Three-Dimensional (3D) Image System and Electronic Device

Abstract

The present application provides a three-dimensional (3D) image system, comprising a structural light module, configured to emit a structural light, wherein the structural light module comprises a first light-emitting unit, the first light-emitting unit receives a first pulse signal and emits a first light according to the first pulse signal, a duty cycle of the first pulse signal is less than a specific value, an emission power of the first light-emitting unit is greater than a specific power, and the first light has a first wavelength; and a light-sensing pixel array, configured to receive a reflected light corresponding to the structural light.

Claims

1. A three-dimensional (3D) image system, characterized by, comprising: a structural light module, configured to emit a structural light, wherein the structural light module comprises: a pulse signal generator configured to generate a first pulsed signal; and a first light-emitting unit, wherein the first light-emitting unit configured to receive the first pulse signal and emit a first light according to the first pulse signal, a duty cycle of the first pulse signal is less than a specific value, an emission power of the first light-emitting unit is greater than a specific power, and the first light has a first wavelength.

2. The 3D image system as claim 1, characterized in that, the duty cycle of the first pulse signal is less than 1/50.

3. The 3D image system as claim 1, characterized in that, the emission power of the first light-emitting unit is greater than 4 watts.

4. The 3D image system as claim 1, characterized in that, the structural light module comprises at least a second light-emitting unit, the at least a second light-emitting unit receives at least a second pulse signal and emits at least a second light according to the at least a second pulse signal, at least a duty cycle of the at least a second pulse signal is less than the specific value, an emission power of the at least a second light-emitting unit is greater than the specific power, and the at least a second light has at least a second wavelength, respectively.

5. The 3D image system as claim 4, characterized in that, the first wavelength and the at least a second wavelength are different.

6. The 3D image system as claim 4, characterized in that, the duty cycles of the first pulse signal and the at least a second pulse signal are time variant.

7. The 3D image system as claim 1, characterized in that, the duty cycle of the first pulse signal is time variant.

8. An electronic device, characterized in that, comprising a three-dimensional image system, wherein the three-dimensional image system comprises: a light module, comprising: a pulse signal generator configured to generate a first pulsed signal; and a first light-emitting unit, wherein the first light-emitting unit configured to receive the first pulse signal and emit a first light according to the first pulse signal, a duty cycle of the first pulse signal is less than a specific value, an emission power of the first light-emitting unit is greater than a specific power, and the first light has a first wavelength.

9. The electronic device as claim 8, characterized in that, the duty cycle of the first pulse signal is less than 1/50, and the emission power of the first light-emitting unit is greater than 4 watts.

10. The electronic device as claim 8, characterized in that, the light module comprises at least a second light-emitting unit, the at least a second light-emitting unit receives at least a second pulse signal and emits at least a second light according to the at least a second pulse signal, at least a duty cycle of the at least a second pulse signal is less than the specific value, an emission power of the at least a second light-emitting unit is greater than the specific power, and the at least a second light has at least a second wavelength, respectively.

11. The electronic device as claim 10, characterized in that, the first wavelength and the at least a second wavelength are different.

12. The electronic device as claim 10, characterized in that, the duty cycles of the first pulse signal and the at least a second pulse signal are time variant.

13. The electronic device as claim 8, characterized in that, the duty cycle of the first pulse signal is time variant.

14. A structural light module, configured to emit a structural light, wherein the structural light module comprises: a pulse signal generator configured to generate a first pulsed signal for driving a first light-emitting unit to emit a first light, a duty cycle of the first pulse signal is less than a specific value, an emission power of the first light-emitting unit is greater than a specific power, and the first light has a first wavelength.

15. The structural light module as claim 14, characterized in that, the duty cycle of the first pulse signal is less than 1/50.

16. The structural light module as claim 15, characterized in that, the emission power of the first light-emitting unit is greater than 4 watts.

17. The structural light module as claim 14, characterized in that, the pulse signal generator is configured to generate a second pulsed signal for driving a second light-emitting unit to emit a second light.

18. The structural light module as claim 17, characterized in that, a duty cycle of the second pulse signal is less than the specific value, an emission power of the second light-emitting unit is greater than the specific power, and the second light has at least a second wavelength.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of three-dimensional (3D) image system according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0027] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a light-sensing pixel circuit according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0028] FIG. 3 is a timing diagram of the light-sensing pixel circuit in FIG. 2.

[0029] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a 3D image system according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0030] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a light-sensing pixel circuit according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0031] FIG. 6 is a timing diagram of the light-sensing pixel circuit in FIG. 5.

[0032] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a structural light according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0033] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a structural light according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0034] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0035] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a structural light module according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0036] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a light-sensing pixel circuit

[0037] FIG. 12 illustrates waveforms of pulse signals and transmission gate signals of different electronic devices.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] In order to make the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention become more apparent, the following relies on the accompanying drawings and embodiments to describe the present invention in further detail. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only for explaining the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0039] To solve the problem of the structural light in the prior art being easily to be interfered by the ambient light, the present application utilizes a pulse modulated signal to generate the structural light. Specifically, please refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a three-dimensional (3D) image system 10 according to an embodiment of the present application. The 3D image system 10 comprises a structural light module 12_t and a camera module 12_r. The structural light module 12_t is configured to generate a structural light SL, and project the structural light SL onto an object, where the structural light SL has stripe pattern, as shown in FIG. 7. The camera module 12_r may capture an image of the structural light SL projected onto the object, and calculate depth information of the object (using the triangular measuring method) according to curveness of the structural light SL on the object, so as to obtain a 3D image related to the object.

[0040] Specifically, the structural light module 12_t comprises a pulse signal generator 120, a light-emitting unit 122 and a diffraction unit 124. The light-emitting unit 122 may be a light-emitting diode (LED) or a laser emitting unit. The diffraction unit 124 may be a diffraction optical element (DOE). The pulse signal generator 120 is configured to generate a pulse signal pml. The light-emitting unit 122 is coupled to the pulse signal generator 120, to receive the pulse signal pml and generate/emit a first light L1 to the diffraction unit 124 according to the pulse signal pml. Diffraction effect would be formed on the first light L1 in the diffraction unit 124, and the structural light SL is generated. Moreover, the pulse signal pm1 is a pulse modulated signal, i.e., the pulse signal pml may be regarded as square waves with small duty cycle. In addition, when the light-emitting unit 122 emits the first light L1, the light-emitting unit 122 would have a large emission power. Specifically, a duty cycle of the pulse signal pml may be 1/1000 in general, and not limited herein. As long as the duty cycle of the pulse signal pml is less than 1/50, requirements of the present application are satisfied. In addition, an emission power of the light-emitting unit 122 is between 4 watts and 5 watts in general, and not limited herein. As long as the emission power of the light-emitting unit 122 is greater than 4 watts, requirements of the present application are satisfied. In other words, the light-emitting unit 122 may be regarded as emitting a strong light instantaneously, which is similar to a photoflash of a general camera) , so as to enhance a light signal strength related to the structural light SL received by the camera module 12_r, such that the light signal related to the structural light SL has immunity against the ambient light, to improve over disadvantages of the prior art.

[0041] In another perspective, the camera module 12_r includes a light-sensing pixel array 14 and a lens 18. The light-sensing pixel array 14, receiving a reflected light corresponding to the structural light SL, comprises a plurality of light-sensing pixel circuits 16. The output signals of the light-sensing pixel circuits 16 may correspond to pixel values of the image captured by the camera module 12_r. The circuit structure and operational mechanism of the light-sensing pixel circuit 16 are not limited. For example, please refer to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. FIG. 2 is an equivalent schematic circuit diagram of the light-sensing pixel circuit 16 according to an embodiment of the present application. FIG. 3 is a timing diagram of the light-sensing pixel circuit 16. The light-sensing pixel circuit 16 comprises a light-sensing component PD and photoelectric readout circuits 16_1, 16_2. Both the photoelectric readout circuits 16_1 and 16_2 include transmission gates, reset transistors, output transistors and read transistors. The transmission gates are coupled to the light-sensing component PD. Gates of the reset transistors receive a reset signal Reset. Gates of the read transistors receive a row select signal ROW. The transmission gates of the photoelectric readout circuits 16_1 and 16_2 receive signals TX1 and TX2, respectively. The transmission gate, the reset transistor and the output transistor of the photoelectric readout circuit 16_1 are connected to a node FD_1. The transmission gate, the reset transistor and the output transistor of the photoelectric readout circuit 16_2 are connected to a node FD_2. In addition, the light-sensing pixel circuit 16 also includes an anti-blooming transistor, and a gate of the anti-blooming transistor receives a signal TX4.

[0042] Operational mechanism of the light-sensing pixel circuit 16 is described as follows. When the pulse signal pm1 is high, the light-emitting unit 122 emits the first light L1. When the light-emitting unit 122 emits the first light L1, the transmission gate of the photoelectric readout circuit 16_1 is conducted. In an embodiment, a conduction time interval T1 of the transmission gate within the photoelectric readout circuit 16_1 is wider than a time interval T4 of the pulse signal pml being high, i.e., the conduction time interval of the transmission gate within the photoelectric readout circuit 16_1 is longer than an emitting time interval of the light-emitting unit 122. When the transmission gate of the photoelectric readout circuit 16_1 is conducted (i.e., the signal TX1 is high), i.e., within the conduction time interval T1, the light-sensing component PD receives the first light L1 and the ambient light, and the transmission gate of the photoelectric readout circuit 16_1 may drain out the photocharge generated by the light-sensing component PD because of receiving the first light L1 and also the ambient light and store the photocharge at the node FD_1. In another perspective, when the light-emitting unit 122 does not emit light (i.e., the pulse signal pm1 is low), the transmission gate of the photoelectric readout circuit 16_2 may be conducted in a short time (the signal TX2 is high). At this time, the light-sensing component PD receives the ambient light only, and the transmission gate of the photoelectric readout circuit 16_2 may drain out the photocharge generated by the light-sensing component PD because of receiving the ambient light and store the photocharge at the node FD_2. When the read transistors of the photoelectric readout circuits 16_1 and 16_2 are conducted, the read transistor the photoelectric readout circuit 16_1 outputs an output signal Pout1 (which is related to the first light L1 and the ambient light), and the read transistor of the photoelectric readout circuit 16_2 outputs an output signal Pout2 (which is related to the ambient light only). The pixel value corresponding to the light-sensing pixel circuit 16 is a subtraction result of the output signal Pout1 and the output signal Pout2 (e.g., Pout1-Pout2). Therefore, an effect of the ambient light may be eliminated in the pixel value of the light-sensing pixel circuit 16. In addition, when the transmission gates of the photoelectric readout circuits 16_1 and 16_2 are not conducted, the anti-blooming transistor of the light-sensing pixel circuit 16 is conducted (the signal TX4 is high). The light-sensing pixel circuit 16 would drain out the photocharge of the light-sensing component PD caused by receiving the ambient light, to maintain normal operation.

[0043] After the light-emitting unit 122 emits the instantaneous strong light, it requires a time for the light-emitting unit 122 to rest, and then the light-emitting unit 122 is able to emit light again. That is, the duty cycle of the pulse signal pml maybe too small such that a light strength corresponding to the structural light SL received by the camera module 12_r is insufficient. Thus, in an embodiment, the structural light module may comprise two light-emitting units. The two light-emitting units may emit lights alternatively, so as to enhance the strength corresponding to the structural light received by the camera module 12_r. Furthermore, the two light-emitting units may emit lights with different wavelengths. Since the different wavelengths have various refractions, the structural light generated by passing through the diffraction unit may have denser stripe pattern, and resolution of the 3D image is further enhanced.

[0044] Specifically, please refer to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a 3D image system 40 according to an embodiment of the present application. The 3D image system 40 is similar to the 3D image system 10, and thus, same components are denoted by the same symbols. Different from the 3D image system 10, the structural light module 42_t of the 3D image system 40 comprises another light-emitting unit 422, in addition to the light-emitting unit 122. The light-emitting unit 422 receives a pulse signal pm2 to generate a second light L2. The second light L2 and the first light L1 may have different wavelengths. Similarly, a duty cycle of the pulse signal pm2 may be 1/1000 (or less than 1/50). An emission power of the light-emitting unit 422 maybe between 4 watts and 5 watts (or greater than 4 watts). In addition, the first light L1 and the second light L2 pass though the diffraction unit 124, in which the diffraction effect is formed, such that a structural light SL is generated. Since the first light L1 and the second light L2 have the different wavelengths, the stripe pattern of the structural light SL is denser. As shown in FIG. 8, a strip light spl represents the structural light corresponding to the first light L1, and a strip light sp2 represents the structural light corresponding to the second light L2.

[0045] In addition, a camera module 42_r of the 3D image system 40 comprises a light-sensing pixel array 44. The light-sensing pixel array 44 comprises a plurality of light-sensing pixel circuits 46. The circuit structure and operational mechanism of the light-sensing pixel circuit 46 are not limited. For example, please refer to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6. FIG. 5 is an equivalent schematic circuit diagram of the light-sensing pixel circuit 46 according to an embodiment of the present application. FIG. 6 is a timing diagram of the light-sensing pixel circuit 46. The light-sensing pixel circuit 46 is similar to the light-sensing pixel circuit 16, and thus, same components are denoted by the same symbols. Different from the light-sensing pixel circuit 16, the light-sensing pixel circuit 46 further comprises the photoelectric readout circuit 46_3. The circuit structure of the photoelectric readout circuit 46_3 is the same as which of the photoelectric readout circuits 16_1 and 16_2, where a transmission gate of the photoelectric readout circuit 46_3 receives a signal TX3. Similarly, when the light-emitting unit 422 emits the second light L2, the transmission gate of the photoelectric readout circuit 46_3 is conducted. The light-sensing component PD receives the second light L2 and the ambient light, and the transmission gate of the photoelectric readout circuit 46_3 may drain out the photocharge generated by the light-sensing component PD because of receiving the second light L2 and the ambient light and store the photocharge a node FD_3. Similarly, when the light-emitting units 122 and 422 do not emit light (i.e., the pulse signals pm1 and pm2 are low), the transmission gate of the photoelectric readout circuit 16_2 may be conducted in a short time (the signal TX2 is high). At this time, the light-sensing component PD receives the ambient light only, and the transmission gate of the photoelectric readout circuit 16_2 may drain out the photocharge generated by the light-sensing component PD because of receiving the ambient light and store the photocharge at the node FD_2. When the read transistors of the photoelectric readout circuits 16_1, 16_2 and 46_3 are conducted, the read transistor the photoelectric readout circuit 16_1 outputs an output signal Pout1 (which is related to the first light L1 and the ambient light), the read transistor of the photoelectric readout circuit 16_2 outputs an output signal Pout2 (which is related to the ambient light only), and the read transistor of the photoelectric readout circuit 46_3 outputs an output signal Pout3 (which is related to the second light L2 and the ambient light). The pixel value corresponding to the light-sensing pixel circuit 46 is a sum of the output signal Pout1 and the output signal Pout3 minus twice of the output signal Pout2 (i.e., Pout1+Pout32*Pout2), such that an effect of the ambient light may be eliminated. In addition, the conduction time intervals of the transmission gates within the photoelectric readout circuits 16_1, 16_2 are wider than pulse widths of the pulse signals pm1 and pm2, i.e., the conduction time intervals of the transmission gates within the photoelectric readout circuits 16_1, 16_2 are longer than the emitting time intervals of the light-emitting units 122, 422. In addition, the conduction time interval T1 of the transmission gate within the photoelectric readout circuit 16_1 and the conduction time interval T8 of the transmission gate within the photoelectric readout circuit 46_3 are separated by a time blank T7. The rest operational mechanism is referred to the paragraph stated in the above, which is not narrated herein for brevity.

[0046] In addition, the 3D image system of the present application may be disposed with an electronic device. Please refer to FIG. 9. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of an electronic device 9 according to an embodiment of the present application. The electronic device 9 comprises a 3D image system 90, where the 3D image system 90 may be realized by the 3D image system 10 or the 3D image system 40.

[0047] Notably, the embodiments stated in the above are utilized for illustrating the concept of the present invention. Those skilled in the art may make modifications and alterations accordingly, and not limited herein. For example, the duty cycles of the pulse signals pm1 and pm2 may be changed randomly (i.e., the duty cycles of the pulse signals pm1 and pm2 are time variant). For example, after the pulse signal generator 120 generates one pulse, the pulse signal generator 120 may generate a subsequent pulse (N+n) period of time later, where N may be a large integer and n may be a random number. Therefore, the structural lights corresponding to different electronic devices are prevented from interfering each other. Please refer to FIG. 12, FIG. 12 illustrates waveforms of pulse signals pmA, pmB and signals TXA, TXB of electronic devices A, B. The pulse signal pmA is the pulse signal received by the light-emitting unit within the electronic device A. The pulse signal pmB is the pulse signal received by the light-emitting unit within the electronic device B. The signal TXA is the signal received by the transmission gate within the photoelectric readout circuit of the light-sensing pixel circuit within the electronic device A. The signal TXB is the signal received by the transmission gate within the photoelectric readout circuit of the light-sensing pixel circuit within the electronic device B. As shown in FIG. 12, when the duty cycles of the pulse signals are randomly generated, the light-emitting time corresponding to the light-emitting unit of the electronic device A and which of the electronic device B would be interleaved. The conduction time corresponding to the transmission gate of the electronic device A and which of the electronic device B would be interleaved as well. Thus, the light signals related to the structural lights from the electronic device A and the electronic device B would not interfere each other.

[0048] In addition, the structural light module of the present application may comprise a plurality of light-emitting unit. Please refer to FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a structural light module c2_t according to an embodiment of the present application. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a light-sensing pixel circuit d6 corresponding to the structural light module c2_t. The structural light module c2_t comprises the light-emitting units 122 and 122_1-122_K, which emit light at different time instant. The light-sensing pixel circuit d6 comprises photoelectric readout circuits d6_1-d6_K and d6_B. The circuit structure of the photoelectric readout circuits d6_1-d6_K and d6_B may be the same as which of the photoelectric readout circuits 16_1, 16_2 or 46_3 stated in the above. The conduction time intervals of the transmission gate within the photoelectric readout circuits d6_1-d6_K (K may represent K+1) are corresponding to the emitting time intervals of the light-emitting units 122, 122_1-122_K. The photoelectric readout circuits d6_1-d6_K output the output signals Pout1-Pout K. The output signals Pout1-Pout K are related to the lights emitted from the light-emitting units 122, 122_1-122_K and the ambient light. The transmission gate of the photoelectric readout circuit d6_B is conducted when all the light-emitting units 122, 122_1-122_K do not emit light, which means that the photoelectric readout circuit d6_B only reads the photocurrent caused by the ambient light, i.e., the output signal PoutB outputted by the photoelectric readout circuit d6_B is only related to the ambient light. In this case, the pixel value corresponding to the light-sensing pixel circuit d6 may be Pout1+ . . . +PoutKK*PoutB.

[0049] In summary, the light-emitting unit within the structural light module of the present application receives the pulse signal, which is pulse modulated, and emits instantaneous strong light, such that the emitted structural light has immunity against the ambient light, to improve over disadvantages of the prior art.

[0050] The foregoing is only embodiments of the present application, which is not intended to limit the present application. Any modification following the spirit and principle of the present application, equivalent substitutions, improvements should be included within the scope of the present invention.