Abstract: An optical sensing device for using light to locate objects or features in a field of view comprises a light source; a controllable lens having two states and being controllable between them, for example a multifocal lens having two or more foci for focusing light from the light source; and a sensor able to sense light reflected from an object, to determine information of the object. The use of two or more foci adds dynamic range to optical sensing to allow for reliable detection over a wide range of distances.

Abstract: A method and a system for generating user feedback of a gesture capturing device with content projection capability are provided herein. The method may include the following steps: projecting content, by a content projector, onto a projection surface; projecting patterned light, by a pattern projector, onto said projection surface and onto a maneuverable object controlled by a user; capturing reflections of the patterned light coming from said projection surface and said maneuverable object; calculating, based on said reflections, at least one of: a relative position and a relative orientation of at least two of: said projection surface, said maneuverable object, said content projector and said pattern projector; and generating a feedback, based on said calculated relative positions and/or orientations, wherein said feedback relates to a proper operation of the system, based on said relative position and a relative orientation, in view of predefined criteria.

Abstract: A detector for optical detection of location within a volume, comprises a beam source for shining a structured light pattern on the volume and a digital detector having detection pixels of a given size. The light pattern, when shone into the volume and reflected back to the detection pixels, has a brightness distribution with a peak and a surrounding brightness structure. Now often the peak may be smaller than the pixel size although the overall distribution of the brightness extends over multiple pixels. The system includes an electronic processor for assessing a distribution of brightness among the neighboring pixels to infer a location of the peak within a region smaller than the size of the central pixel on which it falls, thus giving sub-pixel resolution.

Abstract: An optical sensing device for using light to locate objects or features in a field of view comprises a light source; a controllable lens having two states and being controllable between them, for example a multifocal lens having two or more foci for focusing light from the light source; and a sensor able to sense light reflected from an object, to determine information of the object. The use of two or more foci adds dynamic range to optical sensing to allow for reliable detection over a wide range of distances.

Abstract: An apparatus for remote hand control of a computer device, the apparatus comprising: a hand tracker, configured to track movement of a hand of a user of the computer device, an image presenter, associated with the hand tracker, configured to present a first image representative of the hand and a second image to the user, and to move the first image in concert with the tracked movement, and a computer controller, associated with the image presenter and configured to control the computer device in accordance with an interaction between the first image and the second image, thereby allowing the user to control the computer device, by moving the hand for bringing the first image and the second image into the interaction.

Abstract: A method and system for generating light pattern using reflective polygons are provided herein. The method may include: rotating at least one polygon having a plurality of reflective facets along a rotation axis parallel to the facets; transmitting a light beam on the facets of the polygon; tilting the light beam relative to the polygon in parallel to the rotation axis so that the light beam hits each of the facets at a different tilt angle, thereby producing a light pattern comprising a plurality of lines; and controlling at least one of: the light intensity, the rotating, and the tilting, so as to produce an adjustable light pattern transmitted at a scene.

Abstract: A solution for generating a 3D representation of an object in a scene is provided. A depth map representation of the object is combined with a reflectivity map representation of the object to generate the 3D representation of the object. The 3D representation of the object provides more complete and accurate information of the object. An image of the object is illuminated by structured light and is captured. Pattern features rendered in the captured image of the object are analyzed to derive a depth map representation and a reflectivity map representation of the illuminated object. The depth map representation provides depth information while the reflectivity map representation provides surface information (e.g., reflectivity) of the illuminated object. The 3D representation of the object can be enhanced with additional illumination projected onto the object and additional images of the object.

Abstract: Apparatus for generating a dynamic structured light pattern for optical tracking in three-dimensional space, comprises an array of lasers, such as a VCSEL laser array, to project light in a pattern into a three-dimensional space; and an optical element or elements arranged in cells. The cells are aligned with subsets of the laser array, and each cell individually applies a modulation, in particular an intensity modulation, to light from the laser or lasers of the subset, to provide a distinguishable and separately controllable part of the dynamic structured light pattern. A method of generating a structured light pattern is disclosed, in which light is provided from an array of lasers, and light is individually projected from subsets of the array of lasers to provide differentiated parts of the structured light pattern.

Abstract: A tracking system generates a structured light pattern in a local area. The system includes an array of lasers that generate light. The array of lasers includes a plurality of lasers and an optical element. The plurality of lasers are grouped into at least two subsets of lasers, and each of the at least two subsets of lasers is independently switchable. The optical element includes a plurality of cells that are each aligned with a respective subset of the array of lasers. Each cell receives light from a corresponding laser of the array of lasers, and each cell individually applies a modulation to the received light passing through the cell to form a corresponding portion of the structured light pattern that is projected onto a local area.

Abstract: An object is identified or tracked within a volume by projecting a light beam encoded with one or more predefined properties to have a predefined optical structure into the volume. A detector captures light from the predefined optical structure reflected from the volume. By analyzing one or more characteristics of light from the predefined optical structure reflected from the object, the object is segmented from the volume.

Abstract: To determine depth of an object within a volume, structured light is projected into the volume. The structured light comprises a pattern over which intensity of the light varies. A sensor detects light from the volume and uses variations in intensity of the detected light to correlate the detected light with the pattern. Based on the correlation, depth of objects within the volume is determined.

Abstract: A method and system for estimating edge data in patterned light analysis are provided herein. The method may include: obtaining an original depth map of an object generated based on structured light analysis of a pattern comprising stripes; determining portions of the original depth map in which z-axis value is inaccurate given an edge of the object; detecting geometric feature of the object associated with the determined portion, based on neighboring portions of the depth map; and estimating the missing z-axis data along the edge of the object, based on the detecting geometric feature of the object.

Abstract: An apparatus for remote hand control of a computer device, the apparatus comprising: a hand tracker, configured to track movement of a hand of a user of the computer device, an image presenter, associated with the hand tracker, configured to present a first image representative of the hand and a second image to the user, and to move the first image in concert with the tracked movement, and a computer controller, associated with the image presenter and configured to control the computer device in accordance with an interaction between the first image and the second image, thereby allowing the user to control the computer device, by moving the hand for bringing the first image and the second image into the interaction.

Abstract: A method, a system, and a device for navigating in a virtual reality scene, using body parts gesturing and posturing are provided herein. The method may include: projecting a synthetic 3D scene, into both eyes of a user, via a near eye display, so as to provide a virtual reality view to the user; identifying at least one gesture or posture carried out by at least one body part of said user; measuring at least one metric of a vector associated with the detected gesture or posture; applying a movement or action of said user in virtual reality environment, based on the measured metrics; and modifying the virtual reality view so as to reflect the movement or action of said user in the virtual reality environment.

Abstract: A device connectable to a near eye display or to a virtual reality headset and to a portable computing platform having a processor is provided herein. The device may include: an illuminator configured to illuminate a proximity of a user wearing the headset or the near eye display with patterned light; and an IR camera configured to capture reflections of said patterned light coming from at least one object located in the proximity of the user, wherein the processor is configured to: establish data and power connection between the device and said portable computing platform and said near eye display; and generate a depth map of said object based on the reflections.

Abstract: A method and a system for generating user feedback of a gesture capturing device with content projection capability are provided herein. The method may include the following steps: projecting content, by a content projector, onto a projection surface; projecting patterned light, by a pattern projector, onto said projection surface and onto a maneuverable object controlled by a user; capturing reflections of the patterned light coming from said projection surface and said maneuverable object; calculating, based on said reflections, at least one of: a relative position and a relative orientation of at least two of: said projection surface, said maneuverable object, said content projector and said pattern projector; and generating a feedback, based on said calculated relative positions and/or orientations, wherein said feedback relates to a proper operation of the system, based on said relative position and a relative orientation, in view of predefined criteria.

Abstract: A method and system for generating light pattern. The system may include: a light source providing a diverging light beam; a single lens element having first surface with a positive optical power in at least one cross section and a second surface. The second surface is configured to provide a multiplication function of the light beam in that cross section and a predefined intensity light distribution generator in a second cross section.

Abstract: A detector for optical detection of location within a volume, comprises a beam source for shining a structured light pattern on the volume and a digital detector having detection pixels of a given size. The light pattern, when shone into the volume and reflected back to the detection pixels, has a brightness distribution with a peak and a surrounding brightness structure. Now often the peak may be smaller than the pixel size although the overall distribution of the brightness extends over multiple pixels. The system includes an electronic processor for assessing a distribution of brightness among the neighbouring pixels to infer a location of the peak within a region smaller than the size of the central pixel on which it falls, thus giving sub-pixel resolution.

Abstract: A method and a system for controlling a near eye display using a virtual navigation space are provided herein. The system may include: a wearable near eye display; a sensor having a field of view, attached to the wearable near eye display and configured to capture a scene; a transmitter attached to the wearable near eye display said transmitter is configured to transmit a structured light pattern onto a navigation space, wherein the sensor is configured to capture reflections of the specified pattern coming from the navigation space; and a computer processor configured to analyze said reflections and control a visual indicator presented to a user over the wearable near eye display. The method implements the aforementioned logic without being limited to the architecture.

Abstract: An optical sensing device for using light to locate objects or features in a field of view comprises a light source; a controllable lens having two states and being controllable between them, for example a multifocal lens having two or more foci for focusing light from the light source; and a sensor able to sense light reflected from an object, to determine information of the object. The use of two or more foci adds dynamic range to optical sensing to allow for reliable detection over a wide range of distances.