Multiple optical path imaging techniques and shared emitter for active depth sensing techniques

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11277551-B2
Application number	US-202016891146-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 3, 2020
Priority date	Apr 3, 2020
Publication date	Mar 15, 2022
Grant date	Mar 15, 2022

Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure relate to an emitter for active depth sensing shared by multiple apertures. An example method for active depth sensing by a device including a first aperture, a second aperture, a first emitter, and an optical element includes identifying whether the optical element is to be in a first optical element (OE) mode or a second OE mode, and controlling the optical element based on the identified OE mode. The optical element directs light from the first emitter towards the first aperture in the first OE mode. Light is directed from the first emitter towards the second aperture in the second OE mode.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device for active depth sensing, comprising:
a first aperture configured to receive light propagated along a first optical path;
a second aperture configured to receive light propagated along a second optical path;
a first emitter configured to emit a first light; and
an optical element configured to direct the first light from the first emitter towards the first optical path in a first optical element (OE) mode, wherein the first light from the first emitter is directed towards the second optical path in a second OE mode.

2. The device of claim 1 , further comprising an actuator configured to move the optical element between a first position associated with the first OE mode and a second position associated with the second OE mode.

3. The device of claim 1 , further comprising an actuator configured to rotate the optical element between a first orientation associated with the first OE mode and a second orientation associated with the second OE mode.

4. The device of claim 3 , wherein a transparency and a reflectiveness of the optical element are based on an orientation of the optical element with reference to the first optical path.

5. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a second emitter configured to emit a second light, wherein:
the optical element is further configured to direct the second light from the second emitter towards the second optical path when the optical element is in the first OE mode; and
the second light from the second emitter is directed towards the first optical path in the second OE mode.

6. The device of claim 1 , further comprising one or more receivers configured to receive a reflection of the first light for active depth sensing.

7. The device of claim 1 , further comprising an image sensor configured to capture one or more images, wherein:
the optical element is configured to direct a light received by the second aperture toward the image sensor in the first OE mode; and
a light received by the first aperture is directed toward the image sensor in the second OE mode.

8. The device of claim 7 , further comprising:
a signal processor configured to process the one or more images captured by the image sensor from light received from the first aperture or the second aperture.

9. The device of claim 8 , further comprising:
an application processor configured to provide instructions to the signal processor; and
a memory configured to store the processed images.

10. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a controller to control the optical element.

11. The device of claim 10 , wherein the controller controls the optical element based on an orientation of the device.

12. A method for active depth sensing by a device including a first aperture, a second aperture, a first emitter, and an optical element, comprising:
identifying whether the optical element is to be in a first optical element (OE) mode or a second OE mode; and
controlling the optical element based on the identified OE mode, wherein:
the optical element directs light from the first emitter towards the first aperture in the first OE mode; and
light from the first emitter is directed towards the second aperture in the second OE mode.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein controlling the optical element includes adjusting the optical element.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein adjusting the optical element includes one or more of:
rotating the optical element; or
translationally moving the optical element.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein identifying whether the optical element is to be in the first OE mode or the second OE mode is based on a device mode of the device, wherein:
the device includes a second emitter or an image sensor;
a first device mode is associated with the first emitter; and
a second device mode is associated with the second emitter or the image sensor.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein identifying whether the optical element is to be in the first OE mode or the second OE mode is based on a user input.

17. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
emitting light by the first emitter;
directing, by the optical element, the light from the first emitter towards the first aperture in the first OE mode; and
directing the light from the first emitter towards the second aperture in the second OE mode.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
emitting light by a second emitter when the device is in a second device mode, wherein the first emitter emits light when the device is in a first device mode;
directing, by the optical element, the light from the second emitter towards the second aperture in the first OE mode; and
directing the light from the second emitter towards the first aperture in the second OE mode.

19. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
capturing images by an image sensor when the device is in a second device mode, wherein the first emitter emits light when the device is in a first device mode;
directing, by the optical element, light from the second aperture towards the image sensor in the first OE mode; and
directing light from the first aperture towards the image sensor in the second OE mode.

20. The method of claim 12 , wherein identifying whether the optical element is to be in the first OE mode or the second OE mode is based on an orientation of the device.

21. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a device for active depth sensing including a first aperture, a second aperture, a first emitter, and an optical element, cause the device to:
identify whether the optical element is to be in a first optical element (OE) mode or a second OE mode; and
control the optical element based on the identified OE mode, wherein:
the optical element directs light from the first emitter towards the first aperture in the first OE mode; and
light from the first emitter is directed towards the second aperture in the second OE mode.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 21 , wherein execution of the instructions to control the optical element causes the device to adjust the optical element.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 22 , wherein adjusting the optical element includes one or more of:
rotating the optical element; or
translationally moving the optical element.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 21 , wherein identifying whether the optical element is to be in the first OE mode or the second OE mode is based on a device mode of the device, wherein:
the device includes a second emitter or an image sensor;
a first device mode is associated with the first emitter; and
a second device mode is associated with the second emitter or the image sensor.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 21 , wherein identifying whether the optical element is to be in the first OE mode or the second OE mode is based on a user input.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 21 , wherein execution of the instructions further causes the device to:
emit light by the first emitter;
direct, by the optical element, the light from the first emitter towards the first aperture in the first OE mode; and
direct the light from the first emitter towards the second aperture in the second OE mode.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 26 , wherein execution of the instructions further c

Assignees

• Qualcomm Inc

Inventors

• Kramer Michael
• Oguz Seyfullah Halit

Classifications

• G02B26/0816 Primary

  by means of one or more reflecting elements · CPC title

• H04N23/55 Primary

  Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof · CPC title

• H04N23/58

  Means for changing the camera field of view without moving the camera body, e.g. nutating or panning of optics or image sensors · CPC title

• H04N23/57

  Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices · CPC title

• H04N23/56

  provided with illuminating means · CPC title