Patent ID: 6349174
Filing Date: 2002-02-19
Classification: G01S,H04N

Abstract:
A color scannerless range imaging system for capturing both color and range information from a scene, said system comprising:(a) an illumination system for controllably illuminating the scene with modulated illumination, whereby some of the modulated illumination is reflected from objects in the scene; (b) an image responsive element for capturing image light from the scene, including the modulated image light; (c) one or more optical elements establishing a primary optical path for directing image light toward the image responsive element; (d) a beamsplitter located in the primary optical path for separating the image light into two channels, a first channel including an infrared component and a second channel including a color texture component, at least one of said channels traversing a secondary optical path distinct form the primary path; (e) a modulating element operative in the first channel to modulate the infrared component with a modulating signal, thereby generating a processed infrared component with phase data indicative of range information; and (f) an optical network in the secondary optical path for recombining the secondary optical path into the primary optical path such that the processed infrared component and the color texture component are directed to the image responsive element.