US6856407B2
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US
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Method for depth detection in 3D imaging providing a depth measurement for each unitary group of pixels
Assignee: NextPat Ltd
•
Filing: 2001-04-19
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Granted: 2005-02-15
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Expires: 2021-04-19
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for obtaining up to one depth measurement for each pixel. A image sensing array (ISA) captures a measurement of intensity on a surface. The intensity maps to depth. Accordingly, from a single pixel, or a group of pixels without regard to the intensity distribution among the pixels in the group, a depth measurement can be obtained independently of any and/or all data captured by other pixels in the array.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark S. Knighton
- 👤 David S. Agabra
- 👤 William D. McKinley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 23:05
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B11/00; G01B11/24; G01B11/25; G01B11/2518; G06; G06T; G06T7/00; G06T7/50; G06T7/521
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
A method comprising: capturing an intensity at a location on a surface in a single pixel of an image sensing array (ISA); converting the intensity into a measurement of distance to the location relative to a reference point independently of data from other pixels of the ISA and independent of time of flight of light reflected from the location to the single pixel; and comparing a plurality of captures of the intensity at the location under different conditions to compensate for non-homogeneous environments or surfaces.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
85 words
A method comprising: capturing an intensity at a location on a surface in a single pixel of an image sensing array (ISA); converting the intensity into a measurement of distance to the location relative to a reference point independently of data from other pixels of the ISA and independent of time of flight of light reflected from the location to the single pixel; and comparing a plurality of captures of the intensity at the location under different conditions to compensate for non-homogeneous environments or surfaces.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the ISA is a linear image sensor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the linear image sensor is one of a linear charge coupled device (CCD) and a photo diode array.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
87 words
A method comprising: capturing an intensity at a location on a surface in a single pixel of an image sensing array (ISA); converting the intensity into a measurement of distance to the location relative to a reference point independently of data from other pixels of the ISA and independent of time of flight of light reflected from the location to the single pixel; and comparing a plurality of captures of the intensity at the location at different points in time to compensate for non-homogeneous environments or surfaces.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
87 words
A method comprising: capturing an intensity at a location on a surface in a single pixel of an image sensing array (ISA); converting the intensity into a measurement of distance to the location relative to a reference point independently of data from other pixels of the ISA and independent of time of flight of light reflected from the location to the single pixel; and comparing a plurality of captures of the intensity at the location at different points in time to compensate for non-homogeneous environments or surfaces.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
94 words
A method comprising: capturing an intensity at a location on a surface in an elementary group of pixels on an image sensing array (ISA) without regard to intensity distribution within the group; converting the intensity into a measurement of distance to the location independently of data from other pixels on the ISA and independently of time of flight of light reflected from the location to the elementary group of pixels; and comparing a plurality of captures of the intensity at the location at different points in time to compensate for non-homogeneous environments or surfaces.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
94 words
A method comprising: capturing an intensity at a location on a surface in an elementary group of pixels on an image sensing array (ISA) without regard to intensity distribution within the group; converting the intensity into a measurement of distance to the location independently of data from other pixels on the ISA and independently of time of flight of light reflected from the location to the elementary group of pixels; and comparing a plurality of captures of the intensity at the location at different points in time to compensate for non-homogeneous environments or surfaces.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the ISA is a linear image sensor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the linear image sensor is one of a linear charge coupled device (CCD) and a photo diode array.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
92 words
A method comprising: capturing an intensity at a location on a surface in an elementary group of pixels on an image sensing array (ISA) without regard to intensity distribution within the group; converting the intensity into a measurement of distance to the location independently of data from other pixels on the ISA and independently of time of flight of light reflected from the location to the elementary group of pixels; and comparing a plurality of captures of the intensity at the location under different conditions to compensate for non-homogeneous environments of surfaces.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
92 words
A method comprising: capturing an intensity at a location on a surface in an elementary group of pixels on an image sensing array (ISA) without regard to intensity distribution within the group; converting the intensity into a measurement of distance to the location independently of data from other pixels on the ISA and independently of time of flight of light reflected from the location to the elementary group of pixels; and comparing a plurality of captures of the intensity at the location under different conditions to compensate for non-homogeneous environments of surfaces.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
90 words
A method comprising: capturing a spectral energy distribution returned from a location on a surface in a single pixel of an ISA; converting the spectral energy distribution into a measurement of distance the location relative to a reference point independently of data from other pixels of the ISA and independent of time of flight of light reflected from the location to the single pixel; and comparing a plurality of captures of the spectral energy distribution at the location at different points in time to compensate for non-homogeneous environments or surfaces.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
90 words
A method comprising: capturing a spectral energy distribution returned from a location on a surface in a single pixel of an ISA; converting the spectral energy distribution into a measurement of distance the location relative to a reference point independently of data from other pixels of the ISA and independent of time of flight of light reflected from the location to the single pixel; and comparing a plurality of captures of the spectral energy distribution at the location at different points in time to compensate for non-homogeneous environments or surfaces.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
115 words
A method comprising: altering one of a spatial and optical relationship between an image sensing array (ISA) and a surface; observing a variation of an electrical signal at a single pixel on the ISA responsive to the alteration; converting the variation to a measure of distance to a location on the surface relative to a reference point, independently of data from other pixels of the ISA and independent of time of flight of light reflected from the location to the single pixel; and comparing a plurality of captures of the electrical signal at the single pixel corresponding to the location on the surface at different points in time to compensate for non-homogeneous environments or surfaces.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
115 words
A method comprising: altering one of a spatial and optical relationship between an image sensing array (ISA) and a surface; observing a variation of an electrical signal at a single pixel on the ISA responsive to the alteration; converting the variation to a measure of distance to a location on the surface relative to a reference point, independently of data from other pixels of the ISA and independent of time of flight of light reflected from the location to the single pixel; and comparing a plurality of captures of the electrical signal at the single pixel corresponding to the location on the surface at different points in time to compensate for non-homogeneous environments or surfaces.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
129 words
A method comprising: altering one of a spatial and optical relationship between an image sensing array (ISA) and a surface; observing a variation of an electrical signal at an elementary group of pixels on the ISA without regard to variations in electrical signals within the group responsive to the alteration; converting the variation to a measure of distance to a location on the surface relative to a reference point, independently of data from other pixels of the ISA and independent of time of flight of light reflected from the location to the elementary group of pixels; and comparing a plurality of captures of the electrical signal at the elementary group of pixels corresponding to the location on the surface under different conditions to compensate for non-homogeneous environments or surfaces.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
129 words
A method comprising: altering one of a spatial and optical relationship between an image sensing array (ISA) and a surface; observing a variation of an electrical signal at an elementary group of pixels on the ISA without regard to variations in electrical signals within the group responsive to the alteration; converting the variation to a measure of distance to a location on the surface relative to a reference point, independently of data from other pixels of the ISA and independent of time of flight of light reflected from the location to the elementary group of pixels; and comparing a plurality of captures of the electrical signal at the elementary group of pixels corresponding to the location on the surface under different conditions to compensate for non-homogeneous environments or surfaces.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
71 words
A method comprising: capturing an intensity at a location on a surface in a single pixel of a linear image sensing array (ISA); converting the intensity into a measurement of distance to the location relative to a reference point independently of data from other pixels of the linear ISA; and comparing a plurality of captures of the intensity at the location under different conditions to compensate for non-homogeneous environments or surfaces.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
71 words
A method comprising: capturing an intensity at a location on a surface in a single pixel of a linear image sensing array (ISA); converting the intensity into a measurement of distance to the location relative to a reference point independently of data from other pixels of the linear ISA; and comparing a plurality of captures of the intensity at the location under different conditions to compensate for non-homogeneous environments or surfaces.
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