Miniature Pattern Projector Using Microleds And Micro-Optics

Abstract

An apparatus projecting light onto a projection surface comprises: a substrate having disposed thereon two or more LED clusters and two or more micro-lenses, each LED cluster comprising a plurality of LEDs and each of the micro-lenses being disposed the plurality of LEDs. Each of the LED clusters is arranged to emit light through each of the micro-lenses in a pattern of dots. A center of at least one LED cluster is off-set from an optical center of the micro-lens of its LED cluster. A projected image includes arrangements of individual dots and/or areas of smooth light resulting from the pattern of dots.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A system, comprising:
 a printed circuit board;   a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) clusters disposed on the printed circuit board and spaced apart from one another; and   a plurality of lenses, each lens configured to collimate light from a respective LED cluster to form a respective light beam plurality, light beams in all the light beam pluralities having different propagation angles from one another.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein:
 propagation angles of the light beams from each light beam plurality extend over a respective angular range; and   the angular ranges of the light beam pluralities do not overlap.   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein:
 each lens of the plurality of lenses is disposed on a first surface of a transparent plate; and   a second surface of the transparent plate, opposite the first surface, faces the plurality of LED clusters.   
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein each lens of the plurality of lenses is integral with the first surface of the transparent plate. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein each lens of the plurality of lenses has a respective focal point coincident with the second surface of the transparent plate. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein each LED cluster includes a respective array of microLEDs. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of LED clusters includes LEDs that are disposed in a plane. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27  wherein:
 each LED cluster defines a respective LED cluster central axis that extends from a center of the LED cluster in a direction orthogonal to the plane; and 
 at least one lens of the plurality of lenses has a center that is spaced apart from the corresponding LED cluster central axis. 
 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising a controller configured to control the LED clusters, the LED clusters being independently controllable. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein:
 the plurality of lenses is configured to direct the light beam pluralities toward a scene;   the system further comprises a sensor configured to capture images of the scene when the scene is illuminated by the light beam pluralities; and   the system further comprises a three-dimensional sensing application configured to determine, from the captured images, a three-dimensional profile of the scene.   
     
     
         31 . A method, comprising:
 providing a printed circuit board;   generating light with a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) clusters disposed on the printed circuit board and spaced apart from one another; and   collimating, with a plurality of lenses, the light from corresponding LED clusters of the plurality of LED clusters to form corresponding light beam pluralities, light beams in all the light beam pluralities having different propagation angles from one another.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein:
 propagation angles of the light beams from each light beam plurality extend over a respective angular range; and   the angular ranges of the light beam pluralities do not overlap.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein:
 each lens of the plurality of lenses is disposed on a first surface of a transparent plate; and   a second surface of the transparent plate, opposite the first surface, faces the plurality of LED clusters.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein each lens of the plurality of lenses is integral with the first surface of the transparent plate. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein each lens of the plurality of lenses has a respective focal point coincident with the second surface of the transparent plate. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein each LED cluster includes a respective array of microLEDs. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the plurality of LED clusters includes LEDs that are disposed in a plane. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37  wherein:
 each LED cluster defines a respective LED cluster central axis that extends from a center of the LED cluster in a direction orthogonal to the plane; and 
 at least one lens of the plurality of lenses has a center that is spaced apart from the corresponding LED cluster central axis. 
 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein:
 the system further comprises a controller configured to control the LED clusters, the LED clusters being independently controllable;   the plurality of lenses is configured to direct the light beam pluralities toward a scene;   the system further comprises a sensor configured to capture images of the scene when the scene is illuminated by the light beam pluralities; and   the system further comprises a three-dimensional sensing application configured to determine, from the captured images, a three-dimensional profile of the scene.   
     
     
         40 . A system, comprising:
 a printed circuit board;   a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) clusters disposed in a plane on the printed circuit board and spaced apart from one another;   a transparent plate disposed on the printed circuit board, the transparent plate including a first surface that faces the plurality of LED clusters and a second surface opposite the first surface;   a plurality of lenses integral with the second surface of the transparent plate, each lens configured to collimate light from a respective LED cluster to form a respective light beam plurality and direct the respective light beam plurality toward a scene, propagation angles of the light beams from each light beam plurality extending over a respective angular range, the angular ranges of the light beam pluralities not overlapping;   a controller configured to electrically control the LED clusters, the LED clusters being independently controllable;   a sensor configured to capture images of the scene when the scene is illuminated by the light beam pluralities; and   a three-dimensional sensing application configured to determine, from the captured images, a three-dimensional profile of the scene.