US6734450B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Three-dimensional image capturing device
Assignee: Pentax Corp
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Filing: 2002-03-01
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Granted: 2004-05-11
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Expires: 2022-03-01
Abstract
Abstract A three-dimensional image capturing device comprises a light source for irradiating a distance measuring light beam to a subject. The light source has a plurality of light source rings, each of which is formed of a plurality of LEDs. The LEDs are annularly disposed along an outer periphery of a lens barrel. The ratio of the intensities of light beams irradiated by the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth light source rings is 1:2:4:8:16. The intensity of the distance measuring light beam irradiated by the light source rings is modulated by selecting the light source rings to be turned ON, so that the intensity of the distance measuring light beam changes in accordance with the time.
Inventors
- 👤 Shinichi Kakiuchi
- 👤 Shuzo Seo
- 👤 Nobuhiro Tani
- 👤 Kiyoshi Yamamoto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 20:30
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N5/00; H04N5/222; H04N5/2224; H04N5/2226; G; G03; G03B; G03B15/00; G03B15/02; G03B15/03; H04N23/00; H04N23/56
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
A three-dimensional image capturing device, comprising: a light source that has a plurality of irradiating units to irradiate a distance measuring light beam to a subject, the intensities of said distance measuring light beams being different from each other; a modulating processor that selects a combination of said irradiating units to be turned on, the modulating processor varying the selected combination of irradiating units to be turned on so that the intensity of said distance measuring light beam is modulated in accordance with the time elapsed from when said light source started irradiating said distance measuring light beam; a light sensing processor that senses said distance measuring light beam reflected by said subject in accordance with a timing of the modulation, to obtain luminous information of said subject; and a distance obtaining processor that obtains distance information of said subject based on said luminous information.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
145 words
A three-dimensional image capturing device, comprising: a light source that has a plurality of irradiating units to irradiate a distance measuring light beam to a subject, the intensities of said distance measuring light beams being different from each other; a modulating processor that selects a combination of said irradiating units to be turned on, the modulating processor varying the selected combination of irradiating units to be turned on so that the intensity of said distance measuring light beam is modulated in accordance with the time elapsed from when said light source started irradiating said distance measuring light beam; a light sensing processor that senses said distance measuring light beam reflected by said subject in accordance with a timing of the modulation, to obtain luminous information of said subject; and a distance obtaining processor that obtains distance information of said subject based on said luminous information.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
A device according to claim 1 , further comprising a lens barrel in which a photographing lens is provided, said irradiating unit comprising a plurality of LEDs that are annularly disposed along an outer periphery of said lens barrel and are connected to each other in series.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device according to claim 2 , wherein said modulating processor simultaneously controls the electric current flowing in each of said LEDs.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device according to claim 1 , wherein said plurality of irradiating units are concentrically disposed with respect to each other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
A device according to claim 4 , wherein said plurality of irradiating units comprises first, second, third, fourth, and fiftadiating units, which are arranged radially outwardly in this order, the ratio of the intensities of light beams irradiated by said first, second, third, fourth, and fifth irradiating units being 1:2:4:8:16.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device according to claim 4 , wherein each of said irradiating units comprises a plurality of LEDs that are simultaneously turned ON and OFF and irradiate said light beams with a constant intensity.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device according to claim 1 , wherein said modulating processor controls said irradiating units independently from each other.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
A device according to claim 1 , wherein said luminous information comprises first and second luminous information, said first luminous information being obtained by stepwise increasing the intensity by said modulating processor, said second luminous information being obtained by stepwise decreasing the intensity by said modulating processor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device according to claim 8 , wherein said distance obtaining processor obtains said distance information using said first and second luminous information.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device according to claim 8 , wherein said modulating processor varies the combination of said irradiating units to be turned ON so that the intensity is stepwise changed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
131 words
A three-dimensional image capturing device, comprising: a light source that has a plurality of irradiating units to irradiate a distance measuring light beam to a subject, the intensities of said distance measuring light beams being different from each other; a modulating processor that selects a combination of said irradiating units to be turned on, the modulating processor varying the combination of selected irradiating units so that the intensity of said distance measuring light beam is linearly varied in accordance with the elapsed time; a light sensing processor that senses said distance measuring light beam reflected by said subject in accordance with a timing of the modulating processor, to obtain luminous information of said subject; and a distance obtaining processor that obtains distance information of said subject based on said luminous information.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
131 words
A three-dimensional image capturing device, comprising: a light source that has a plurality of irradiating units to irradiate a distance measuring light beam to a subject, the intensities of said distance measuring light beams being different from each other; a modulating processor that selects a combination of said irradiating units to be turned on, the modulating processor varying the combination of selected irradiating units so that the intensity of said distance measuring light beam is linearly varied in accordance with the elapsed time; a light sensing processor that senses said distance measuring light beam reflected by said subject in accordance with a timing of the modulating processor, to obtain luminous information of said subject; and a distance obtaining processor that obtains distance information of said subject based on said luminous information.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-05-11 | 2007-11-10 | 2008-05-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-05-11 | 2011-11-10 | 2012-05-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
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