Meta platforms technologies, llc (20240118423). SPARSE DEPTH SENSING WITH DIGITAL PIXEL SENSOR simplified abstract

SPARSE DEPTH SENSING WITH DIGITAL PIXEL SENSOR

Organization Name

meta platforms technologies, llc

Inventor(s)

Onur Can Akkaya of Los Altos CA (US)

Song Chen of Redmond WA (US)

Xinqiao Liu of Medina WA (US)

Andrew Samuel Berkovich of Sammamish WA (US)

Tsung-Hsun Tsai of Redmond WA (US)

Yi Zheng of Redmond WA (US)

Raffaele Capoccia of Zurich (CH)

SPARSE DEPTH SENSING WITH DIGITAL PIXEL SENSOR - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 20240118423 titled 'SPARSE DEPTH SENSING WITH DIGITAL PIXEL SENSOR

Simplified Explanation

The patent application describes a depth sensing system that uses a projector to generate light pulses forming a sparse grid array, which are then reflected off objects in an environment towards a sensor array. The sensor array sequentially senses the reflected light pulses across pixels, allowing the depth sensing system to calculate depth information based on the positional and temporal information of both the generated and sensed light pulses.

• The projector generates light pulses to form a sparse grid array.
• The light pulses reflect off objects in the environment towards a sensor array.
• The sensor array sequentially senses the reflected light pulses across pixels.
• The depth sensing system calculates depth information based on the positional and temporal information of both the generated and sensed light pulses.
• The depth sensing system may generate a representation of the environment based on the depth information.

Potential Applications

This technology could be applied in various fields such as:

• Robotics for object detection and navigation.
• Augmented reality for accurate depth perception.
• Autonomous vehicles for obstacle avoidance.

Problems Solved

This technology addresses the following issues:

• Accurate depth sensing in dynamic environments.
• Improved object detection and tracking.
• Enhanced spatial awareness for machines and devices.

Benefits

The benefits of this technology include:

• Precise depth information for better decision-making.
• Increased safety in various applications.
• Enhanced user experience in augmented reality and virtual reality.

Potential Commercial Applications

With its diverse applications, this technology could be utilized in:

• Surveillance systems for enhanced security.
• Medical imaging for accurate diagnostics.
• Gaming industry for immersive experiences.

Possible Prior Art

One example of prior art in this field is the use of structured light techniques for depth sensing, where patterns of light are projected onto a scene and analyzed to determine depth information.

Unanswered Questions

How does this technology handle varying lighting conditions in different environments?

The patent application does not provide details on how the depth sensing system adapts to different lighting conditions to ensure accurate depth calculations.

What is the potential impact of this technology on data privacy and security?

The article does not discuss the implications of using depth sensing systems in terms of data privacy and security, especially in sensitive areas like surveillance and medical imaging.

Original Abstract Submitted

a projector sequentially generates light pulses to form a sparse grid array. the light pulses reflect off objects in an environment and are reflected towards a sensor array. the sensor array sequentially senses the reflected light pulses across pixels of the sensor array. a depth sensing system calculates depth information of objects in the environment based on the sequential nature of the pulse generation and the pulse sensing. the depth sensing system calculates depth information based on both the positional and temporal information of generated light pulses, and the positional and temporal information of sensed light pulses. the depth sensing system may generate a representation of the environment based on the depth information.