Patent ID: 6507706
Filing Date: 2003-01-14
Classification: G01S

Abstract:
A scannerless range imaging system for capturing range information of a scene, said system comprising;an illumination system for controllably illuminating the scene with modulated illumination of a predetermined modulation frequency, whereby modulated illumination reflected from an object in the scene incorporates a phase delay corresponding to a distance of the object from the range imaging system; an electromechanical light modulator positioned in an optical path of the modulated illumination reflected from the object, wherein the electromechanical light modulator operates at a reference frequency that corresponds to the predetermined modulation frequency and accordingly modulates the modulated illumination reflected from the object, thereby generating a phase image from the interference between the reference frequency and the modulated illumination reflected from the object; and an image capture section positioned in the optical path of the modulated illumination reflected from the object for capturing the phase image, whereby the range information is derived from the phase image.