peak light intensity of the reflected light is different from the solid line L1 connecting the peak light intensity P1 and the peak light intensity P2 of the irradiation light shown in FIG. 7 and having a bent central portion, and is a straight line extending parallel to the horizontal axis of the graph. Thus, the peak light intensity of the reflected light is constant because the irradiation light in the outer portion in the direction orthogonal to the irradiation direction among the irradiation light from the light emitting device 28, specifically, the irradiation light from the VCSEL arranged in the first region 50 spreads and the light intensity weakens.

[0062] (Second Embodiment) Next, the second embodiment will be described while omitting or simplifying the overlapping portions with other embodiments.

[0063] In the second embodiment, the amount of light emitted by the VCSELs arranged in each region of the first region 50 is provided in multiple stages. Here, in the second embodiment, as the amount of light emitted by the VCSELs, three stages are provided: a first stage, a second stage with a smaller amount of light emitted than the first stage, and a third stage with a smaller amount of light emitted than the second stage.

[0064] Also, in the second embodiment, the amount of light emitted by the VCSELs arranged in the first regions 50A, 50D, 50G, 50J located at the corners of the first region 50 is greater than the amount of light emitted by the VCSELs arranged in the first regions 50B, 50C, 50E, 50F, 50H, 50I located outside the corners (see FIGS. 3, 4, and 5). Specifically, the amount of light emitted by the VCSELs arranged in the first regions 50A, 50D, 50G, 50J is set to the first stage, and the amount of light emitted by the VCSELs arranged in the first regions 50B, 50C, 50E, 50F, 50H, 50I is set to the second stage. And the amount of light emitted by the VCSELs arranged in each region of the second region 55 is set to the third stage.

[0065] Although illustration is omitted, as an example, in the light-emitting device 28 in the second embodiment, after the VCSEL set to the third stage emits irradiation light, the VCSEL set to the second stage emits irradiation light, and finally, the VCSEL set to the first stage emits irradiation light.

[0066] With the above configuration, according to the second embodiment, compared with the case where the amount of light emitted by the VCSELs arranged in each region of the first region 50 is the same, the variation in the amount of reflected light from the face of a person, which is the object received by the 3D sensor 29, is suppressed. Also, according to the second embodiment, when each region is two-dimensionally arranged, compared with the case where the amount of light emitted by the VCSELs arranged in each region located at the corners of the first region 50 is smaller than the amount of light emitted by the VCSELs arranged in each region located outside the corners, the variation in the amount of reflected light from the face of a person, which is the object received by the 3D sensor 29, is suppressed.

[0067] (Third Embodiment) Next, the third embodiment will be described while omitting or simplifying the overlapping parts with other embodiments.

[0068] FIG. 9 is a fourth plan view of the light-emitting device 28. In FIG. 9, as in FIGS. 4 and 5, each region irradiated with irradiation light is indicated by hatching with diagonal lines slanting downward to the left.

[0069] In the third embodiment, both the VCSELs arranged in the first region 50 and the VCSELs arranged in the second region 55 irradiate the irradiation light toward a human face at the same timing.

[0070] Here, as an example, in the third embodiment, a plurality of drivers (not shown) are connected to the light-emitting device 28. And in the light-emitting device 28 in the third embodiment, even when all the VCSELs arranged in the first region 50 and the second region 55 irradiate the irradiation light at the same timing, the current value of the drive current flowing through each of these regions can be changed. Thereby, according to the third embodiment, while providing a difference in the amount of irradiation light of the VCSELs arranged in each of the first region 50 and the second region 55, all the VCSELs arranged in each of these regions can irradiate the irradiation light toward a human face at the same timing.

[0071] Note that the method of providing a difference in the amount of irradiation light of the VCSELs arranged in each of the first region 50 and the second region 55 when all the VCSELs arranged in each of these regions irradiate the irradiation light at the same timing is not limited to connecting a plurality of drivers to the light-emitting device 28 as described above. As another example of realizing the above method, when a thyristor is provided in the light-emitting device 28, one driver connected to the light-emitting device 28 may drive a plurality of regions.

[0072] (Fourth Embodiment) Next, the fourth embodiment will be described while omitting or simplifying the overlapping parts with other embodiments.

[0073] FIG. 10 is a fifth plan view of the light-emitting device 28. As shown in FIG. 10, the light-emitting device 28 in the fourth embodiment is provided with a plurality of regions separated so as to be arranged one-dimensionally in the X direction by a separation groove 45 formed on a substrate 40. Specifically, the plurality of regions are separated into four regions: a first region 50K, a second region 55C, a second region 55D, and a first region 50L in order from the left. Note that the X direction in the fourth embodiment is an example of the “arrangement direction”. In addition, when arranging the regions one-dimensionally, the arrangement is not limited to the X direction, and the regions may be arranged in the Y direction. In this case, the Y direction is an example of the “arrangement direction”.

[0074] Here, in the fourth embodiment, the area of each of the plurality of regions is different according to the amount of irradiation light of the VCSELs arranged in each region. That is, in the fourth embodiment, an area difference is provided in each region.

[0075] As an example, in the fourth embodiment, the area of each region of the first region 50 is smaller than the area of each region of the second region 55. Further, in the fourth embodiment, the amount of drive current flowing through each region of the first region 50 and the second region 55 is the same. In other words, in the fourth embodiment, as a result of adjusting the area of each region so that the current value of the drive current flowing through each region by the driver is the same, the area of each region of the first region 50 is smaller than the area of each region of the second region 55.

[0076] According to the fourth embodiment with the above configuration, the current supply to each region is stably performed as compared with the case where the amount of current flowing through each region of the first region 50 and the second region 55 is different.

[0077] (Others) In the information processing apparatus 20 in the above embodiment, the amount of irradiation light of the VCSELs arranged in the first region 50 is made larger than the amount of irradiation light of the VCSELs arranged in the second region 55. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Depending on the processing content for the CPU 21 to identify the three-dimensional shape of the object, the magnitude relationship between the amount of irradiation light of the VCSELs arranged in the first region 50 and the amount of irradiation light of the VCSELs arranged in the second region 55 may be changed. As a result, the object is irradiated with irradiation light at an amount of irradiation light corresponding to the processing content on the CPU 21 side. As an example, when the CPU 21 treats the images acquired in all the light-receiving regions provided in the 3D sensor 29 as one image, the amount of irradiation light of the VCSELs arranged in the first region 50 may be made larger than the amount of irradiation light of the VCSELs arranged in the second region 55 as in the above embodiment. On the other hand, when the CPU 21 treats each image acquired in each light-receiving region provided in the 3D sensor 29 as one image, no light amount difference is provided. As an example, the amount of irradiation light of all the VCSELs arranged in the first region 50 and the second region 55 may be set in the first stage.

[0078] In the above embodiment, each of the plurality of VCSELs arranged in each of the first region 50 and the second region 55 may irradiate irradiation light toward a human face with the same amount of irradiation light within each of the regions. That is, each of the individual VCSELs arranged in the first region 50 may irradiate irradiation light toward a human face with the same amount of irradiation light, and each of the individual VCSELs arranged in the second region 55 may irradiate irradiation light toward a human face with the same amount of irradiation light. As a result, in the light-emitting device 28, compared with the case where the plurality of VCSELs irradiate irradiation light toward a human face with different amounts of irradiation light within each region, the irradiation control for each of the regions becomes easier.

[0079] In the above embodiment, an example of the object is a "human face". However, the present invention is not limited to this. An example of the object may be another part of a human such as a "hand" and a "foot", or an object such as a "car" and a "desk" other than a human.

[0080] In the above-described embodiment, an example of the light-emitting element is "VCSEL", but it is not limited thereto. An example of the light-emitting element may be an LED (= Light Emitting Diode), an edge-emitting semiconductor laser, or the like.

[0081] The number of a plurality of separated regions on the substrate 40 shown in the above-described embodiment, and the number of VCSELs arranged in each of the plurality of regions are merely examples, and may be more or less than this.

[0082] In the above-described embodiment, after the VCSEL arranged in the second region 55 irradiates the irradiation light toward a person's face, the VCSEL arranged in the first region 50 irradiates the irradiation light toward the person's face. However, the irradiation order is not limited thereto, and after the VCSEL arranged in the first region 50 irradiates the irradiation light toward the person's face, the VCSEL arranged in the second region 55 may irradiate the irradiation light toward the person's face.

[0083] In the above-described embodiment, a method of controlling the amount of irradiation light of the VCSELs arranged in the respective regions by changing the current value of the drive current flowing through the driver to the first region 50 and the second region 55 has been described. However, the method of controlling the amount of irradiation light of the VCSELs arranged in the respective regions is not limited thereto, and other methods may also be used.

[0084] As an example, when the driver sets the current values of the drive currents flowing through the first region 50 and the second region 55 to be the same, the number of VCSELs arranged in each region may be made different to create a difference in the amount of irradiated light such that the amount of irradiated light of the VCSELs arranged in the first region 50 is greater than the amount of irradiated light of the VCSELs arranged in the second region 55. In this case, as shown in FIG. 11, the number of VCSELs arranged in the first region 50 (e.g., 6) may be made less than the number of VCSELs arranged in the second region 55 (e.g., 12). However, it is not limited to this, and by appropriately using the configurations described in each of the above embodiments and (others), when the number of VCSELs arranged in the first region 50 is made greater than the number of VCSELs arranged in the second region 55, a difference in the amount of irradiated light may be created such that the amount of irradiated light of the VCSELs arranged in the first region 50 is greater than the amount of irradiated light of the VCSELs arranged in the second region 55.

[0085] Also, when the driver sets the current values of the drive currents flowing through the first region 50 and the second region 55 to be the same, the density of the light emitting points in each region, that is, the interval between the VCSELs may be changed to create a difference in the amount of irradiated light such that the amount of irradiated light of the VCSELs arranged in the first region 50 is greater than the amount of irradiated light of the VCSELs arranged in the second region 55. In this case, as shown in FIG. 12, the interval D1 between adjacent VCSELs arranged in the first region 50 may be made narrower than the interval D2 between adjacent VCSELs arranged in the second region 55. However, it is not limited to this, and by appropriately using the configurations described in each of the above embodiments and (others), when the interval D1 between adjacent VCSELs arranged in the first region 50 is made wider than the interval D2 between adjacent VCSELs arranged in the second region 55, a difference in the amount of irradiated light may be created such that the amount of irradiated light of the VCSELs arranged in the first region 50 is greater than the amount of irradiated light of the VCSELs arranged in the second region 55.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0086] 20 Information processing apparatus 21 CPU (an example of a specific part) 28 Light emitting device 29 3D sensor (an example of a light receiving part) 40 Substrate 45 Separation groove (an example of a groove formed on a substrate) 50 First region 55 Second region

Claims

1. A substrate, At least one light-emitting element disposed in each of a plurality of regions separated so as to be arranged one-dimensionally or two-dimensionally on the substrate, and irradiating the object with irradiation light, comprising, Among the plurality of regions, the amount of irradiation light of the light-emitting element disposed in the first region, which is the region located at the end in the arrangement direction, is larger than the amount of irradiation light of the light-emitting element disposed in the second region, which is the region located other than the end in the arrangement direction, The light-emitting element is, When one of the light-emitting elements disposed in the first region or the light-emitting elements disposed in the second region irradiates the object with irradiation light, and the other of the light-emitting elements disposed in the first region or the light-emitting elements disposed in the second region stops irradiating the object with irradiation light, The light-emitting element disposed in the first region or the light-emitting element disposed in the second region stops irradiating the object with irradiation light, and the other irradiates the object with irradiation light, A light-emitting device.

2. Each of the regions is separated by a groove formed on the substrate, The light-emitting device according to claim 1.

3. The magnitude of the amount of irradiation light of the light-emitting element disposed in each region of the first region is provided in a plurality of stages, The light-emitting device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. When each of the regions is separated so as to be arranged two-dimensionally on the substrate, the amount of irradiation light of the light-emitting element disposed in each region located at a corner of the first region is larger than the amount of irradiation light of the light-emitting element disposed in each region located other than the corner of the first region, The light-emitting device according to claim 3.

5. The area of each region varies according to the magnitude of the amount of irradiation light of the light-emitting element disposed in each region, The light-emitting device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The area of each region in the first region is smaller than the area of each region in the second region, and the amount of current flowing through each region in the first region and the second region is the same. The light-emitting device according to claim 5.

7. Both the light-emitting elements arranged in the first region and the light-emitting elements arranged in the second region of the light-emitting element irradiate the object with irradiation light at the same timing. The light-emitting device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. A plurality of the light-emitting elements are arranged in each region, and in each region, each of the plurality of light-emitting elements irradiates the object with irradiation light having the same irradiation light amount. The light-emitting device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. The light-emitting device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, a light-receiving unit that receives reflected light irradiated from the light-emitting element included in the light-emitting device and reflected by the object, and a specifying unit that specifies the three-dimensional shape of the object using the reflected light received by the light-receiving unit. An information processing apparatus comprising:

10. The light-emitting device changes the magnitude of the irradiation light amount of the light-emitting elements arranged in the first region and the irradiation light amount of the light-emitting elements arranged in the second region according to the processing content for the specifying unit to specify the three-dimensional shape of the object. The information processing apparatus according to claim 9.

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