Microsoft Patent | Optical Projector Having Switchable Light Emission Patterns

Patent: Optical Projector Having Switchable Light Emission Patterns

Publication Number: 20190018137

Publication Date: 2019-01-17

Applicants: Microsoft

Abstract

An optical projector comprises a collimated light source, a pattern generating optical element, and a variable optical element positioned optically between the collimated light source and the pattern generating optical element. The variable optical element is configured to adjust a divergence of a light beam incident on the pattern generating optical element. The pattern generating optical element is configured to emit patterned light when the variable optical element is in a first state, and to emit non-patterned light when the variable optical element is in a second state.

Background

A time-of-flight (TOF) depth camera projects light pulses into an environment, and captures light reflected off objects within the environment to determine a distance between the depth camera and the objects. TOF depth cameras may emit patterned or non-patterned light for the purposes of depth imaging.

Summary

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in any part of this disclosure.

One disclosed example provides an optical projector comprising a collimated light source, a pattern generating optical element, and a variable optical element positioned optically between the collimated light source and the pattern generating optical element. The variable optical element is configured to adjust a divergence of a light beam incident on the pattern generating optical element. The pattern generating optical element is configured to emit patterned light when the variable optical element is in a first state, and to emit non-patterned light when the variable optical element is in a second state.