Stereo depth camera using vcsel with spatially and temporally interleaved patterns

Abstract

In accordance with disclosed embodiments, there are provided systems, methods, and apparatuses for implementing a stereo depth camera using a VCSEL projector with spatially and temporally interleaved patterns. For instance, a depth camera is described having therein a Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser projector (VCSEL projector); in which the VCSEL projector embodies a VCSEL array, the VCSEL being comprised of a plurality of VCSEL elements divided into a plurality of individually addressable subsets of the plurality of VCSEL elements; processing circuitry to activate one or more of the individually addressable subsets of the plurality of VCSEL elements to cause the VCSEL projector to emit a plurality of infrared beams through a projection lens to form a projected pattern which is projected onto a scene; stereoscopic image capture devices to capture stereoscopic imagery from the scene having the projected pattern projected thereupon; and processing circuitry to determine depth to an object in the scene based on the captured stereoscopic imagery from the scene having the projected pattern represented therein as projected from the VCSEL projector. Other related embodiments are disclosed.