The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Oct. 16, 2018

Filed:

Apr. 27, 2015
Applicant:

Tetravue, Inc., Carlsbad, CA (US);

Inventors:

Paul S. Banks, San Marcos, CA (US);

Bodo Schmidt, Carlsbad, CA (US);

C. Stewart Tuvey, Carlsbad, CA (US);

Assignee:

Other;

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H04N 13/02 (2006.01); G01S 17/10 (2006.01); G01S 17/89 (2006.01); H04N 13/254 (2018.01); H04N 13/271 (2018.01); G01S 7/481 (2006.01); G01S 7/499 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
H04N 13/254 (2018.05); G01S 7/4814 (2013.01); G01S 7/4816 (2013.01); G01S 7/499 (2013.01); G01S 17/10 (2013.01); G01S 17/89 (2013.01); H04N 13/0253 (2013.01); H04N 13/271 (2018.05);
Abstract

The methods and systems disclosed herein improve upon previous 3D imaging techniques by making use of a longer illumination pulse to obtain the same or nearly the same range resolution as can be achieved by using a much shorter, conventional laser pulse. For example, a longer illumination pulse can be produced by one or more Q-switched lasers that produce, for example, 5, 10, 20 ns or longer pulses. In some instances, the laser pulse can be longer than the modulation waveform of a MIS-type imaging system and still produce a repeatable response function. The light pulse generation technologies required to achieve longer pulse lengths can be significantly less expensive and less complex than known technologies presently used to generate shorter illumination pulse lengths. Lower-cost, lower-complexity light pulse sources may facilitate lower-cost, commercial 3D camera products.


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