Abstract: A method to dynamically and adaptively sample the depths of a scene using the principle of triangulation light curtains is described. The approach directly detects the presence or absence of obstacles (or scene points) at specified 3D lines in a scene by sampling the scene. The scene can be sampled sparsely, non-uniformly, or densely at specified regions. The depth sampling can be varied in real-time, enabling quick object discovery or detailed exploration of areas of interest. Once an object is discovered in the scene, adaptive light curtains comprising dense sampling of a region of the scene containing the object, can be used to better define the position, shape and size of the discovered object.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein are generally directed to a device that monitors for the presence of objects passing through or impinging on a virtual shell near the device, referred to herein as a “light curtain”, which is created by rapidly rotating a line sensor and a line laser in synchrony. The boundaries of the light curtain are defined by a sweeping line defined by the intersection of the sensing and illumination planes.

Abstract: Energy-efficient epipolar imaging is applied to the ToF domain to significantly expand the versatility of ToF sensors. The described system exhibits 15+ m range outdoors in bright sunlight; robustness to global transport effects such as specular and diffuse inter-reflections; interference-free 3D imaging in the presence of many ToF sensors, even when they are all operating at the same optical wavelength and modulation frequency; and blur- and distortion-free 3D video in the presence of severe camera shake. The described embodiments are broadly applicable in consumer and robotics domains.

Abstract: A method to dynamically and adaptively sample the depths of a scene using the principle of triangulation light curtains is described. The approach directly detects the presence or absence of obstacles (or scene points) at specified 3D lines in a scene by sampling the scene. The scene can be sampled sparsely, non-uniformly, or densely at specified regions. The depth sampling can be varied in real-time, enabling quick object discovery or detailed exploration of areas of interest. Once an object is discovered in the scene, adaptive light curtains comprising dense sampling of a region of the scene containing the object, can be used to better define the position, shape and size of the discovered object.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein are generally directed to a device that monitors for the presence of objects passing through or impinging on a virtual shell near the device, referred to herein as a “light curtain”, which is created by rapidly rotating a line sensor and a line laser in synchrony. The boundaries of the light curtain are defined by a sweeping line defined by the intersection of the sensing and illumination planes.

Abstract: The embodiments disclosed herein relate to various medical device components, including components that can be incorporated into robotic and/or in vivo medical devices. Certain embodiments include various medical devices for in vivo medical procedures.