WAFER LEVEL OPTICS FOR STRUCTURED LIGHT GENERATION
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a projector that is structured to be incorporated into a small form factor electronic device. In some embodiments, the projector is integrated in a depth camera assembly used for eye tracking and/or determining depth of objects in a local area. The projector includes a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) array and a substrate coupled to the VCSEL array. The VCSEL array is a bottom emitting VCSEL array formed with one or more VCSELs. The substrate includes a plurality of optical features to generate one or more SL patterns from the lights that are emitted from the VCSELs.
1 . A projector comprising:
a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) array, including a bottom emitting VCSEL, wherein the bottom emitting VCSEL emits light through a substrate and the substrate includes a plurality of optical features to generate one or more structured light (SL) patterns from the emitted light.
2 . The projector of claim 1 , wherein the one or more SL patterns include a quasi-sinusoidal bar pattern.
3 . The projector of claim 1 , wherein the optical features form a one-dimensional grating.
4 . The projector of claim 1 , wherein the optical features form a two-dimensional grating.
5 . The projector of claim 1 , wherein the VCSEL array includes a plurality of bottom emitting VCSELs, and the plurality of bottom emitting VCSELs are positioned in a plurality of columns.
6 . The projector of claim 1 , wherein the optical features are formed in groups, and different groups of the optical features are configured to generate the structured light patterns that are diffracted at different angles.
7 . The projector of claim 1 , further comprising a prism coupled to the substrate, the prism increasing a projected field of view of a SL pattern of the one or more SL patterns.
8 . The projector of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of optical features are within an area of the substrate, and the prism is positioned along a periphery of the area.
9 . The projector of claim 8 , further comprising a second prism that is positioned along the periphery of the area.
10 . The projector of claim 1 , further comprising an optical layer formed on the substrate, wherein the optical layer modifies the one or more SL patterns.
11 . The projector of claim 10 , wherein the optical layer includes a second plurality of optical features.
12 . The projector of claim 1 , wherein the substrate is composed of a material that is transparent to the emitted light from the VCSEL array.
13 . The projector of claim 12 , wherein the substrate is composed of GaAs.
14 . The projector of claim 1 , wherein the projector does not include a collimating optical element.
15 . The projector of claim 1 , wherein the bottom emitting VCSEL includes:
a first reflective layer that is formed on the substrate;
a second reflective layer that is electrically coupled to a base; and
an active layer between the first reflective layer and the second reflective layer.
16 . The projector of claim 1 , wherein the projector is part of a depth camera assembly (DCA).
17 . The projector of claim 16 , wherein the DCA is integrated into a headset.
18 . A depth camera assembly comprising:
a VCSEL array, including a bottom emitting VCSEL, wherein the bottom emitting VCSEL emits light through a substrate and the substrate includes a plurality of optical features to generate one or more structured light (SL) patterns from the emitted light; and
an imaging device configured to capture the structured light patterns that is reflected or scattered from a local area.
19 . The depth camera assembly of claim 18 , wherein the optical features form a one-dimensional grating.
20 . The depth camera assembly of claim 18 , further comprising a prism coupled to the substrate, the prism increasing a projected field of view of a SL pattern of the one or more SL patterns.