Three-dimensional imaging and display system
A three-dimensional imaging and display system is provided in which input is optically detected in an imaging volume by measuring the path length of an amplitude modulated scanning beam as a function of the phase shift thereof. Visual image feedback concerning the detected input is presented.
1. A scanning apparatus, comprising:
a first radiation source, capable of emitting a modulated infrared beam;
a second radiation source, capable of emitting a visible light beam;
a scanning mirror capable of scanning, in a raster pattern, both the modulated infrared and the visible light beams over an imaging volume;
a receiver capable of detecting the modulated infrared beam returning from the imaging volume; and
a processor capable of processing a signal from the receiver in order to detect an object in the imaging volume and to control the second radiation source to project images.
2. The scanning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the images projected using the second radiation source and the scanning mirror comprise one or more virtual objects in the imaging volume.
3. The scanning apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the processor is configured to:
process the signal from the receiver to detect a movement of the object in the imaging volume; and
manipulate the one or more virtual objects in response to the detected movement.
4. The scanning apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the one or more virtual objects comprise a virtual keyboard.
5. The scanning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the receiver comprises a photodiode and a high-speed amplifier, the high-speed amplifier configured to amplify signals output by the photodiode.
6. The scanning apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
process the amplified signals to determine an offset between the amplified signals and the scanned modulated infrared beam; and
derive from the offset a distance that the scanned modulated infrared beam has traveled.
7. The scanning apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the processor is further configured to define a position of the detected object in the imaging volume based on the distance and a scan angle of the scanning mirror.
8. The scanning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the scanning mirror oscillates at a resonant frequency.
9. A method for scanning, comprising:
emitting a modulated infrared beam and a visible light beam;
scanning, using a scanning mirror, both the modulated infrared and the visible light beams over an imaging volume in a raster pattern;
detecting the modulated infrared beam returning from the imaging volume;
generating a signal in response to the detected modulated infrared beam;
processing the signal to detect an object in the imaging volume; and
controlling the visible light beam to project images in response to the detected object.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein controlling the visible light beam comprises controlling the visible light beam to present one or more virtual objects in the imaging volume.
11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
detecting a movement of the object in the imaging volume; and
manipulating at least one of the one or more virtual objects in response to the detected movement.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the one or more virtual objects comprise a virtual keyboard.
13. The method of claim 9 , wherein processing the signal comprises:
determining an offset between the detected modulated infrared beam and the scanned modulated infrared beam; and
deriving from the offset a distance that the scanned modulated infrared beam has traveled.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein processing the signal further comprises defining a position of the detected object in the imaging volume based on the distance and a scan angle of the scanning mirror.
15. An electronic device, comprising:
a scanning apparatus, comprising:
a first radiation source, capable of emitting a modulated infrared beam;
a second radiation source, capable of emitting a visible light beam;
a scanning mirror capable of scanning, in a raster pattern, both the modulated infrared and the visible light beams over an imaging volume;
a receiver capable of detecting the modulated infrared beam returning from the imaging volume; and
a processor capable of processing a signal from the receiver to detect an object in the imaging volume and to control the second radiation source to project images.
16. The electronic device of claim 15 , wherein the projected images comprise one or more virtual objects in the imaging volume.
17. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the processor is further configured to process the signal from the receiver to detect a movement of the object and to manipulate the one or more virtual objects in response to the detected movement.
18. The electronic device of claim 17 , wherein the one or more virtual objects comprise a virtual keyboard.