Meta patents lens that merges two images to measure depth
Meta describes a device that uses a special lens to combine a left and right image into a single stream. This combined stream is then captured by one camera sensor to calculate the difference, or disparity, between the two views.
In the filing’s own words
Optical binocular disparity detection devices may include an optical combiner and a single image sensor. The optical combiner may include a left input for receiving a left image and a right input for receiving a right image. An output of the optical combiner may be configured to direct the left image and the right image out of the optical combiner. The single image sensor may be configured to receive and sense the left image and the right image from the output and to generate data indicative of a disparity between the left image and the right image. Various other related systems and methods are also disclosed.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. An optical binocular disparity detection device, the disparity detection device comprising: an optical combiner, including: a left input configured to receive a left image into the optical combiner; a right input configured to receive a right image into the optical combiner; an output grating configured to direct the left image and the right image external to the optical combiner and towards a single image sensor, the output grating being positioned on a first surface of the optical combiner; and an output director positioned on a second surface of the optical combiner opposite the first surface and configured to direct each of the left image and the right image towards the output grating; and the single image sensor that is configured to: receive and sense the left image and the right image from the output grating, and generate data indicative of a disparity between the left image and the right image.
Facts
- Company
- Meta (Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC)
- Official title
- Optical combiners for binocular disparity detection
- Patent number
- US12754099B2
- Application number
- 18528587
- Filed
- Dec 4, 2023
- Granted
- Oct 6, 2026
- Inventors
- 9
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
G01M 11/0242 Physics & computingG02B 27/106 Physics & computingMore from Meta in Cameras & imaging
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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.