Abstract: A method for depth mapping includes receiving optical radiation reflected from multiple points on an object and processing the received optical radiation to generate depth data including multiple candidate depth coordinates for each of a plurality of pixels and respective measures of confidence associated with the candidate depth coordinates. One of the candidate depth coordinates is selected at each of the plurality of the pixels responsively to the respective measures of confidence. A depth map of the object is output, including the selected one of the candidate depth coordinates at each of the plurality of the pixels.

Abstract: A direct retinal projector system that provides dynamic focusing for virtual reality (VR) and/or augmented reality (AR) is described. A direct retinal projector system scans images, pixel by pixel, directly onto the subject's retinas. This allows individual pixels to be optically affected dynamically as the images are scanned to the subject's retinas. Dynamic focusing components and techniques are described that may be used in a direct retinal projector system to dynamically and correctly focus each pixel in VR images as the images are being scanned to a subject's eyes. This allows objects, surfaces, etc. that are intended to appear at different distances in a scene to be projected to the subject's eyes at the correct depths.

Abstract: An optoelectronic device includes a silicon substrate, with a silicon waveguide layer disposed over the silicon substrate and including an optical waveguide. One or more through-silicon vias (TSVs) extend through the silicon substrate and contact the silicon waveguide layer. A III-V base layer is disposed over the silicon waveguide layer, and an optical amplifier is disposed on the III-V base layer and optically coupled to the optical waveguide.

Abstract: An optoelectronic device includes a substrate and at least three emitters, which are disposed on the substrate and are configured to emit respective beams of light. A plurality of waveguides are disposed on the substrate and have respective input ends coupled to receive the beams of light from respective ones of the emitters, and curve adiabatically from the input ends to respective output ends of the waveguides, which are arranged on the substrate in an array having a predefined pitch. Control circuitry is configured to apply a temporal modulation independently to each of the beams of light.

Abstract: A method for depth mapping includes projecting a pattern of optical radiation into a volume of interest containing an object while varying an aspect of the pattern over the volume of interest. A time of flight of the optical radiation reflected from the object responsively to the pattern is sensed, and a depth map of the object is generated based on the sensed time of flight.

Abstract: A beam generating device includes a semiconductor substrate, having an optical passband. A first array of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) is formed on a first face of the semiconductor substrate and are configured to emit respective laser beams through the substrate at a wavelength within the passband. A second array of microlenses is formed on a second face of the semiconductor substrate in respective alignment with the VCSELs so as to transmit the laser beams generated by the VCSELs.

Abstract: An optical device includes a laser light source configured to emit a collimated beam of light, and a scanning mirror, which is configured to reflect and scan the beam of light over a predefined angular range. The optical device further includes a volume holographic grating (VHG), which is positioned to receive and reflect the collimated beam emitted by the laser light source toward the scanning mirror by Bragg reflection at a predefined Bragg-angle, while transmitting the beam reflected from the scanning mirror over a part of the angular range that is outside a cone containing the Bragg-angle.

Abstract: An electro-optical device includes a laser light source, which is configured to emit at least one beam of light. A beam steering device is configured to transmit and scan the at least one beam across a target scene. In an array of sensing elements, each sensing element is configured to output a signal indicative of incidence of photons on the sensing element. Light collection optics are configured to image the target scene scanned by the transmitted beam onto the array, wherein the beam steering device scans the at least one beam across the target scene with a spot size and scan resolution that are smaller than a pitch of the sensing elements. Circuitry is coupled to actuate the sensing elements only in a selected region of the array and to sweep the selected region over the array in synchronization with scanning of the at least one beam.

Abstract: A method for depth mapping includes providing depth mapping resources, including a radiation source, which projects optical radiation into a volume of interest containing an object, and a sensor, which senses the optical radiation reflected from the object. The volume of interest has a depth that varies with angle relative to the radiation source and the sensor. A depth map of the object is generated using the resources while applying at least one of the resources non-uniformly over the volume of interest, responsively to the varying depth as a function of the angle.

Abstract: A direct retinal projector system that provides dynamic focusing for virtual reality (VR) and/or augmented reality (AR) is described. A direct retinal projector system scans images, pixel by pixel, directly onto the subject's retinas. This allows individual pixels to be optically affected dynamically as the images are scanned to the subject's retinas. Dynamic focusing components and techniques are described that may be used in a direct retinal projector system to dynamically and correctly focus each pixel in VR images as the images are being scanned to a subject's eyes. This allows objects, surfaces, etc. that are intended to appear at different distances in a scene to be projected to the subject's eyes at the correct depths.

Abstract: An electro-optical device includes a laser, which is configured to emit toward a scene pulses of optical radiation. An array of detectors are configured to receive the optical radiation that is reflected from points in the scene and to output signals indicative of respective times of arrival of the received radiation. A controller is coupled to drive the laser to emit a sequence of pulses of the optical radiation toward each of a plurality of points in the scene and to find respective times of flight for the points responsively to the output signals, while controlling a power of the pulses emitted by the laser by counting a number of the detectors outputting the signals in response to each pulse, and reducing the power of a subsequent pulse in the sequence when the number is greater than a predefined threshold.

Abstract: Optical apparatus includes a shaft, which is configured to rotate about an axis of the shaft relative to a base. A mirror is fixed to the shaft so that the mirror rotates about the axis. A rotor including a permanent magnet is fixed to rotate with the shaft. A stator is configured to generate a magnetic field having a DC component in a vicinity of the rotor. A torsion spring, extending along the axis, has a first end that is attached to rotate with the shaft and a second end attached to the base.

Abstract: A compact remote sensing device is described that includes a transmit component that scans a beam of light across a scene or object field, and a receive component that receives return light from the object field. The transmit component includes a small, fast scanning mechanism such as a MEMS mirror or a piezo mirror that scans a beam of light emitted by a light source across a field of view (FOV). The receive component includes a focal plane array (FPA) with a FOV at least large enough to capture the FOV of the scanning mechanism. The FPA may be a low resolution FPA (i.e., with fewer pixels than the resolution of the scanning mechanism), and the light beam may be scanned and captured at multiple spots within the pixels of the FPA.

Abstract: A scanning device includes a base containing one or more rotational bearings disposed along a gimbal axis. A gimbal includes a shaft that fits into the rotational bearings so that the gimbal rotates about the gimbal axis relative to the base. A mirror assembly includes a semiconductor substrate, which has been etched and coated to define a support, which is fixed to the gimbal, at least one mirror, contained within the support, and a connecting member connecting the at least one mirror to the support and defining at least one mirror axis, about which the at least one mirror rotates relative to the support.

Abstract: Apparatus for mapping includes an illumination assembly, which projects a line of radiation extending in a first direction across a scene. A detection assembly receives the radiation reflected from the scene within a sensing area that contains at least a part of the line of the radiation, and includes a linear array of detector elements and objective optics, which focus the reflected radiation from the sensing area onto the linear array. A scanning mirror scans the line of radiation and the sensing area together over the scene in a second direction, which is perpendicular to the first direction. Processing circuitry processes signals output by the detector elements in response to the received radiation in order to construct a three-dimensional (3D) map of an object in the scene.

Abstract: A Predictive, Foveated Virtual Reality System may capture views of the world around a user using multiple resolutions. The Predictive, Foveated Virtual Reality System may include one or more cameras configured to capture lower resolution image data for a peripheral field of view while capturing higher resolution image data for a narrow field of view corresponding to a user's line of sight. Additionally, the Predictive, Foveated Virtual Reality System may also include one or more sensors or other mechanisms, such as gaze tracking modules or accelerometers, to detect or track motion. A Predictive, Foveated Virtual Reality System may also predict, based on a user's head and eye motion, the user's future line of sight and may capture image data corresponding to a predicted line of sight. When the user subsequently looks in that direction the system may display the previously captured (and augmented) view.

Abstract: Apparatus for mapping includes a radiation source, which is configured to emit at least one beam of radiation, and a detector and optics, which define a sensing area of the detector. A scanner is configured to receive and scan the at least one beam over a selected angular range within a region of interest while scanning the sensing area over the selected angular range in synchronization with the at least one beam from the radiation source. A processor is configured to process signals output by the detector in order to construct a three-dimensional (3D) map of an object in the region of interest.

Abstract: Operating a computerized system includes presenting user interface elements on a display screen. A first gesture made in a three-dimensional space by a by a distal portion of an upper extremity of a user is detected while a segment of the distal portion thereof rests on a surface. In response to the first gesture, an area of the display screen selected by the user is identified, and a corresponding user interface element is displayed. After displaying the corresponding user interface element, a second gesture made by the distal portion is detected while the segment continues to rest on the surface so as to select one of the user interface elements that appears in the selected area.

Abstract: A method for depth mapping includes receiving optical radiation reflected from multiple points on an object and processing the received optical radiation to generate depth data including multiple candidate depth coordinates for each of a plurality of pixels and respective measures of confidence associated with the candidate depth coordinates. One of the candidate depth coordinates is selected at each of the plurality of the pixels responsively to the respective measures of confidence. A depth map of the object is output, including the selected one of the candidate depth coordinates at each of the plurality of the pixels.

Abstract: A direct retinal projector system that provides dynamic focusing for virtual reality (VR) and/or augmented reality (AR) is described. A direct retinal projector system scans images, pixel by pixel, directly onto the subject's retinas. This allows individual pixels to be optically affected dynamically as the images are scanned to the subject's retinas. Dynamic focusing components and techniques are described that may be used in a direct retinal projector system to dynamically and correctly focus each pixel in VR images as the images are being scanned to a subject's eyes. This allows objects, surfaces, etc. that are intended to appear at different distances in a scene to be projected to the subject's eyes at the correct depths.