3D Sensing

Medium

Was posted on Reddit, scraped to be sure it can be retained, looking for a translation of the slides.

The Face ID feature of Apple's iPhone X has raised the industry's concern for 3D sensing. Not only Apple, but also large companies including Microsoft, Intel, Google, Qualcomm, and Texas Instruments are competing to invest in the development of 3D sensing. What is the principle? What are the industry chain? What are the applications and opportunities in the future? The science and technology research institute, Consolidated Science and Technology, made a simple analysis with charts.

The most important and difficult part of 3D sensing technology lies in the ability to accurately measure distances. Each algorithm has different patent barriers, and each component of the 3D sensing module has slight differences.


In addition to Stereo Vision basically using a smart phone with a dual-lens design, either structured light or fly-by-range ranging technologies require IR transmitters, receiver modules, and RGB modules. Now, as soon as you hear 3D sensing, VCSELs will be mentioned. It is actually the source of IR light for the module.

3D sensing has a wide range of applications. In addition to biometrics, home automation, robots, wearable devices, computers, games, televisions, and automobiles are all fields where 3D sensing can be applied.

From the point of view of smart phones alone, the business opportunities for 3D sensing began last year with iPhone X and is expected to slowly ferment.

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Apple places order with STM?

Apparently Apple has placed an order for 3D imagers at STM. 

Who wants a 3d imager in their phone that is only a 3D imager? 

To me, 90% of this is still rumor. Apple tries mightily to maintain secrecy. I've theorized recently that they have started using distraction instead of stealth because they already leak too much. The most reliable "analyst" of Apple recently got their quarter completely wrong. It's still a really interesting rumor.

Previous mentions: November / July

UPDATE: 
iLounge
BGR

Thanks Walt for finding this one and sending it to me.

Igeneration

Apple has placed an important order for 3D imagers at STMicroelectronics, a source close to the file, Thus confirming information previously revealed by Challenges . Apple and STMicroelectronics had opened a joint lab dedicated to image sensors in Grenoble around 2015.

The fruit of this collaboration is now on track for production at the Crolles plant, near Grenoble. It is about 3D imagers intended for a future iPhone, our source told us.

STMicroelectronics factory.

In its latest financial report , the French-Italian semiconductor manufacturer (which is part of Apple's usual suppliers) says it plans to invest about $ 1 billion in 2017, almost double the previous year. this investmentWill boost its production capacity and stimulate growth, "in particular with new products and technologiesSpecialists " .

The CEO of STMicroelectronics, Carlo Bozotti, even mentions "a contract recently taken [which will lead to] substantial revenues expected in the second half of 2017." Of course, Apple is not mentioned by name, but it is indeed Of the famous customer, according to our information.

A consultant from Yole Développement explained to L'Usine Nouvelle the nature of the components that will be supplied: "[The agreement] concerns the provision of laser time imagers, key components for the detection of proximity but also For the construction of 3D cameras. "

Several rumors of 3D cameras have emerged lately . The predicted uses range from facial recognition (to replace Touch ID or complement) to the augmented reality regularly vaunted by Tim Cook . Multiple acquisitions of start-ups and patents corroborate these rumors.

Enter the STMicroelectronics plant in Crolles.

3D imagers provided by STMicroelectronics should only be equipped with the highest- end iPhone 2017, Plausibly named iPhone Edition . These components may not be readyFor September, the month when the new iPhone is traditionally launched, our source told us. This goes in the direction of the latest information of Macotakara according to which the marketing could be later than for the iPhone 7s and 7s More assumed.

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The Complexities and Ecosystem of AR

For those of you who are impatient. 

This is the kind of thing that is being worked on in AR. It's one of the reasons why the  3D laser scanning that Microvision is working on will be so useful. (Knowing for sure what the depth and distance of objects are instead of having the computer guessing.)

This is the kind of thing that is being worked on in the background of any new technology. To work, augmented reality needs these kinds of problems solved. 

Thankfully, Picop and its ecosystem are ready.

Progress is moving a lot more quickly in AR.


Edge Snapping-Based Depth Enhancement for Dynamic Occlusion Handling in Augmented Reality from Bosch RTC-NA Visual Computing on Vimeo.

Interesting new Picture on MicroVision's Facebook Page

MicroVision Facebook

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