Microvision Primesense - Apple

• PrimeSense is a 3D sensing company.
• PrimeSense was purchased by Apple in November 2013.
• PrimeSense licensed the Microsoft Kinect Motion Sensing System.

Patents

20130127854 Scanning Projectors And Image Capture Modules For 3D Mapping
20130107021 Interactive Reality Augmentation for Natural Interaction
20130106692 Adaptive Projector

Key phrases from each patent below:

20130127854 Scanning Projectors And Image Capture Modules For 3D Mapping

https://www.google.com/patents/US20130127854?dq=20130127854+Scanning+Projectors+And+Image+Capture+Modules+For+3D+Mapping&hl=en&sa=X&ei=1ftDU-LdHO_yyAHFoYBg&ved=0CDcQ6AEwAA

Something notable about this patent as it exists at this source is the amount of notation that says "text missing or illegible when filed" -- I'm not sure what the meaning of this is, but it could mean that the person filing was distracted in some significant way at filing or there was a reason for haste in filing the patent.

ABSTRACT

Apparatus (20) for mapping includes an illumination module (30), which includes a radiation source (32), which is configured to emit a beam of radiation. A scanner (34) receives and scans the beam over a selected angular range. Illumination optics (35) project the scanned beam so as to create a pattern of spots extending over a region of interest. An imaging module (38) captures an image of the pattern that is projected onto an object (28) in the region of interest. A processor (46) processes the image in order to construct a three-dimensional (3D) map of the object.

[Much more content]

FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of a system for 3D mapping, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Apparatus (20) for mapping includes an illumination module (30), which includes a radiation source (32), which is configured to emit a beam of radiation. A scanner (34) receives and scans the beam over a selected angular range. Illumination optics (35) project the scanned beam so as to create a pattern of spots extending over a region of interest. An imaging module (38) captures an image of the pattern that is projected onto an object (28) in the region of interest. A processor (46) processes the image in order to construct a three-dimensional (3D) map of the object.

   

FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic top views of an illumination module in two different phases of operation, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

....Such mirrors may be based on integrated micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) technology. Scanning mirrors of this sort are produced by number of manufacturers, such as Microvision, Inc. (Redmond, Wash.).

20130107021 Interactive Reality Augmentation for Natural Interaction

https://www.google.com/patents/US20130127854?dq=20130127854+Scanning+Projectors+And+Image+Capture+Modules+For+3D+Mapping&hl=en&sa=X&ei=t_pDU7_xDJTlygG0zIHwAQ&ved=0CDcQ6AEwAA

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the invention provide apparatus and methods for interactive reality augmentation, including a 2-dimensional camera (36) and a 3-dimensional camera (38), associated depth projector and content projector (48), and a processor (40) linked to the 3-dimensional camera and the 2-dimensional camera. A depth map of the scene is produced using an output of the 3-dimensional camera, and coordinated with a 2-dimensional image captured by the 2-dimensional camera to identify a 3-dimensional object in the scene that meets predetermined criteria for projection of images thereon. The content projector projects a content image onto the 3-dimensional object responsively to instructions of the processor, which can be mediated by automatic recognition of user gestures

The 3-D camera 12 and the 2-D camera 14 are cooperative with a content projector 16, all under the control of a processor, such as a computer 18.

A suitable unit for use in the system 10 that bundles the 3-D camera 12 and the 2-D camera 14 is the PrimeSensor™ Reference Design, available from PrimeSense Corporation, 104 Cambay Conn., Cary N.C., 27513, U.S.A. The content projector 16 may be the PicoP® display engine, available from MicroVision, Inc., 6222 185th Ave NE Redmond Wash., 98052. In some embodiments, the 3-D camera 12 and the 2-D camera 14 may be integral with the content projector 16 as a modification of the PrimeSensor Reference Design. In one embodiment, the 3-D camera 12 is an integrated module that includes an IR projector, which projects a pattern of spots onto the object and captures an image of the projected pattern. Alternatively, the IR projector, may be embodied as a separate module (not shown). The IR projector may be realized according to the teachings of U.S. Provisional Applications 61/372,729 (filed Aug. 11, 2010) and 61/425,788 (filed Dec. 22, 2010), as well as in PCT International Publication WO 2010/020380, all of which are herein incorporated by reference. These provisional and PCT applications also teach how to reuse the scanning hardware to project both the IR required for depth mapping and the visible content.

20130106692 Adaptive Projector

https://www.google.com/patents/US20130106692?dq=20130106692+Adaptive+Projector&hl=en&sa=X&ei=AftDU-eaNafuyQGawIHYCA&ved=0CDUQ6AEwAA

This uses the same illustrations as the patent above.

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for processing data includes a projector, which is configured to project content onto at least a part of a scene. A processor is configured to detect a location of an eye of a person in the scene and to control the projectorso as to reduce an intensity of the projected content in an area of the eye.

... The content projector16 may be the PicoP® display engine, available from MicroVision, Inc., 6222 185th Ave NE Redmond Wash., 98052.