IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,604,345
Granted Patent B2
US 11,604,345 · App. 16/708,641 · Granted Mar 14, 2023

Apparatuses and methods for backscattering elimination via spatial and temporal modulations

Inventors: Lin Pang (San Diego, CA); Tomofumi Yamamuro (San Diego, CA)
Assignees: STANLEY ELECTRIC CO., LTD.; LINOPTX, LLC
G02B26/0833B60Q1/1407B60Q1/1423B60Q1/20F21S41/125F21S41/16F21S41/60F21V9/08F21V9/14F21V9/30F21V14/003G01N21/4795G01S7/497G01S17/04G01S17/10G01S17/89G01S17/931G02F1/0105G03B21/008H04N5/2256H04N5/272F21W2102/20F21Y2115/10F21Y2115/30G01J2003/285
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,604,345
App. No.
16/708,641
Granted
Mar 14, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

An image capture apparatus includes a light source, a modulator configured to modulate light irradiated from the light source to a target object, an imaging device configured to generate image data by capturing one or more images of the target object, and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to drive the modulator by a first modulation signal, the first modulation signal being for irradiating a first pattern, drive the modulator by a second modulation signal, the second signal being for irradiating a second pattern, wherein the first pattern and the second pattern are irradiated alternately, modulate reflected light from the target object, the reflected light from the target object being detected at a lock-in detector, and generate an image composed of image data from the reflected light of the plurality of localized illuminations.

Claims (51)

1. An image capture apparatus, comprising:

a light source;

a spatial light modulator including a plurality of micromirrors arranged in a matrix, the spatial light modulator modulating light irradiated from the light source to a target object;

an imaging device configured to generate image data by capturing one or more images of the target object; and

processing circuitry configured to

drive the spatial light modulator by a first modulation signal, the first modulation signal being for irradiating a first pattern, wherein the first pattern corresponds to generating a plurality of localized illuminations on the target object,

drive the spatial light modulator by a second modulation signal, the second signal being for irradiating a second pattern, wherein the first pattern and the second pattern are irradiated alternately and the second pattern is different from the first pattern,

modulate reflected light from the target object, the reflected light from the target object being detected at a detector, and

generate an image composed of image data from the reflected light of the plurality of localized illuminations,

wherein the detector is a lock-in detector including a lock-in amplifier included in the lock-in detector, wherein the lock-in amplifier is configured to

receive an input of a sensing signal from the lock-in detector,

modulate reflected light of the target object based on the first modulation signal, and

output the plurality of localized illuminations for generating the image of the target object.

2. The image capture apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second pattern does not generate localized illuminations on the target object.

3. The image capture apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the second pattern is a random speckle pattern.

4. The image capture apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a first intensity of the first pattern generating the plurality of localized illuminations is the same as a second intensity of the second pattern.

5. The image capture apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a first intensity of the first pattern generating the plurality of localized illuminations is different than a second intensity of the second pattern, wherein the second intensity of the second pattern is random.

6. The image capture apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first pattern and the second pattern are applied in a temporal sequence incident pattern.

7. The image capture apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to

eliminate backscattered light based on the first pattern and second pattern being irradiated alternately.

8. A method, comprising:

driving, by processing circuitry, a modulator by a first modulation signal, the first modulation signal being for irradiating a first pattern, wherein the first pattern corresponds to generating a plurality of localized illuminations on the target object;

driving, by the processing circuitry, the modulator by a second modulation signal, the second signal being for irradiating a second pattern, wherein the first pattern and the second pattern are irradiated alternately and the second pattern is different from the first pattern;

modulating, by the processing circuitry, reflected light from a target object, the reflected light from the target object being detected at a detector;

receiving an input of a sensing signal from the detector, wherein the detector is a lock-in detector;

modulating reflected light of the target object based on the first modulation signal; and

outputting the plurality of localized illuminations for generating the image of the target object;

generating, by the processing circuitry, an image composed of image data from the reflected light of the plurality of localized illuminations.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the second pattern does not generate localized illuminations on the target object.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the second pattern is a random speckle pattern.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

driving the modulator so a first intensity of the first pattern generating the plurality of localized illuminations is the same as a second intensity of the second pattern.

12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

driving the modulator so a first intensity of the first pattern generating the plurality of localized illuminations is different than a second intensity of the second pattern, wherein the second intensity of the second pattern is random.

13. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

applying the first pattern and the second pattern in a temporal sequence incident pattern.

14. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

eliminating backscattered light based on the first pattern and second pattern being irradiated alternately.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-readable instructions thereon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method, the method comprising:

driving a modulator by a first modulation signal, the first modulation signal being for irradiating a first pattern, wherein the first pattern corresponds to generating a plurality of localized illuminations;

driving the modulator by a second modulation signal, the second signal being for irradiating a second pattern, wherein the first pattern and the second pattern are irradiated alternately and the second pattern is different from the first pattern;

modulating reflected light from a target object, the reflected light from the target object being detected at a detector;

receiving an input of a sensing signal from the detector, wherein the detector is a lock-in detector;

modulating reflected light of the target object based on the first modulation signal; and

outputting the plurality of localized illuminations for generating the image of the target object;

generating an image composed of image data from the reflected light of the plurality of localized illuminations.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , further comprising:

driving the modulator so a first intensity of the first pattern generating a plurality of localized illuminations is the same as or different from a second intensity of the second pattern for generating a random speckle pattern of light.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , further comprising:

applying the first pattern and the second pattern in a temporal sequence incident pattern; and

eliminating backscattered light based on the first pattern and second pattern being irradiated alternately.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 10, 2019
From: PANG, LIN; YAMAMURO, TOMOFUMI
To: STANLEY ELECTRIC CO., LTD.; LINOPTX, LLC
Reel/Frame 051227/0113 →
Continuity (3)
Provisional Application 62797363 · Jan 28, 2019
Provisional Application 62797366 · Jan 28, 2019
Related Publication 20200241136A1 · Jul 30, 2020