CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the priority of United States Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 62/794,631 , filed January 20, 2019, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

[0002] United States Patent Applications Serial Nos. 14/920,246, 15/149,323, and 15/149,429 describe various configurations of distance sensors. Such distance sensors may be useful in a variety of applications, including security, gaming, control of unmanned vehicles, and other applications.

[0003] The distance sensors described in these applications include light projecting systems (e.g., comprising lasers, diffractive optical elements, and/or other cooperating components) which project beams of light in a wavelength that is substantially invisible to the human eye (e.g., infrared) into a field of view. The beams of light spread out to create a pattern (of dots, dashes, or other artifacts) that can be detected by an appropriate light receiving system (e.g., lens, image capturing device, and/or other components). When the pattern is incident upon an object in the field of view, the distance from the sensor to the object can be calculated based on the appearance of the pattern (e.g., the positional relationships of the dots, dashes, or other artifacts) in one or more images of the field of view, which may be captured by the sensor’s light receiving system. The shape and dimensions of the object can also be determined.

[0004] For instance, the appearance of the pattern may change with the distance to the object. As an example, if the pattern comprises a pattern of dots, the dots may appear closer to each other when the object is closer to the sensor, and may appear further away from each other when the object is further away from the sensor. SUMMARY

[0005] An example apparatus includes a light projecting system a light receiving system, and a controller. The light projecting system projects a plurality of beams of light of a wavelength that is invisible to the human eye. The plurality of beams of light forms a pattern on a surface when the plurality of beams of light is incident upon the surface. The light receiving system acquires an image of the pattern on the surface. The controller calculates a distance to the surface based on the image of the pattern on the surface. The light receiving system includes a lens; an imaging sensor, and a bandpass filter positioned between the lens and the imaging sensor. The imaging sensor includes a first subset of photodetectors that is sensitive to wavelengths of light that are visible to the human eye and a second subset of photodetectors that is sensitive to the wavelength of light that is invisible to the human eye. The bandpass filter includes at least a first passband whose range corresponds to the wavelengths of light that are visible to the human eye and a second passband whose range corresponds to the wavelength of light that is invisible to the human eye.

[0006] In another example, a method includes controlling, by a processing system of a distance sensor, a light projecting system of the distance sensor to project a plurality of beams of light, wherein the plurality of beams of light comprise light of a wavelength that is invisible to a human eye, and wherein the plurality of beams of light forms a pattern on a surface when the plurality of beams of light is incident upon the surface, controlling, by the processing system, a light receiving system of the distance sensor to acquire an image of the pattern on the surface, and calculating, by the processing system, a distance to the surface based on the image of the pattern on the surface. The light receiving system includes a lens, an imaging sensor comprising a plurality of photodetectors, wherein the plurality of photodetectors includes a first subset of photodetectors that is sensitive to wavelengths of light that are visible to the human eye and a second subset of photodetectors that is sensitive to the wavelength of light that is invisible to the human eye, and a first bandpass filter positioned between the lens and the imaging sensor, wherein the first bandpass filter includes at least a first passband whose range corresponds to the wavelengths of light that are visible to the human eye and a second passband whose range corresponds to the wavelength of light that is invisible to the human eye.

[0007] In another example, a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium is encoded with instructions executable by a processor of a distance sensor, wherein, when executed, the instructions cause the processor to perform operations. The operations include controlling a light projecting system to project a plurality of beams of light, wherein the plurality of beams of light comprise light of a wavelength that is invisible to a human eye, and wherein the plurality of beams of light forms a pattern on a surface when the plurality of beams of light is incident upon the surface, controlling a light receiving system to acquire an image of the pattern on the surface, and calculating a distance to the surface based on the image of the pattern on the surface. The light receiving system includes a lens, an imaging sensor comprising a plurality of photodetectors, wherein the plurality of photodetectors includes a first subset of photodetectors that is sensitive to wavelengths of light that are visible to the human eye and a second subset of photodetectors that is sensitive to the wavelength of light that is invisible to the human eye, and a first bandpass filter positioned between the lens and the imaging sensor, wherein the first bandpass filter includes at least a first passband whose range corresponds to the wavelengths of light that are visible to the human eye and a second passband whose range corresponds to the wavelength of light that is invisible to the human eye.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example distance sensor of the present disclosure;

[0009] FIG. 2 illustrates one example of the imaging sensor of FIG. 1

[0010] FIGs. 3A-3B are graphs illustrating example wavelength transmission characteristics of the filter and imaging sensor of the light receiving system of the example distance sensor illustrated in FIG. 1 ;

[0011] FIG. 4 illustrates an example timing chart showing the relative timing of emissions from the light projecting system and the illumination system of the distance sensor illustrated in FIG. 1 ; [0012] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating one example of a method for operating a distance sensor for three-dimensional depth sensing and two- dimensional image capture, according to the present disclosure; and

[0013] FIG. 6 depicts a high-level block diagram of an example electronic device for operating a distance sensor for three-dimensional depth sensing and two-dimensional image capture.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] The present disclosure broadly describes an apparatus, method, and non-transitory computer-readable medium for operating a three-dimensional sensor including a bandpass filter having multiple passbands. As discussed above, distance sensors such as those described in United States Patent Applications Serial Nos. 14/920,246, 15/149,323, and 15/149,429 determine the distance to an object (and, potentially, the shape and dimensions of the object) by projecting beams of light that spread out to create a pattern (e.g., of dots, dashes, or other artifacts) in a field of view that includes the object. The beams of light may be projected from one or more laser light sources which emit light of a wavelength that is substantially invisible to the human eye, but which is visible to an appropriate detector (e.g., of the light receiving system). The three- dimensional distance to the object may then be calculated based on the appearance of the pattern to the detector.

[0015] In some examples, the detector of the light receiving system may comprise a red, green, blue, infrared (RGB+IR) sensor. RGB+IR sensors typically include separate sensing elements (e.g., photodetectors in combination with bandpass filters) for capturing images of both visible light and invisible (e.g., infrared) light. This allows the distance sensor to simultaneously produce a two- dimensional (e.g., RGB) image and a three-dimensional (e.g., IR) depth map of an object. In such an application, the infrared sensing elements of the RGB+IR sensor typically include a narrow bandwidth filtering action that is centered on the wavelength of the infrared light emitted by the light projecting system.

[0016] However, since the main purpose of the RGB+IR sensor is often to acquire a normal infrared image, the transmission bandwidth of the infrared sensing elements (and, more specifically, of the infrared bandpass filter) may be too wide to allow for simultaneous acquisition of the two-dimensional and three- dimensional images. For instance, noise from the visible wavelengths of light (used to capturing two-dimensional images) may make detection of the invisible wavelengths of light (which are used to calculate distances for three-dimensional depth mapping) difficult. Moreover, replacing the infrared bandpass filter with a narrower-band interference filter (e.g., a coated filter) may not be feasible due to size and/or cost concerns.

[0017] Examples of the present disclosure include a distance sensor having a light receiving system in which the imaging sensor includes a bandpass filter that includes at least two passbands (i.e. , ranges of frequencies or wavelengths that can pass through): a first passband of visible light (i.e., light that is visible to the human eye, such as light in the RGB wavelengths) and a second passband of invisible light (i.e., light that is not visible to the human eye, such as light in the infrared wavelengths). Thus, invisible light passes to the photodetectors of the imaging sensor that are configured to detect the invisible light, but is blocked from the photodetectors that are not configured to detect the invisible light.

[0018] Although examples of the present disclosure are described within the example context of RGB+IR sensors, the detector of the light receiving system disclosed herein may instead comprise a cyan, magenta, yellow (CMY)+IR sensor. Thus, although the examples described below may make reference to an RGB+IR sensor or to wavelengths of light in the RGB ranges, it will be appreciated that any such references are equally applicable to CMY+IR sensors and wavelengths of light in the CMY ranges.

[0019] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example distance sensor 100 of the present disclosure. The distance sensor 100 may be used to detect the distance to an object or surface 102. In one example, the distance sensor 100 shares many components of the distance sensors described in United States Patent Applications Serial Nos. 14/920,246, 15/149,323, and 15/149,429. For instance, in one example, the distance sensor comprises a light projecting system 104, a light receiving system 106, and a controller 108. Optionally, the distance sensor 100 may further comprise an illumination system 1 10. [0020] In one example, the light projecting system may be arranged in a manner similar to any of the arrangements described in United States Patent Application Serial No. 16/701 ,949. For instance, the light projecting system 104 may generally comprise a laser emitter 1 12, a lens 1 14, and a diffractive optical element (DOE) 1 16. The laser emitter 1 12 may comprise at least one laser light emitting diode (LED) that emits a beam of light in a wavelength that is substantially invisible to the human eye (e.g., infrared light). In one example, the laser emitter 1 12 comprises at least one vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) or at least one edge emitting laser (EEL).

[0021] The lens 1 14 may comprise a lens that is configured to magnify the beam of light emitted by the laser emitter 1 12. For instance, the lens 1 14 may comprise a converging lens (e.g., a bioconvex or a plano-convex lens), which has positive optical power. In this case, collimated beams of light passing through the lens 1 14 may converge to a focal point behind the lens 1 14 before spreading out or diverging from the focal point.

[0022] The diffractive optical element 1 16 may comprise a conical mirror, a holographic film, a grating, or another phase element that uses interference and diffraction to create a distribution of beams of light from a collimated (e.g., single) beam. The diffractive optical element 1 16 may be positioned at or near the focal point of the lens 1 14, e.g., between the lens 1 14 and the surface 102. Thus, the beams of light may pass through the diffractive optical element 1 16 just as the beams converge or are collimated at the focal point of the lens 1 14. The diffractive optical element 1 16 may then split the collimated light into a plurality of beams of light that are distributed to produce a projection pattern on the surface 102.

[0023] Although FIG. 1 illustrates a single laser emitter 1 12, lens 1 14, and diffractive optical element 1 16 combination, it should be noted that the light projecting system 104 may comprise any number of laser emitter/lens/diffractive optical element combinations. For instance, a plurality of laser emitter/lens/diffractive optical element combinations may be arranged around the light receiving system 106, e.g., such that the light receiving system 106 is positioned in the center of the plurality of laser emitter/lens/diffractive optical element combinations. In this case, each laser emitter/lens/diffractive optical element combination of the plurality of laser emitter/lens/diffractive optical element combinations may be configured in a manner similar to the laser emitter 1 12, lens 1 14, and diffractive optical element 1 16 illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0024] In one example, the plurality of beams of light emitted by the light projecting system 104 fans out in a plurality of different directions from a central axis. The angles between each pair of beams in the plurality of beams of light may be equal. When the plurality of beams of light is incident upon the surface 102, each beam may create a point of light (e.g., a dot, a dash, or the like) on the surface 102. Collectively, the points of light created by the plurality of beams of light form the above-described pattern from which the distance to the surface 102 can be calculated. For instance, the pattern may comprise a grid in which a plurality of points is arranged in a plurality of rows and columns.

[0025] The light receiving system 106 of the distance sensor 100 is positioned to capture the reflected image of the pattern that is projected onto the surface 102 by the light projecting system 104. In one example, the light receiving system 106 may generally comprise a lens 1 18, a filter 120, and an imaging sensor 122.

[0026] In one example, the lens 1 18 may be a wide-angle lens, such as a fisheye lens, that creates a field of view of up to 180 degrees (e.g., a hemispherical field of view).

[0027] In one example, the filter 120 may comprise a first bandpass filter (e.g., an interference filter) that has a plurality of passbands, where at least a first passband and a second passband of the plurality of passbands are configured to allow light of different wavelengths to pass through (but to block all other wavelengths of light). For instance, the first passband may transmit one or more wavelengths of light that are visible to the human eye (e.g., RGB wavelengths), while the second passband may transmit one or more wavelengths of light that are invisible to the human eye (e.g., infrared wavelengths). In one example, the portions of the first bandpass filter that correspond to the second passband may be coated.

[0028] In one example, the imaging sensor 122 comprises a plurality of photodetectors (or pixels), where the plurality of photodetectors may be arranged in an array. FIG. 2, for instance, illustrates one example of the imaging sensor 122 of FIG. 1. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the imaging sensor 122 may comprise a plurality of photodetectors 200i-200 _n (hereinafter individually referred to as a “photodetector 200” or collectively referred to as“photodetectors 200”), where the photodetectors 200 are arranged in a square (e.g., 6 x 6) array. In other examples, however, the array may be larger or smaller and may have a different shape. The photodetectors 200 may comprise complementary metal-oxide- semiconductor (CMOS) photodetectors.

[0029] As indicated by the key in FIG. 2, the plurality of photodetectors 200 may include photodetectors that are sensitive to different wavelengths of light. For instance, the plurality of photodetectors may include photodetectors that are sensitive to wavelengths of light that are visible to the human eye, such as red photodetectors (e.g., photodetector 200i), green photodetectors (e.g., photodetector 20O2), and blue photodetectors (e.g., photodetector 200 _n -i). The plurality of photodetectors may also include photodetectors that are sensitive to wavelengths of light that are invisible to the human eye, such as infrared photodetectors (e.g., photodetector 200 _n ). Thus, the plurality of photodetectors may include a first subset of photodetectors that is sensitive to wavelengths of light that are visible to the human eye (e.g., the RGB photodetectors) and a second subset of photodetectors that is sensitive to the wavelength of light that is invisible to the human eye (e.g., the IR photodetectors).

[0030] The passbands of the filter 120 may be positioned accordingly. For instance, passbands that allow visible red light to pass may be positioned over the red photodetectors 200 of the imaging sensor 122; passbands that allow visible green light to pass may be positioned over the green photodetectors 200 of the imaging sensor 122; passbands that allow visible blue light to pass may be positioned over the blue photodetectors 200 of the imaging sensor 122; and passbands that allow invisible infrared (or other wavelengths of light that are invisible to the human eye) to pass may be positioned over the infrared photodetectors 200 of the imaging sensor 122. Thus, infrared light emitted for three-dimensional distance sensing may be input only to the photodetectors 200 with the IR filters, while other wavelengths of light can be recognized as color images by the photodetectors with the RGB filters. Thus, the imaging sensor 122 can detect red, green, blue, and infrared simultaneously, can detect only infrared, or can detect only red, green, and blue. Because the three-dimensional distance sensing depends on the intensity of the projected pattern of light, and the two- dimensional imaging depends on external brightness, the optimal exposure time for the IR and RGB portions of the imaging sensor 122 may be different.

[0031] The illumination system 1 10, if included in the distance sensor 100, may be configured to provide light in a wavelength that is invisible to the human eye (e.g. infrared light). In one example, the illumination system 1 10 may comprise a light source 124, a reflector 126, and a filter 128.

[0032] The light source 124 may comprise an LED light source, such as one or more white LEDs operated by a pulsed current. The light source 124 may be capable of emitting a spectrum of light that includes both visible and invisible (e.g., infrared) wavelengths. The reflector 126 may comprise a reflective surface (e.g., a mirror) that is shaped to spread the light emitted by the light source 124 in an even manner. For instance, the reflector 126 may comprise a flash diffuser. The reflector 126 may have a conic, parabolic, or other shape. The filter 128 may comprise a second bandpass filter that allows light of wavelengths that are invisible to the human eye (e.g., infrared light) to pass, while blocking other wavelengths of light emitted by the light source 124.

[0033] The controller 108 may be operable to send signals to the light projecting system 104, the light receiving system 106, and the illumination system 1 10. For instance, the controller 108 may send signals to the light projecting system 104 to cause the light projecting system 104 to project the pattern of light onto the surface 102. The controller 108 may also control the duration for which the light projecting system 104 projects the pattern of light onto the surface 102, as well as the timing with which the light projecting system 104 projects the pattern of light onto the surface 102. For instance, the controller 108 may control the duration of pulses emitted by the laser emitter 1 12 of the light projecting system 104.

[0034] The controller 108 may also send signals to the light receiving system 106 to cause the light receiving system 106 to capture images of the pattern of light projected onto the surface 102 and/or to capture two-dimensional (e.g., RGB) images of the surface 102. In further examples, the controller 108 may control the exposure time of the light receiving system 106 (e.g., the duration for which the light receiving system’s shutter is open), and the timing with which the light receiving system 106 captures images (including images of the surface 102). In one example, the controller 108 may set two separate exposure durations for the light receiving system 106: a first exposure duration during which an image of the surface 102 is captured at the same time that the light projecting system 104 projects a pattern or light onto the surface 102 (e.g., for three-dimensional distance sensing), and a second exposure duration during which an image of the surface 102 is captured at a time when the light projecting system 104 does not project a pattern of light onto the surface 102 (e.g., for two-dimensional image acquisition). In one example, the controller 108 may alternate between the first exposure duration and the second exposure duration.

[0035] The controller 108 may also send signals to the illumination system 1 10 to cause the illumination system 1 10 to emit light. The controller 108 may also control the duration for which the illumination system 1 10 emits light, as well as the timing with which the illumination system 1 10 emits the light. For instance, the controller 108 may control the duration of pulses emitted by the light source 124 of the illumination system 1 10.

[0036] In further examples, the controller 108 may process images acquitted by the light receiving system 106. For instance, the controller 108 may be configured to process the captured image data (e.g., three-dimensional distance data and two-dimensional image data) in order to calculate the distance to the surface 102. For instance, the distance may be calculated in accordance with the methods described in United States Patent Applications Serial Nos. 14/920,246, 15/149,323, and 15/149,429. Thus, in one example, the controller 108 may comprise a processor, such as the processor 602 illustrated in FIG. 6 and described in further detail below.

[0037] FIGs. 3A-3B are graphs illustrating example wavelength transmission characteristics of the filter 120 and imaging sensor 122 of the light receiving system 106 of the example distance sensor 100 illustrated in FIG. 1. More specifically, FIGs. 3A-3B plot the quantum efficiency (as a percentage of light transmitted) versus wavelength (in nanometers) for the example filter 120 and imaging sensor 122.

[0038] In the example illustrated in FIG. 3A, the infrared passband of the filter 120 substantially matches or is narrower than the passband of the infrared photodetector of the imaging sensor 122. Moreover, the wavelength of the coherent light projected by the light projecting system 104 matches the overlapping region of the infrared passband of the filter 120 and the passband of the infrared photodetector of the imaging sensor 122.

[0039] In the example illustrated in FIG. 3B, the infrared passband of the filter 120 partially matches the passband of the infrared photodetector of the imaging sensor 122. Moreover, the wavelength of the coherent light projected by the light projecting system 104 matches the overlapping region of the infrared passband of the filter 120 and the passband of the infrared photodetector of the imaging sensor 122.

[0040] As discussed above, the coherent light emitted by the light projecting system 104 is reflected by the surface 102, imaged onto the imaging sensor 122 of the light receiving system 106, and captured only by the infrared photodetectors of the imaging sensor 122 (where the imaging sensor 122 also includes RGB photodetectors). Moreover, when a bandpass filter such as the filter 120 is included in the light receiving system 106, wavelengths of light other than the wavelengths emitted by the light projecting system 106 (e.g., visible or non-infrared wavelengths) which may be received by the infrared photodetectors may be significantly cut, which may improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the light receiving system 106 and the images acquired by the light receiving system 106. At the same time, the other photodetectors of the imaging sensor 122 (e.g., RGB photodetectors) may capture visible wavelengths of light and acquire a typical two-dimensional (e.g., RGB) image.

[0041] Thus, the inclusion of the bandpass filter 120 having multiple passbands (including both visible and invisible light) in the distance sensor’s light receiving system 106 ensures that the infrared photodetectors 200 of the imaging sensor 122 receive the infrared light emitted by the light projecting system 104, while the RGB photodetectors 200 do not receive the infrared light emitted by the light projecting system 104. Moreover, by cutting the wavelengths around the wavelength(s) emitted by the light projecting system 104, the bandpass filter 120 may also reduce the SNR of the light receiving system 106 and improve the three- dimensional sensing capabilities of the distance sensor 100.

[0042] In further examples of the present disclosure, the disclosed configuration (including the bandpass filter 120) may be implemented in combination with many different kinds of RGB+IR imaging sensors.

[0043] In further examples, the disclosed configuration may also be used in combination with distance sensor configurations that produce infrared two- dimensional images (e.g., dark field images), rather than RGB two-dimensional images. In this case, the infrared illumination used for the two-dimensional imaging may be emitted separately from the infrared light emitted for the three- dimensional distance sensing (e.g., from separate infrared light sources and/or at different times to minimize interference). The exposure times for the infrared illumination used for the two-dimensional imaging and the infrared light emitted for the three-dimensional distance sensing may also be different (and this difference may vary with variations in the object(s) being imaged). However, the infrared illumination used for the two-dimensional imaging may still include infrared wavelengths that are within the infrared passband of the bandpass filter 120.

[0044] In further examples still, the distance sensor 100 of the present disclosure may be implemented in a stereo camera configuration that is configured to detect distances using a projected image as a feature point.

[0045] FIG. 4 illustrates an example timing chart showing the relative timing of emissions from the light projecting system 104 and the illumination system 1 10 of the distance sensor 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 . As described above, the wavelengths of light emitted by the illumination system 1 10 may include both visible and invisible (e.g., infrared) regions or wavelengths.

[0046] When the wavelengths of light emitted by the illumination system 1 10 are infrared, the infrared photodetectors of the light receiving system’s imaging sensor 122 may detect the light emitted by the illumination system 1 10. In this case, the light emitted by the illumination system 1 10 may interfere with the beams of light emitted by the light projecting system 104 (which may also comprise infrared wavelengths). This may impair the light receiving system’s ability to accurately detect the pattern of light projected by the light projecting system 104.

[0047] Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the light projecting system 104 and the illumination system 1 10 may be controlled (e.g., by the controller 108) so that the light projecting system 104 and the illumination system 1 10 emit their respective light at different times, in order to minimize interference at the imaging sensor 122.

[0048] In addition, as illustrated by the timing offsets Oi and 02, the timing of the light receiving system’s shutter may be controlled so that the time for which the shutter is open is not exactly the same as the time forwhich the light is emitted (by either the light projecting system 104 or the illumination system 1 10). For instance, the shutter may open just before or just after light emission commences, and/or the shutter may close just before or just after light emission commences.

[0049] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating one example of a method 500 for operating a distance sensor for three-dimensional depth sensing and two- dimensional image capture, according to the present disclosure. The method 500 may be performed, for example, by the controller 108 illustrated in FIG. 1 or by the processor 602 illustrated in FIG. 6 and discussed in further detail elbow. For the sake of example, the method 500 is described as being performed by a processing system.

[0050] The method 500 may begin in step 502. In step 504, the processing system may control a light projecting system of a distance sensor to project a pattern of light onto a surface (e.g., an object whose distance is to be detected, for example), where the pattern of light is created by a plurality of beams of light having wavelengths that are invisible to the human eye. For instance, the plurality of beams of light may comprise infrared light. As discussed above, the pattern of light may comprise points of light that are arranged to form a pattern, such as a grid, on the surface.

[0051] In step 506, the processing system may control a light receiving system of the distance sensor to acquire a three-dimensional image of the pattern of light on the surface, where the light receiving system includes an RGB+IR imaging sensor and a bandpass filter having a plurality of passbands, including at least one passband that allows wavelengths of invisible light to pass.

[0052] For instance, the RGB+IR imaging sensor may comprise a plurality of photodetectors (or pixels), where the plurality of photodetectors may include photodetectors that are sensitive to different wavelengths of light. As an example, the plurality of photodetectors may include photodetectors that are sensitive to wavelengths of light that are visible to the human eye, such as red photodetectors, green photodetectors, and blue photodetectors. The plurality of photodetectors may also include photodetectors that are sensitive to wavelengths of light that are invisible to the human eye, such as infrared photodetectors.

[0053] In this case, the plurality of passbands of the bandpass filter may include at least a first passband and a second passband. The first passband and the second passband may be configured to allow light of different wavelengths to pass through (but to block all other wavelengths of light). For instance, the first passband may transmit one or more wavelengths of light that are visible to the human eye (e.g., RGB wavelengths), while the second passband may transmit one or more wavelengths of light that are invisible to the human eye (e.g., infrared wavelengths).

[0054] Thus, in the case of step 506, invisible (e.g., infrared) light emitted in step 504 may be received by (may pass through to) the photodetectors of the imaging sensor that are configured to detect the invisible light; however, the invisible light may not be received by (may be blocked to) the other photodetectors of the imaging sensor (e.g., RGB photodetectors).

[0055] In step 508, the processing system may calculate a distance to the surface, or may calculate a three-dimensional depth map of the surface, based on the image acquired in step 506. The calculations may be performed as described in United States Patent Applications Serial Nos. 14/920,246, 15/149,323, and 15/149,429.

[0056] In optional step 510 (illustrated in phantom), the processing system may control an illumination system of the distance sensor to illuminate the surface, where the light emitted by the illumination system may include light having wavelengths that are invisible to the human eye as well as light having wavelengths that are visible to the human eye.

[0057] In optional step 512 (illustrated in phantom), the processing system may control the light receiving system of the distance sensor to acquire a two- dimensional image of the illuminated surface. Thus, in the case of step 512, visible (e.g., RGB) light emitted in step 510 may be received by (may pass through to) the photodetectors of the imaging sensor that are configured to detect the visible light; however, the visible light may not be received by (may be blocked to) the other photodetectors of the imaging sensor (e.g., infrared photodetectors).

[0058] The method 500 may end in step 514.

[0059] It should be noted that although not explicitly specified, some of the blocks, functions, or operations of the method 500 described above may include storing, displaying and/or outputting for a particular application. In other words, any data, records, fields, and/or intermediate results discussed in the method 500 can be stored, displayed, and/or outputted to another device depending on the particular application. Furthermore, blocks, functions, or operations in FIG. 5 that recite a determining operation, or involve a decision, do not imply that both branches of the determining operation are practiced. In other words, one of the branches of the determining operation may not be performed, depending on the results of the determining operation.

[0060] FIG. 6 depicts a high-level block diagram of an example electronic device 600 for operating a distance sensor for three-dimensional depth sensing and two-dimensional image capture. As such, the electronic device 600 may be implemented as a processor of an electronic device or system, such as a distance sensor (e.g., as controller 108 in FIG. 1 ).

[0061] As depicted in FIG. 6, the electronic device 600 comprises a hardware processor element 602, e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, or a multi-core processor, a memory 604, e.g., random access memory (RAM) and/or read only memory (ROM), a module 605 for operating a distance sensor for three-dimensional depth sensing and two-dimensional image capture, and various input/output devices 606, e.g., storage devices, including but not limited to, a tape drive, a floppy drive, a hard disk drive or a compact disk drive, a receiver, a transmitter, a display, an output port, an input port, and a user input device, such as a keyboard, a keypad, a mouse, a microphone, a camera, a laser light source, an LED light source, and the like.

[0062] Although one processor element is shown, it should be noted that the electronic device 600 may employ a plurality of processor elements. Furthermore, although one electronic device 600 is shown in the figure, if the method(s) as discussed above is implemented in a distributed or parallel manner for a particular illustrative example, i.e., the blocks of the above method(s) or the entire method(s) are implemented across multiple or parallel electronic devices, then the electronic device 600 of this figure is intended to represent each of those multiple electronic devices.

[0063] It should be noted that the present disclosure can be implemented by machine readable instructions and/or in a combination of machine readable instructions and hardware, e.g., using application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), a programmable logic array (PLA), including a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or a state machine deployed on a hardware device, a general purpose computer or any other hardware equivalents, e.g., computer readable instructions pertaining to the method(s) discussed above can be used to configure a hardware processor to perform the blocks, functions and/or operations of the above disclosed method(s).

[0064] In one example, instructions and data for the present module or process 605 for operating a distance sensor for three-dimensional depth sensing and two-dimensional image capture, e.g., machine readable instructions can be loaded into memory 604 and executed by hardware processor element 602 to implement the blocks, functions or operations as discussed above in connection with the method 500. Furthermore, when a hardware processor executes instructions to perform“operations”, this could include the hardware processor performing the operations directly and/or facilitating, directing, or cooperating with another hardware device or component, e.g., a co-processor and the like, to perform the operations. [0065] The processor executing the machine readable instructions relating to the above described method(s) can be perceived as a programmed processor or a specialized processor. As such, the present module 605 for operating a distance sensor for three-dimensional depth sensing and two-dimensional image capture of the present disclosure can be stored on a tangible or physical (broadly non-transitory) computer-readable storage device or medium, e.g., volatile memory, non-volatile memory, ROM memory, RAM memory, magnetic or optical drive, device or diskette and the like. More specifically, the computer-readable storage device may comprise any physical devices that provide the ability to store information such as data and/or instructions to be accessed by a processor or an electronic device such as a computer or a controller of a safety sensor system.

[0066] It will be appreciated that variants of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be combined into many other different systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, or variations therein may be subsequently made which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.