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United States Patent
Methods and systems for laser based real-time structured light depth extraction

Patent Number: 7,385,708
Date of Patent: 10 June 2008
Inventors: Ackerman; Jeremy D. (Chapel Hill, NC), Keller; Kurtis P. (Hillsborough, NC)
Appl. No.: 10/515,305
Filed: 9 June 2003
U.S. Cl.: 356/603
64 Claims

Abstract
Laser-based methods and systems for real-time structured light depth extraction are disclosed. A laser light source (100) produces a collimated beam of laser light. A pattern generator (102) generates structured light patterns including a plurality of pixels. The beam of laser light emanating from the laser light source (100) interacts with the patterns to project the patterns onto the object of interest (118). The patterns are reflected from the object of interest (118) and detected using a high-speed, low-resolution detector (106). A broadband light source (111) illuminates the object with broadband/light, and a separate high-resolution, low-speed detector (108) detects broadband light reflected from the object (118). A real-time structured light depth extraction engine/controller (110) based on the transmitted and reflected patterns and the reflected broadband light.