Passive three-dimensional image sensing based on chromatic focal differentiation

Abstract

Techniques are described for passive three-dimensional (3D) image sensing based on chromatic differentiation. For example, an object can be imaged by using a photodetector array to detect light reflected off of the object and focused through a lens onto the array. Light components of different wavelengths tends to be focused through the lens to different focal lengths, which can tend to impact the brightness of each wavelength as detected. For example, if the detector array is closer to a shorter-wavelength focal plane, a white spot will tend to be detected with a higher magnitude of blue light components than of red light components. Ratios of brightness magnitudes for different wavelengths vary in a manner that strongly correlates to object distance from the lens. Embodiments exploit this correlation to passively detect object distance. Some embodiments further provide various types of distance and/or chromatic calibration to further facilitate such detection.