Folded Laser Emitters for Compact Depth Camera Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional depth camera systems in virtual and augmented reality face challenges in achieving robust depth information capture across varied environments due to limitations in size, weight, and the need for a single type of depth camera architecture, which restricts flexibility and performance.
Innovation Solution
A depth camera assembly with an illumination source and imaging device, featuring multiple emitters and fold elements on a single substrate, allowing for flexible optical path configurations and enhanced packaging options, enabling robust depth information capture using techniques like stereo vision, structured light, and time-of-flight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional depth camera imaging architectures are used, then the system can capture depth information, but the size and weight of the system increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple depth camera imaging architectures (stereo vision, time-of-flight, and structured light) into a single integrated system. Multiple emitters and imaging devices are mounted on a common substrate, allowing the system to capture depth information through multiple techniques simultaneously while reducing overall system size and weight compared to separate systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated depth camera system performs multiple functions using a single architecture. The system can switch between or combine stereo vision, time-of-flight, and structured light techniques to capture depth information, making it versatile for various operating conditions while maintaining compact dimensions.
2Device complexity
If a single type of depth camera imaging architecture is used, then the system design is simplified, but the flexibility and robustness of depth information capture across varied environments is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates multiple depth camera imaging architectures (stereo vision, time-of-flight, structured light) within a single integrated platform, enabling it to adapt to different environmental conditions. The controller can select or combine techniques based on ambient illumination and other operating conditions, providing robust depth information capture across varied environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adapts its operation by allowing the controller to switch between or combine different depth camera techniques based on real-time environmental conditions such as ambient illumination levels. This dynamic adaptability ensures optimal performance across diverse operating conditions while maintaining a unified system architecture.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple depth camera imaging architectures are integrated, then the flexibility and robustness of depth information capture is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple depth camera imaging architectures (stereo vision, time-of-flight, structured light) onto a common substrate with shared components. This merging approach provides operational flexibility and robustness across different environments while managing system complexity through unified mounting and coordinated control rather than completely separate systems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution provides a compact and flexible depth camera system capable of capturing robust depth information in varied environments, improving the performance and versatility of virtual and augmented reality systems while maintaining size and weight constraints.
Implementation Method 1
Each emitter emits a respective beam of light
Implementation Method 2
one or more folding elements folding at least an optical path of the projected light from each emitter
Data Source
AI summary
A depth camera assembly includes an illumination source, and an imaging device. The illumination source includes one or more emitters on a single substrate, and one or more folding elements folding at least an optical path of the projected light from each emitter. Each emitter emits a respective beam of light. The imaging device captures images of the local area illuminated with the light from the illumination source. In some configurations, the depth camera assembly includes a controller that provides images to a console that determines a depth information based in part on images of the local area illuminated with the light from the illumination source, and generates a virtual object based in part on the depth information.