Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Other

Travis Perry

Zhanping Xu

Cyrus Soli Bamji

Michael Anthony Hall

John Peter Godbaz

Mirko Schmidt

Gage Krieger Hills

Andrew Dean Payne

Mike Fenton

Dawson Yee

Barry Thompson

Matthew D Morris

Michael Scott Fenton

Algird Michael Gudaitis

Karen Y Cheng

Sunil Prakash Acharya

Brock McCray Roland

Larry Prather

Examples are disclosed herein that relate to a time-of-flight camera that performs phase unwrapping in an efficient manner. In one example, a time-of-flight camera includes a light emitter, a sensor array, and a controller. The controller is configured to select a frequency mode from a plurality of frequency modes, each frequency mode including two or more different frequencies, and at least two different frequency modes of the plurality of frequency modes having a common frequency shared between the at least two frequency modes, control the light emitter to illuminate a scene with modulated light of the two or more different frequencies of the frequency mode selected, control the sensor array to receive the modulated light reflected from objects within the scene, and process the modulated light received to determine unwrapped phases for the frequency mode selected based on the two or more different frequencies of the frequency mode selected.

Multiple-mode frequency sharing for time-of-flight camera

A wound irrigation system and method of making and using. The system uses a pored, closed-ended delivery conduit to enhance the consistency and speed with which anti-microbial or related irrigation fluids may be delivered in order to promote cleansing, debridement and biofilm reduction in wounds. The ease of use of the system as a moist wound healing cascade makes it applicable to both in-home and in-facility environments that is not offered through traditional instillation negative pressure systems. In one form, the fluid delivery conduit is used as part of a dual-conduit approach in order to also help promote the removal of drainage, waste, irrigation overflow or other fluid from the wound. Utilization of such a pored, closed-ended delivery conduit in conjunction with a separate drainage conduit infusing helps reduce the frequency of dressing changes as well as the likelihood of microorganism formation and colonization.

Wound irrigation system

The time-of-flight system disclosed herein includes a frequency unwrapping module configured to generate an input phase vector with M phases corresponding to M sampled signals from an object, determine an M&#x2212;1 dimensional vector of transformed phase values by applying a transformation matrix (T) to the input phase vector, determine an M&#x2212;1 dimensional vector of rounded transformed phase values by rounding the transformed phase values to a nearest integer, and determine a one dimensional lookup table (LUT) index value by transforming the M&#x2212;1 dimensional rounded transformed phase values. The index value is input into the one dimensional LUT to determine a range of the object.

Multi-frequency unwrapping

A CW-TOF camera that uses a piecewise constant or linear discretized indicator function of first and second modulation frequencies of light that the camera transmits to illuminate a scene and a round trip time tfor light from and back to the camera for features in the scene to disambiguate wrapped phase shifts that the camera acquires for the features.

Time of flight camera

A method to calibrate an imaging array of a time-of-flight depth camera includes the act of modulating emission from a light source of the camera while synchronously biasing the imaging array. In this method, the modulated emission reflects from a compact reflector positioned a known distance from the camera and passes through an optical diffuser en route to the imaging array. For each pixel of the imaging array, a correction term is stored, which brings the output from that pixel into agreement with the actual distance between the camera and the compact reflector.

Time-of-flight phase-offset calibration

A chord playing attachment and related method is disclosed. The chord playing attachment may be attached to a guitar or similar stringed instrument, and the user may use the chord playing attachment to learn to play the instrument. Unlike other chord playing attachments, the present invention discloses a design that does not function as a capo, which allows the user play chords in standard keys. The present invention also discloses tabs that may be removed or swapped by the user to allow the user to play some chords by pressing the strings directly and some by pressing a finger pad. The present invention encourages novices to learn to play the instrument in stages and eventually remove the invention entirely. A companion teaching manual is also disclosed.

Chord playing attachment

A method for operating a time of flight (TOF) depth camera is provided. The method includes, using an image processing module, interpolating an updated timing delay calibration for each of a plurality of pixel sensors based at least on an updated set of modulation frequency and duty cycle calibration combinations received by the image processing module, the plurality of pixel sensors coupled to a timing clock, and receiving light generated by a light source and reflected in a 3-dimensional environment, the updated set of modulation frequency and duty cycle calibration combinations replacing the corresponding factory-preloaded timing delay calibrations. The method further includes applying the updated timing delay calibrations to pixel data corresponding to each of the plurality of the pixel sensors to generate a depth map of the 3-dimensional environment.

Time of flight depth camera

Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to time-of-flight (TOF) systems, and methods for use therewith, that substantially reduce interference that the TOF system may cause to at least one other system that is configured to wirelessly receive and respond to IR light signals. Some such embodiments involve emitting IR light having a low frequency (LF) power envelope that is shaped to substantially reduce frequency content within at least one frequency range known to be used by at least one other system that may be in close proximity to the TOF system. Such embodiments can also involve detecting at least a portion of the emitted RF modulated IR light that has reflected off one or more objects. A TOF system can produce depth images in dependence on results of the detecting, as well as update an application in dependence on the depth images.

Interference reduction for TOF systems

A removable chord playing attachment and related method is disclosed. The chord playing attachment may be attached to a guitar or similar stringed instrument, and the user may use the chord playing attachment to learn to play the instrument. The present invention discloses a design that does not function as a capo, which allows the user play chords in standard keys. The present invention includes a specially configured nut or connector or anchor that forms a removable connection with a chord playing unit. The present invention encourages novices to learn to play the instrument in stages and eventually remove the invention entirely. A companion teaching manual is also disclosed.

Chord playing attachment apparatus

Phase-based TOF systems operate with reduced depth error due to motion blur, and/or spatial blur, and/or pixel offset by intelligently determining how best to combine pixel values, and how best to compensate for individual pixel offsets. Such determination(s) may be carried out on a per pixel basis, dynamically, in real-time during TOF operation, or on archived TOF data. Offsets for individual pixels may be dynamically calculated and subtracted from the values acquired by those pixels Individual pixel offsets may be calculated for example by combining data acquired by the same pixel at two acquisitions, 180&#xb0; out of phase with respect to each other. Calculated offsets may be averaged, or on a per pixel basis, and if target object motion is detected, one or more offset calculations can be discarded rather than averaged to reduce motion blur. Offsets acquired a priori during a TOF system calibration procedure may be used.

Method and system to maximize space-time resolution in a time-of-flight (TOF) system

A phase-based TOF system preferably generates an optical waveform with fast rise and fall times, to enhance modulation contrast, notwithstanding there will be many high order harmonics. The system is preferably operated with an odd number of phases, to reduce system bias error due to the higher order harmonics, while maintaining good modulation contrast, without unduly increasing system memory requirements. Preferably the system can dynamically calibrate (and compensate for) higher order harmonics in the TOF generated optical energy waveform, over time and temperature. Within the optical energy transmission channel, or within the optical energy detection channel, detection amplifier gain may be modified, and/or detector signal integration time may be varied, and/or digital values may be employed to implement calibration and error reduction The resultant TOF system can operate with improved phase-vs-distance characteristics, with reduced calibration requirements.

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Menlo Park, CA, United States of America

Travis Perry