Samsung patents 3D scanner using light to measure object distance
Samsung has secured a patent for a system that measures the 3D distance of objects by emitting light and analyzing the reflection. The device uses a specific light-steering component called a spatial light modulator to direct the beam to different points on the target. A processor then calculates the distance based on the light data received by a detector.
In the filing’s own words
A three-dimensional (3D) distance information acquisition system and an electronic device including the same are provided. The 3D distance information acquisition system includes: a transmitter including a light source configured to emit a light based on a time division method and a spatial light modulator configured to steer the light incident from the light source to each scan point on an object; a receiver including a photodetector configured to detect the light reflected from the scan point of the object; and a processor configured to obtain 3D distance information based on the light detected by the receiver.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A three-dimensional (3D) distance information acquisition system comprising: a transmitter comprising a light source configured to emit a light based on a time division method and a spatial light modulator configured to steer the light incident from the light source to each scan point on an object; a receiver comprising a photodetector configured to detect the light reflected from the scan point of the object; and a processor configured to obtain 3D distance information based on the light detected by the receiver, wherein the spatial light modulator comprises: a first material layer; a cavity provided on an entirety of a surface of the first material layer, the light incident being resonated in the cavity; and a second material layer comprising a grating structure provided on the cavity, and wherein the second material layer comprises: a first doped semiconductor layer contacting the cavity; an intrinsic semiconductor layer contacting the first doped semiconductor layer; and a second doped semiconductor layer contacting the intrinsic semiconductor layer.
Facts
- Company
- Samsung (SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.)
- Official title
- Three-dimensional distance information acquisition system and electronic device including the same
- Patent number
- US12730224B2
- Application number
- 17867285
- Filed
- Jul 18, 2022
- Granted
- Sep 8, 2026
- Inventors
- 4
- Claims
- 19
Classified under
G01S 17/894 Physics & computingG01S 7/4814 Physics & computingG01S 7/4865 Physics & computingG01S 17/10 Physics & computingH01S 5/125 Electricity & electronicsMore from Samsung in Chips & hardware
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.