NZ787324A - Integrating point source for texture projecting bulb - Google Patents

Abstract

light bulb comprising at least one light source that is configured to produce infrared light and visible light and at least one structure that encloses the at least one light source and that is transmissive to the visible light, wherein the at least one structure includes at least one first region that is transmissive to infrared light and at least one second region that is opaque to infrared light.

Description

MLEAP.060NZD1 PATENT ATING POINT SOURCE FOR TEXTURE PROJECTING BULB CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This non-provisional patent application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) from U.S. Provisional Application Number 62/348,634, filed on June 10, 2016, entitled "INTEGRATING POINT SOURCE FOR TEXTURE PROJECTING BULB," which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its ty and for all purposes. [0001A] This application is a divisional of New Zealand Patent Application No. 749050, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD The present sure relates to texture projecting light bulbs and more particularly to approximating point sources of light within a e ting light bulb.

BACKGROUND In the computer vision context, many algorithms rely on the presence of visible texture to operate reliably. For example, algorithms ing stereoscopy may rely on texture for stereoscopic matching and/or for disparity ation. Algorithms using visual ng or local ints" may also rely on texture. However, many features of the real world, such as various man-made portions of the real world, may lack the necessary visual texture for the operation of such algorithms.

In some computer vision applications, texture projection, also referred to as structured light projection, may be used to provide visual texture for computer vision systems. For example, "RGB-D" cameras, which measure depth in addition to light intensity, may image the world based on structured light projection. Typically, structured light projection subsystems may be integrated with imaging subsystems, especially in systems requiring detailed calibration of the geometrical onship between the projection and imaging subsystems. Systems and methods disclosed herein address various challenges related to structured light projection.

SUMMARY es of texture projecting light bulbs with integrating point sources are disclosed.

In one aspect, a texture projecting light bulb is described. The light bulb comprises an incandescent filament configured to produce ed light, an integrating sphere ing the incandescent filament, and a light bulb enclosure surrounding the integrating sphere. The integrating sphere comprises a diffusely reflective or surface and an aperture configured to allow light to pass out of the integrating sphere. The enclosure comprises one or more regions transmissive to infrared light and one or more regions opaque to infrared light. The one or more transmissive regions are configured to project a structured light pattern of infrared light detectable by a computer vision system.

In another aspect, a e projecting light bulb is described. The light bulb comprises a light source, an integrator surrounding the light source, and an enclosure surrounding the integrator. The integrator comprises an interior surface and at least one aperture. At least a portion of the enclosure is translucent.

In some embodiments, the light source may be configured to produce infrared light. The light source may be configured to produce visible light. The light source may be configured to produce a combination of infrared and visible light. The integrator may comprise an integrating sphere. The integrator may comprise an integrating cube. The or e of the integrator may comprise a specularly reflective al. The interior surface of the integrator may be at least partially coated with a arly reflective material.

The interior surface of the integrator may comprise a diffusive material. The interior surface of the integrator may be at least partially coated with a diffusive coating. The extended light source may comprise an incandescent filament. The ed light source may comprise a emitting diode. The extended light source may comprise a gas-discharge element. The extended light source may se an arc light. At least a portion of the enclosure may comprise a hot mirror. At least a portion of the enclosure may be opaque. At least a portion of the or surface of the enclosure may be capable of absorbing light. The translucent portion of the enclosure may be configured to project a structured light pattern. At least a n of the enclosure may be spherical. The aperture of the integrator may be located at the center of the spherical portion of the enclosure. The light bulb may further comprise a base configured to be mechanically and electrically connected to a light bulb socket. The base may comprise a threaded base. The light bulb may further comprise a baffle disposed at least partially within the integrator. At least a portion of the baffle may be located along a straight line path between the light source and the aperture. The baffle may intersect every straight line path between the light source and the aperture. The baffle may comprise a specularly reflective surface. The baffle may comprise a diffusely reflective surface.

] In one broad form, an aspect of the t invention seeks to provide a light bulb comprising: at least one light source that is ured to produce ed light and visible light; at least one structure that encloses the at least one light source and that is transmissive to the visible light, wherein the at least one structure includes at least one first region that is transmissive to infrared light and at least one second region that is opaque to infrared light. [0008B] In one embodiment the at least one light source includes a light source that produces both the infrared light and the visible light. [0008C] In one embodiment the at least one light source includes a first light source that es the infrared light and a second light source that produces the visible light. [0008D] In one embodiment the at least one first region is ed to project a pattern of the infrared light that is able by a computer vision system. [0008E] In one ment the pattern comprises at least one of a grid, a plurality of point-like images, or a plurality of bars. [0008F] In one embodiment the light bulb further comprises one or more baffles disposed at least partially within the at least one structure. [0008G] In one embodiment at least one of the one or more baffles is located along a straight line path between the at least one light source and the at least one first region. [0008H] In one ment the at least one structure includes an integrator surrounding at least a portion of the at least one light source and an enclosure at least partially surrounding the ator. [0008I] In one embodiment the at least one light source comprises a first light source that produces the infrared light and a second light source that produces the visible light, the first light source being disposed within the integrator, the second light source being disposed outside the integrator. [0008J] In one embodiment the integrator comprises an aperture configured to allow light to pass out of the integrator. [0008K] In one embodiment at least a portion of the at least one first region and at least a n of the at least one second region are disposed within a half-space bounded by a plane tangent to the integrator at the aperture. [0008L] In one embodiment the enclosure comprises the at least one first region and the at least one second region. [0008M] In one embodiment the at least one light source comprises an incandescent filament. [0008N] In one ment the at least one light source comprises a light-emitting diode. [0008O] In one embodiment the at least one structure includes an interior surface comprising a specularly reflective material. [0008P] In one embodiment the at least one structure includes an interior surface coated with a specularly tive coating. [0008Q] In one embodiment the at least one structure includes an interior surface comprising a ive material.

] In one embodiment the at least one structure includes an interior e coated with a ive coating. [0008S] In one embodiment the at least one second region comprises a hot mirror transmissive to visible light and reflective to ed light. [0008T] In one embodiment the at least one second region comprises a material capable of absorbing infrared light.

Details of one or more entations of the subject matter described in this specification are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below.

Other features, aspects, and advantages will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims. Neither this summary nor the following detailed description ts to define or limit the scope of the inventive subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS schematically illustrates an example of a texture projecting light bulb including an ed light source. schematically illustrates an example of a texture projecting light bulb including an ideal point light source. schematically illustrates an example of a spherical texture ting light bulb including an extended light source within an integrator near the center of the light bulb. schematically illustrates an e of a texture projecting light bulb including an extended light source within an integrator at a location other than the center of the light bulb. schematically illustrates an e of a e projecting light bulb including a plurality of extended light sources within integrators. schematically illustrates an example of a texture projecting light bulb including an extended light source within an integrator having a plurality of apertures. schematically illustrates an example of a non-spherical texture projecting light bulb ing an extended light source within an integrator.

FIGS. 4A-B schematically illustrate examples of non-spherical integrators containing ed light sources. schematically illustrates an example of an integrator ning a plurality of extended light sources. schematically illustrates an example of an integrator containing an extended light source and a baffle disposed n the light source and an aperture of the integrator. schematically illustrates an example of an integrator containing a plurality of extended light s and baffles disposed between the light sources and an aperture of the ator.

FIGS. 4F-G schematically illustrate examples of non-spherical ators containing extended light sources. schematically illustrates an example of an integrator containing an extended light source and a baffle disposed between the light source and an aperture of the integrator. schematically illustrates an example of an integrator ning a plurality of ed light sources and baffles disposed between the light sources and an aperture of the integrator. illustrates an example of a wearable y system. illustrates aspects of an approach for simulating three-dimensional imagery using multiple depth planes. illustrates an e of a waveguide stack for outputting image information to a user. hout the drawings, reference numbers may be d to indicate correspondence between referenced elements. The drawings are provided to illustrate example embodiments described herein and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Texture Projecting Bulb In some texture projection systems, it may be desirable to use a ured light projection subsystem separate from imaging subsystems. For example, a structured light projection device may include a light bulb-like device. In some embodiments, the light bulb-like device may be capable of screwing into and deriving power from a standard light bulb socket, such as in a home, workplace, or other environment. When d, the light bulb-like device may serve as a projector of e into the space in which it is installed. For example, the device may be configured to project a pattern of light, such as a grid, a series of like images, horizontal or vertical bars, or other detectable pattern. In various embodiments, the structured light pattern may be projected in the infrared um, in the visible light spectrum, or in any other suitable wavelength or range of wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation.

FIGS. 1A and 1B depict example configurations of texture projecting bulbs 100 configured to produce a structured light pattern by projecting light through a pattern generating element 110. Light rays 112 may travel from a light source 102 through transmissive regions 114 of the pattern ting element 110. Light rays 112 may be blocked (e.g., absorbed or reflected) by non-transmissive regions 116 of the pattern generating t 110. The transmissive regions 114 of the pattern generating element 110 may be configured such that the light rays 112 passing through the transmissive regions 114 create one or more images 118 on an external surface 120. The bulb 100 may be enclosed by a light bulb enclosure 122. The light bulb enclosure 122 may be at least partially transparent or translucent. For example, the enclosure 122 may be a substantially cal glass enclosure.

In some embodiments, the pattern generating element 110 comprises a portion of the enclosure 122. For example, the pattern generating element 110 may include transmissive and non-transmissive regions of the enclosure 122. issive and nontransmissive regions of an enclosure 122 may be produced by methods such as printing or depositing non-transmissive materials onto an inner or outer surface of an ise transmissive enclosure 122 (e.g., clear glass or other transparent or ucent materials). In other embodiments, the pattern generating element 110 may be separate from the enclosure 122. For example, the pattern ting t 110 may be an enclosure surrounding the light source 102 adjacent to or spaced from the enclosure 122.

The pattern generating element 110 may include any of various metals or other materials opaque to at least a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. In some embodiments, the non-transmissive regions 116 of the pattern generating element 110 may be lly opaque to most or all wavelengths of the spectrum emitted by the light source 102.

In other ments, the non-transmissive regions 116 of the n generating element 110 may be ively opaque to only a desired portion of the spectrum. For example, the non-transmissive regions 116 may include a "hot mirror" material or other material opaque to infrared wavelengths, but transparent to visible light, while the transmissive regions 114 may include clear glass or other material transparent to both infrared and visible light. Thus, e light can pass through the entire surface of the bulb, while infrared light may pass h only the transmissive s 114. Such combination of selectively issive and non-transmissive regions 114, 116 can produce a bulb configured to illuminate a room with visible light and appear to be an ordinary light bulb, while ting a structured light pattern of infrared light detectable by e vision devices but invisible to human eyes.

The texture projecting bulb 100 depicted in includes an extended light source 102, while the bulb 100 of es an ideal point light source 104. A point source 104 s from an extended source 102 because the size (e.g., length, width, sectional area) of a point source 104 is negligible relative to the size of the bulb. An ed light source (e.g., an incandescent filament), has a non-negligible size. For example, an extended light source may have a size that is a fraction of the size (e.g., diameter) of the transmissive enclosure 122, with the fraction being 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, or more. A point source 104 may be desirable for use in a texture projecting bulb 100. As shown in , light rays 112 projecting from an extended light source 102, through a transparent region 114 of the pattern generating element 110 may be traveling at an array of angles, resulting in a diffuse image 118a that may be difficult for a computer vision system to . If a point source 104 is used as in , light rays 112 exiting each transparent region 114 of the pattern generating element 110 are traveling at the same angle (or a very small range of angles, such as within 1°, 0.5°, 0.1°, or less), resulting in a substantially collimated beam creating a more sharply defined image 118b which may be more readily detected by a computer vision system.

Light sources used for light bulbs are typically extended light sources, rather than point sources which may be desired for texture projection applications. For example, incandescent bulbs have a filament that can have a substantial size relative to the size of the bulb, and light may be emitted by most or all of the filament. Light-emitting diodes, while smaller than some incandescent filaments, are still typically ed light sources too large to function as a point light source 104 for texture projecting bulb applications. Thus, projecting texture with a light ike device may be improved and/or facilitated by an element capable of ing a point-like light source using the light from an ed light source. Example systems and methods for approximating a point light source are discussed below with reference to FIGS. 2-4I.

Integrating Point Source The light emitted by an extended light source can be guided to approximate a point light source by placing the extended light source within an integrator. schematically illustrates a texture projecting bulb 100 including an extended light source 102 within an integrator 106 configured to approximate a point light source at the center of the bulb 100. Similar to the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the texture ting bulb 100 includes an enclosure 122 and a pattern generating element 110 (including transmissive portions 114 and non-transmissive ns 116) surrounding an extended light source 102. The bulb 100 includes a base 150 configured to permit the bulb 100 to be connected (e.g., mechanically and electrically) to a matching socket in a lamp (e.g., by screwing a ed metal base into a corresponding female socket in the lamp). For example, the light bulb 100 can have a standard-gauge threaded base 150 (e.g., E26) as bed in the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) C81.63 standard, which advantageously enables the bulb-like device to be used with conventional lamps.

The bulb 100 additionally es an integrator 106 ed within the enclosure 122 and pattern generating element 110, and surrounding the light source 102, so as to approximate a point light source. The integrator 106 internally reflects and/or diffuses all or substantially all of the light generated by the light source. The integrator 106 further includes an aperture 108 configured to permit the passage of light rays 112 out of the integrator 106. The aperture 108 is the only location at which light may leave the integrator.

Thus, a small re 108 may emit light in substantially the same manner as a point source.

For example, the area of the aperture may be equal to the area of the integrator multiplied by a vely small port fraction, such as 0.2, 0.1, 0.05, 0.025, 0.01, or smaller.

The integrator 106 may be any suitable shape, such as a sphere, ellipsoid, cube, tetrahedron, or any other three-dimensional shape defining an interior volume in which light can be reflected. The interior surface of the integrator 106 may be selected so as to reflect all or substantially all of the light emitted by the light source 102. In some embodiments, the interior surface may be a diffusely reflective e (e.g., a diffusive, Lambertian or "matte" surface). In a diffusely reflective integrator 106, light 124 traveling from the light source 102 to the interior surface of the integrator 106 may be scattered, or reflected at a variety of angles. In other embodiments, the interior surface of the integrator 106 may reflect light in a specular , or in a combination of diffuse and specular reflection. In various embodiments, the desired reflection teristics may be achieved by coating the or surface of the integrator 106 with a material that reflects in the desired manner (e.g., a metal, a gloss or matte paint or other surface finish, or the like), or the entire integrator (or a portion thereof) may be made of a material that reflects in the desired manner.

In some embodiments, the integrator 106 may be an Ulbricht sphere, a Coblentz sphere, a Sumpner box, or other device exhibiting internal diffusion and/or reflection. Example urations of integrators are described in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 4A-4I.

In some embodiments, it may be desirable to achieve a uniform or substantially uniform luminance distribution within the integrator, which can result in a substantially m light output from the re 108, which thereby functions more like the point light source 104 shown in . Uniformity of luminance distribution may be accomplished by using an integrator 106 with a relatively high sphere multiplier. The sphere multiplier, M, of an integrator can be ted as the average number of times a photon d by the light source will be reflected within the integrator before escaping through the aperture 108. The sphere multiplier can also be estimated in terms of the reflectance, ρ, of the interior surface of the integrator and a port fraction, f, which is a ratio of the area of the aperture 108 to the total area of the integrator 106 as: M=ρ/[1-ρ(1-f)]. For high tance (e.g., ρ approaching one) and a relatively small port fraction, the multiplier can be quite large, and the nce distribution inside the integrator can be much larger than the luminance of the source 102. Greater multipliers typically provide greater uniformity of the luminance in the ator. In various entations, the reflectance of the interior of the integrator can be greater than 0.8, 0.9, 0.95, 0.98, or 0.99. In various implementations, the port fraction can be less than 0.2, 0.1, 0.05, 0.025, or 0.01. A suitably high sphere multiplier in some embodiments may be 5, 10, 15, 20, or greater.

The sphere multiplier may equally be used to characterize the or of a non-spherical integrator 106. In an integrator 106 with a relatively high sphere multiplier, the light at any point within the integrator 106 may be relatively homogeneous. Where the light within the integrator 106 is relatively homogeneous, the light at or near the aperture 108 may have a uniform luminance distribution in all directions. Light leaving the aperture 108 will generally be confined to the half-space bounded by the plane 128 tangent to the integrator 106 at the location of the aperture 108. Thus, an integrator 106 having a high sphere multiplier may produce a substantially isotropic, hemispherical luminance distribution from the aperture 108. Accordingly, the light source 102 inside an ator 106 shown in ons similarly to the texture bulb 100 having a point source shown in .

The example bulb 100 shown in advantageously can produce vely sharper textures, as compared to the more diffuse textures of the extended light source shown in FIG.

The light source 102 inside the integrator 106 can include an incandescent filament, a light emitting diode (LED), a gas-discharge element, an arc light, a laser diode, or any other type of light source. The spectrum of light emitted by the light source 102 can include the visible and/or the infrared portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. For example, the light source can include an infrared LED that outputs light in the range from about 700 nm to about 2000 nm, or any sub-range therein. The infrared light can be advantageous for ting the texture used by computer-vision systems (e.g., augmented reality systems, er game systems, etc.). The use of a visible light source (that provides infrared light or in ation with a separate infrared source) can allow the bulb 100 to also be used as a visible light source for users of the computer-vision system. ingly, such bulbs 100 can provide conventional e illumination for an environment while also ing invisible (e.g., ed) texture that is viewable by the computer-vision .

Although depicts a texture projecting bulb 100 as a traditional generally spherical light bulb with a centrally located light source 102 and integrator 106, many other arrangements and/or geometries of the texture projecting bulb 100 are possible.

For example, FIGS. 2 and 3A-3D illustrate various example arrangements of one or more integrators 106 within an integrating bulb 100. In the arrangement of the integrator 106 is located such that the aperture 108 is at or near the geometric center of the spherical portion of the light bulb enclosure 122. e the aperture 108 functions as a point source, the aperture may provide substantially uniform luminance in a hemisphere d by the plane intersecting the bulb 100 along axis 128.

Referring now to FIGS. 3A-3D, the integrator 106 may be located away from the geometric center of the spherical portion of the enclosure 122 in some ments. For example, depicts a bulb 100 in which the light source 102 and integrator 106 are located near the periphery of the ure 122, such as in a base portion 130, so that the aperture 108 faces toward the center of the enclosure 122 and away from the base portion 130. The arrangement of may allow for the projection of light rays 112 through a larger portion of the pattern generating element 110 and bulb enclosure 122.

In some embodiments, the pattern projection area may be increased by providing a plurality of light sources 102 and integrators 106 within a single bulb 100. For example, the bulb 100 ed in contains two light sources 102, each ed within an integrator 106 having an aperture 108. To avoid overlapping luminance ns that may t or disrupt the ted texture, the integrators 106 may be oriented with apertures 108 facing in opposite directions such that the luminance boundary planes 128 of the two integrators 106 are substantially parallel. Such an arrangement may leave a small dark region 132 between the two half-spaces, where light is not projected from either aperture 108. The locations of the apertures can be selected such that the dark region 132 is negligible relative to the size of the illuminated space, so as to avoid disrupting the structured light pattern. In other embodiments, more than two light sources 102 and/or integrators 106 can be In other embodiments, the pattern projection area may be increased by providing a single light source 102 within a single integrator 106 having a plurality of apertures 108. For example, the bulb 100 depicted in ns one light source 102 within a spherical integrator 106 having two apertures 108. Because the two apertures 108 are diametrically opposed, the two illuminated paces (bounded by planes 128) do not intersect, leaving a small dark region 132, as described above with reference to . It is noted that a second aperture 108 provides an additional location for light to escape the interior of the integrator 106, and may thereby decrease the sphere multiplier of the ator In some embodiments, the light bulb enclosure 122 may be spherical or non-spherical. For example, the texture projecting bulb 100 depicted in has a flood light-type enclosure 122 including non-transmissive radial side portions and a circumferential transmissive portion. In a flood light-type enclosure 122, a pattern generating element 110 may be disposed along the transmissive portion of the flood light. In various embodiments, any other suitable shape of light bulb enclosure may be used to project a structured light pattern to a desired area. A non-spherical bulb enclosure 122 may also be ented with any arrangement of one or more light sources 102 and integrators 106 described herein.

Although FIGS. 2-3D depict each integrator 106 as a spherical integrator surrounding a single extended light source 102, many other arrangements and/or geometries of the integrator 106 and light source 102 are le. Referring now to FIGS. 4A-4I, various configurations of extended light sources 102 and integrators 106 will be described.

Each of the configurations depicted in FIGS. 4A-4I, as well as variations of the depicted configurations, can equally be implemented in the texture projecting bulbs depicted and described with reference to FIGS. 2-3D.

In one example, depicts an oidal integrator 106 with a light source 102 and aperture 108 tent with the light sources and integrators bed above. The light source 102 may be centered within the integrator 106, or may be located elsewhere within the interior space of the integrator 106. The re 108 may be located near a minor axis of the ellipsoid, near a major axis of the oid, or at any other location along the exterior of the integrator 106. For example, the oidal integrator 106 depicted in includes a light source 102 located away from the center of the integrator 106, and an aperture 108 located along a major axis of the ellipse. In some ments, the integrator 106 may include more than one re.

In another example configuration, depicts an integrator 106 having a rectangular section. For example, the integrator 106 of may be a rectangular prism, a cylinder, or other three-dimensional shape with a rectangular or nal cross-section. Similar to the integrator ed in , the integrator 106 contains a light source 102 and includes an aperture 108. The light source 102 may be ed within the integrator 106, or may be located elsewhere within the interior space of the integrator 106. The aperture may be located along a side of the rectangle, at a corner, or at any other location along the exterior of the integrator. For example, the rectangular integrator 106 depicted in includes a light source 102 located away from the center of the integrator and an aperture 108 located near a corner of the rectangle. In some embodiments, the integrator 106 may e more than one aperture.

In some embodiments, the integrator 106 may contain more than one light source 102. For example, the integrator 106 depicted in contains two extended light s 102. More than one light source 102 may be included within the integrator 106, for example, to increase the luminance of the texture projecting bulb. In some embodiments, light sources 102 may be sources having different luminance spectra, such that their light as combined by the integrator may have a desired spectral profile. For example, one source may emit primarily visible light and the other source may emit primarily infrared light. Although the integrator 106 of is depicted as having a circular cross section, it will be appreciated that any arrangement of multiple light sources 102 within an integrator 106 may be implemented with non-spherical integrators, as described above.

Referring now to FIGS. 4D and 4E, some embodiments may further include one or more s 134 or other light-blocking structures within the integrator 106 to increase the uniformity of the light g the integrator 106 at an aperture 108. In the e of a baffle, an optical path may exist directly from the light source 102 to the re 108. Light traveling directly from the light source 102 to the aperture 108 may reach the aperture 108 without interacting with the diffusely reflective inner e of the integrator 106, and may thereby disrupt the otherwise uniform distribution of light at the aperture. Thus, one or more s 134 may be included within the integrator 106 so as to block the direct path between light sourced 102 and aperture 108. In some embodiments, the one or more baffles 134 may be made of or coated with the same diffuse or specular material as the interior e of the integrator 106, or of a similar material. In some embodiments, a side of a baffle 134 facing a light source 102 may have a different coating from the side of the baffle 134 facing an aperture 108 (e.g., one side may be specularly reflective and one side may be diffusely tive). For example, depicts an ator 106 containing an extended light source 102 and a baffle 134 located between the light source 102 and the aperture 108 to t light from ing directly from the light source 102 to the aperture 108. rly, depicts an integrator 106 containing two extended light sources 102 and two baffles 134, each baffle 134 located n a light source 102 and the aperture 108, to prevent light from ing directly from the light sources 102 to the aperture 108.

Moreover, baffles 134 may be generally linear in cross section, as depicted in FIGS. 4D and 4E, or may have other shapes including curves and/or angles, such as the baffles 134 depicted in FIGS. 4H and 4I.

Although the integrators 106 of FIGS. 4D and 4E are depicted as having circular cross sections, any ement of one or more light sources 102 and baffles 134 within an ator 106 may be implemented with non-spherical integrators, as described above. In addition, some embodiments may incorporate one or more extended light sources 102 located outside an integrator 106, with light from the source 102 entering the integrator 106 through an additional re. The elements, arrangements, and other features of the ments depicted in FIGS. 2-4E may be used independently of one another. Thus, any combination or subcombination of elements, arrangements, or other features depicted and/or described with nce to any of FIGS. 2-4E may be implemented without departing from the spirit or scope of this disclosure. 3D Display The structured light projection systems and methods described above may be implemented for various machine vision applications. For example, in virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR) systems, a wearable device may be configured to detect a structure light pattern such as the patterns described elsewhere herein so as to detect the presence of objects or boundaries in the world around a user. For example, an embodiment of the bulb 100 can be connected to a lamp in the user’s environment and used to project texture onto surfaces and objects in the environment for detection and processing by a computer-vision system associated with the AR system (or a gaming system). Based on detected objects or boundaries, a wearable system may provide a VR or AR experience, such as by ting a three-dimensional rendering of the world to the wearer, or allowing light from the world to pass to the eyes of the wearer while adding virtual objects to the wearer’s view of the world.

In some implementations, the wearer may be presented with an AR experience in which virtual s interact with real objects viewable by the wearer, an experience also referred to as mixed reality. Example embodiments of display systems compatible with the texture projecting bulbs as discussed above will now be described.

In order for a three-dimensional (3D) display to produce a true sensation of depth, and more specifically, a simulated sensation of surface depth, it is desirable for each point in the display's visual field to generate the accommodative response corresponding to its virtual depth. If the accommodative response to a display point does not correspond to the virtual depth of that point, as determined by the lar depth cues of convergence and stereopsis, the human eye may experience an accommodation ct, resulting in unstable imaging, harmful eye strain, headaches, and, in the absence of accommodation information, almost a complete lack of surface depth.

VR and AR experiences can be provided by display systems having displays in which images ponding to a plurality of depth planes are provided to a . The images may be different for each depth plane (e.g., provide slightly different presentations of a scene or ) and may be separately focused by the viewer’s eyes, thereby helping to provide the user with depth cues based on the accommodation of the eye required to bring into focus different image features for the scene d on different depth plane and/or based on observing different image es on ent depth planes being out of focus. As discussed elsewhere herein, such depth cues provide credible perceptions of depth. rates an example of wearable display system 500. The display system 500 includes a display 62, and various mechanical and electronic modules and systems to support the functioning of display 62. The display 62 may be coupled to a frame 64, which is wearable by a y system user, wearer, or viewer 60 and which is ured to position the display 62 in front of the eyes of the user 60. The display system 500 can comprise a head mounted display (HMD) that is worn on the head of the wearer. An augmented reality device (ARD) can include the wearable display system 500. In some embodiments, a speaker 66 is coupled to the frame 64 and positioned nt the ear canal of the user (in some embodiments, another speaker, not shown, is positioned adjacent the other ear canal of the user to provide for stereo/shapeable sound control). The display system 500 can include an outward-facing imaging system which observes the world in the environment around the wearer (see, e.g., the g system 502 shown in . The y system 500 can also include an inward-facing g system which can track the eye movements of the wearer (see, e.g., the imaging system 500 shown in . The inward- facing g system may track either one eye’s movements or both eyes’ movements. In some embodiments, the display system 500 can also include an outward-facing imaging system which can image the world around the wearer and detect structured light patterns projected on surfaces in the vicinity of the . The display 62 can be operatively coupled 68, such as by a wired lead or wireless connectivity, to a local data processing module 71 which may be mounted in a variety of configurations, such as fixedly attached to the frame 64, fixedly attached to a helmet or hat worn by the user, ed in headphones, or otherwise removably attached to the user 60 (e.g., in a backpack-style configuration, in a beltcoupling style configuration).

The local processing and data module 71 may comprise a hardware sor, as well as digital , such as latile memory (e.g., flash memory), both of which may be utilized to assist in the processing, caching, and storage of data. The data may e data a) captured from sensors (which may be, e.g., operatively coupled to the frame 64 or otherwise attached to the user 60), such as image capture devices (e.g., cameras), microphones, inertial measurement units (IMUs), accelerometers, ses, global positioning system (GPS) units, radio devices, and/or gyroscopes; and/or b) acquired and/or processed using remote processing module 72 and/or remote data repository 74, possibly for passage to the display 62 after such processing or retrieval. The local processing and data module 71 may be operatively coupled by communication links 76 and/or 78, such as via wired or wireless communication links, to the remote processing module 72 and/or remote data repository 74 such that these remote modules are available as resources to the local processing and data module 71. In addition, remote processing module 72 and remote data tory 74 may be operatively coupled to each other.

In some embodiments, the remote processing module 72 may comprise one or more hardware processors configured to analyze and process data and/or image information. In some embodiments, the remote data repository 74 may comprise a digital data storage facility, which may be ble h the et or other networking configuration in a " resource configuration. In some embodiments, all data is stored and all computations are performed in the local processing and data module, allowing fully mous use from a remote module.

The human visual system is complicated and providing a realistic perception of depth is challenging. Without being limited by theory, it is believed that viewers of an object may perceive the object as being three-dimensional due to a combination of vergence and accommodation. Vergence movements (e.g., rotational movements of the pupils toward or away from each other to converge the lines of sight of the eyes to fixate upon an object) of the two eyes relative to each other are closely associated with ng (or "accommodation") of the lenses of the eyes. Under normal conditions, changing the focus of the lenses of the eyes, or accommodating the eyes, to change focus from one object to r object at a different distance will automatically cause a matching change in vergence to the same distance, under a relationship known as the "accommodation-vergence reflex." Likewise, a change in vergence will trigger a matching change in accommodation, under normal conditions. Display systems that provide a better match between accommodation and vergence may form more realistic or table simulations of three-dimensional imagery. illustrates aspects of an approach for simulating three-dimensional y using multiple depth planes. With reference to objects at various distances from eyes 302 and 304 on the z-axis are accommodated by the eyes 302 and 304 so that those objects are in focus. The eyes 302 and 304 assume ular accommodated states to bring into focus objects at different distances along the z-axis. Consequently, a particular accommodated state may be said to be associated with a particular one of depth planes 306, with has an associated focal distance, such that objects or parts of s in a particular depth plane are in focus when the eye is in the accommodated state for that depth plane. In some embodiments, three-dimensional y may be simulated by providing different presentations of an image for each of the eyes 302 and 304, and also by providing different presentations of the image corresponding to each of the depth planes. While shown as being separate for clarity of illustration, it will be appreciated that the fields of view of the eyes 302 and 304 may overlap, for example, as distance along the z-axis increases. In addition, while shown as flat for ease of illustration, it will be appreciated that the contours of a depth plane may be curved in physical space, such that all features in a depth plane are in focus with the eye in a particular accommodated state. Without being limited by theory, it is believed that the human eye typically can interpret a finite number of depth planes to provide depth perception. Consequently, a highly believable simulation of perceived depth may be achieved by providing, to the eye, ent presentations of an image corresponding to each of these limited number of depth .

Waveguide Stack Assembly illustrates an example of a waveguide stack for outputting image information to a user. A display system 700 includes a stack of waveguides, or stacked waveguide ly, 178 that may be utilized to provide dimensional perception to the eye/brain using a plurality of waveguides 182, 184, 186, 188, 190. In some embodiments, the display system 700 may correspond to system 700 of with schematically showing some parts of that system 700 in r detail. For example, in some embodiments, the waveguide assembly 178 may be ated into the display 62 of With continued reference to the waveguide ly 178 may also include a plurality of features 198, 196, 194, 192 between the waveguides. In some embodiments, the features 198, 196, 194, 192 may be lenses. The waveguides 182, 184, 186, 188, 190 and/or the plurality of lenses 198, 196, 194, 192 may be configured to send image ation to the eye with various levels of wavefront curvature or light ray divergence.

Each waveguide level may be associated with a particular depth plane and may be configured to output image information corresponding to that depth plane. Image injection devices 200, 202, 204, 206, 208 may be ed to inject image information into the ides 182, 184, 186, 188, 190, each of which may be configured to distribute incoming light across each respective waveguide, for output toward the eye 304. Light exits an output surface of the image ion devices 200, 202, 204, 206, 208 and is injected into a corresponding input edge of the waveguides 182, 184, 186, 188, 190. In some embodiments, a single beam of light (e.g., a collimated beam) may be injected into each waveguide to output an entire field of cloned collimated beams that are directed toward the eye 304 at particular angles (and amounts of divergence) corresponding to the depth plane associated with a particular In some ments, the image injection devices 200, 202, 204, 206, 208 are discrete displays that each produce image information for ion into a corresponding waveguide 182, 184, 186, 188, 190, respectively. In some other ments, the image injection devices 200, 202, 204, 206, 208 are the output ends of a single multiplexed display which may, e.g., pipe image information via one or more optical conduits (such as fiber optic cables) to each of the image injection devices 200, 202, 204, 206, 208.

A controller 210 controls the operation of the stacked waveguide assembly 178 and the image injection devices 200, 202, 204, 206, 208. In some embodiments, the ller 210 includes programming (e.g., instructions in a non-transitory computer-readable medium) that regulates the timing and provision of image information to the waveguides 182, 184, 186, 188, 190. In some embodiments, the controller may be a single integral , or a distributed system connected by wired or wireless communication ls. The controller 210 may be part of the processing modules 71 or 72 (illustrated in in some embodiments.

The waveguides 182, 184, 186, 188, 190 may be configured to propagate light within each respective waveguide by total internal reflection (TIR). The waveguides 182, 184, 186, 188, 190 may each be planar or have another shape (e.g., curved), with major top and bottom surfaces and edges extending between those major top and bottom surfaces.

In the illustrated uration, the waveguides 182, 184, 186, 188, 190 may each include light extracting optical elements 282, 284, 286, 288, 290 that are configured to extract light out of a waveguide by redirecting the light, propagating within each respective waveguide, out of the waveguide to output image information to the eye 304. Extracted light may also be referred to as pled light, and light extracting optical elements may also be referred to as outcoupling optical elements. An extracted beam of light is outputted by the waveguide at locations at which the light propagating in the waveguide strikes a light redirecting element.

The light extracting optical elements 282, 284, 286, 288, 290 may, for example, be reflective and/or diffractive optical features. While illustrated disposed at the bottom major es of the ides 182, 184, 186, 188, 190 for ease of description and drawing clarity, in some embodiments, the light extracting optical elements 282, 284, 286, 288, 290 may be disposed at the top and/or bottom major surfaces, and/or may be ed directly in the volume of the waveguides 182, 184, 186, 188, 190. In some embodiments, the light extracting optical ts 282, 284, 286, 288, 290 may be formed in a layer of al that is attached to a transparent substrate to form the waveguides 182, 184, 186, 188, 190. In some other embodiments, the waveguides 182, 184, 186, 188, 190 may be a monolithic piece of material and the light extracting l elements 282, 284, 286, 288, 290 may be formed on a surface and/or in the interior of that piece of al.

With continued reference to as discussed herein, each waveguide 182, 184, 186, 188, 190 is configured to output light to form an image corresponding to a particular depth plane. For example, the waveguide 182 nearest the eye may be configured to deliver collimated light, as injected into such waveguide 182, to the eye 304. The collimated light may be representative of the optical infinity focal plane. The next ide up 184 may be configured to send out collimated light which passes through the first lens 192 (e.g., a negative lens) before it can reach the eye 304. First lens 192 may be configured to create a slight convex wavefront curvature so that the eye/brain interprets light coming from that next waveguide up 184 as coming from a first focal plane closer inward toward the eye 304 from optical infinity. Similarly, the third up waveguide 186 passes its output light through both the first lens 192 and second lens 194 before ng the eye 304. The combined optical power of the first and second lenses 192 and 194 may be configured to create another incremental amount of wavefront curvature so that the eye/brain interprets light coming from the third ide 186 as coming from a second focal plane that is even closer inward toward the person from optical infinity than was light from the next waveguide up 184.

The other waveguide layers (e.g., ides 188, 190) and lenses (e.g., lenses 196, 198) are similarly configured, with the highest waveguide 190 in the stack sending its output through all of the lenses between it and the eye for an aggregate focal power representative of the closest focal plane to the person. To compensate for the stack of lenses 198, 196, 194, 192 when viewing/interpreting light coming from the world 144 on the other side of the d waveguide assembly 178, a compensating lens layer 180 may be disposed at the top of the stack to compensate for the aggregate power of the lens stack 198, 196, 194, 192 below. Such a configuration provides as many ved focal planes as there are available waveguide/lens pairings. Both the light extracting optical elements of the waveguides and the ng aspects of the lenses may be static (e.g., not dynamic or electroactive ). In some alternative embodiments, either or both may be dynamic using electro-active features.

The display system 700 can include an outward-facing imaging system 502 (e.g., a digital camera) that images a portion of the world 144. This portion of the world 144 may be referred to as the field of view (FOV) and the imaging system 502 is sometimes referred to as an FOV camera. The entire region available for viewing or imaging by a viewer may be referred to as the field of regard (FOR). In some HMD implementations, the FOR may include substantially all of the solid angle around a wearer of the HMD, because the wearer can move their head and eyes to look at objects nding the wearer (in front, in back, above, below, or on the sides of the wearer). Images obtained from the outward-facing imaging system 502 can be used to track gestures made by the wearer (e.g., hand or finger es), detect objects in the world 144 in front of the wearer, and so forth.

The display system 700 can include a user input device 504 by which the user can input commands to the controller 210 to interact with the system 700. For example, the user input device 504 can include a trackpad, a touchscreen, a joystick, a multiple degreeof-freedom (DOF) controller, a capacitive sensing device, a game controller, a rd, a mouse, a directional pad (D-pad), a wand, a haptic device, a totem (e.g., oning as a virtual user input device), and so forth. In some cases, the user may use a finger (e.g., a thumb) to press or swipe on a touch-sensitive input device to provide input to the system 700 (e.g., to provide user input to a user ace provided by the system 700). The user input device 504 may be held by the user’s hand during use of the system 700. The user input device 504 can be in wired or wireless communication with the display system 700.

With continued reference to the light extracting optical elements 282, 284, 286, 288, 290 may be configured to both redirect light out of their respective waveguides and to output this light with the appropriate amount of ence or collimation for a ular depth plane associated with the waveguide. As a result, ides having different associated depth planes may have ent configurations of light extracting optical elements, which output light with a different amount of divergence depending on the associated depth plane. In some embodiments, as discussed herein, the light extracting optical elements 282, 284, 286, 288, 290 may be volumetric or surface es, which may be configured to output light at specific angles. For e, the light extracting optical elements 282, 284, 286, 288, 290 may be volume holograms, surface ams, and/or diffraction gratings. Light extracting optical ts, such as diffraction gratings, are described in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2015/0178939, published June 25, 2015, which is orated by reference herein in its entirety. In some embodiments, the features 198, 196, 194, 192 may not be lenses. , they may simply be spacers (e.g., cladding layers and/or structures for forming air gaps).

In some embodiments, the light extracting optical elements 282, 284, 286, 288, 290 are diffractive features that form a diffraction pattern, or "diffractive optical element" (also referred to herein as a "DOE"). Preferably, the DOEs have a relatively low diffraction efficiency so that only a portion of the light of the beam is deflected away toward the eye 304 with each intersection of the DOE, while the rest continues to move through a waveguide via total internal reflection. The light carrying the image information is thus divided into a number of related exit beams that exit the waveguide at a multiplicity of ons and the result is a fairly m pattern of exit emission toward the eye 304 for this particular collimated beam bouncing around within a waveguide.

In some embodiments, one or more DOEs may be switchable between "on" states in which they ly diffract, and "off" states in which they do not significantly diffract. For instance, a switchable DOE may comprise a layer of polymer dispersed liquid crystal, in which microdroplets comprise a diffraction pattern in a host medium, and the refractive index of the microdroplets can be switched to substantially match the refractive index of the host material (in which case the pattern does not appreciably diffract incident light) or the microdroplet can be switched to an index that does not match that of the host medium (in which case the pattern actively diffracts incident light).

In some embodiments, the number and distribution of depth planes and/or depth of field may be varied dynamically based on the pupil sizes and/or orientations of the eyes of the . In some embodiments, the display system 700 also includes an inwardfacing imaging system (e.g. a digital camera) 500, which observes the nts of the wearer, such as the eye movements and the facial movements. The inward-facing imaging system 500 (e.g., a digital camera) may be used to capture images of the eye 304 to determine the size and/or orientation of the pupil of the eye 304. The inward-facing imaging system 500 can be used to obtain images for use in determining the direction the wearer 60 is looking (e.g., eye pose) or for biometric identification of the wearer (e.g., via iris identification). In some embodiments, the inward-facing imaging system 500 may be ed to the frame 64 (as illustrated in and may be in electrical communication with the processing modules 71 and/or 72, which may process image information from the camera 500 to determine, e.g., the pupil diameters and/or orientations of the eyes of the user 60. In some embodiments, at least one camera 500 may be ed for imaging each eye, to separately determine the pupil size and/or eye pose of each eye independently, thereby allowing the presentation of image information to each eye to be cally tailored to that eye. In some other embodiments, the pupil diameter and/or orientation of only a single eye 304 is determined (e.g., using only a camera 500 per pair of eyes) and the eye features ined for this eye are assumed to be similar for the other eye of the viewer 60. The images obtained from the -facing imaging system 500 may be used to obtain images for substituting the region of the wearer’s face occluded by the HMD, which can be used such that a first caller can see a second caller’s unoccluded face during a telepresence session. The y system 700 may also determine head pose (e.g., head position or head orientation) using sensors such as IMUs, accelerometers, gyroscopes, etc. The head’s pose may be used alone or in combination with gaze direction to select and move virtual objects.

Depth of field may change ely with a ’s pupil size. As a result, as the sizes of the pupils of the viewer’s eyes decrease, the depth of field increases such that one plane not discernible because the location of that plane is beyond the depth of focus of the eye may become discernible and appear more in focus with reduction of pupil size and commensurate increase in depth of field. Likewise, the number of spaced apart depth planes used to present different images to the viewer may be decreased with decreased pupil size. For example, a viewer may not be able to clearly perceive the details of both a first depth plane and a second depth plane at one pupil size without adjusting the odation of the eye away from one depth plane and to the other depth plane. These two depth planes may, however, be sufficiently in focus at the same time to the user at another pupil size without changing accommodation.

In some ments, the display system may vary the number of waveguides receiving image information based upon determinations of pupil size and/or orientation, or upon receiving electrical signals indicative of particular pupil sizes and/or orientations. For example, if the user’s eyes are unable to distinguish between two depth planes associated with two waveguides, then the controller 210 may be configured or programmed to cease providing image ation to one of these waveguides.

Advantageously, this may reduce the processing burden on the system, thereby increasing the responsiveness of the system. In embodiments in which the DOEs for a waveguide are switchable between on and off states, the DOEs may be ed to the off state when the waveguide does receive image information.

In some embodiments, it may be desirable to have an exit beam meet the condition of having a diameter that is less than the diameter of the eye of a . However, meeting this ion may be challenging in view of the variability in size of the viewer’s pupils. In some embodiments, this condition is met over a wide range of pupil sizes by varying the size of the exit beam in response to determinations of the size of the viewer’s pupil. For example, as the pupil size decreases, the size of the exit beam may also decrease.

In some ments, the exit beam size may be varied using a variable aperture.

Additional Aspects In a 1st , a texture projecting light bulb is described. The texture projecting light bulb comprises an escent filament configured to produce infrared light, an integrating sphere ing the incandescent filament, and a light bulb enclosure surrounding the integrating sphere. The integrating sphere comprises a ely reflective interior surface and an aperture configured to allow light to pass out of the integrating sphere.

The enclosure comprises one or more regions transmissive to infrared light and one or more regions opaque to infrared light. The one or more issive regions are configured to project a structured light pattern of ed light detectable by a computer vision .

In a 2nd aspect, a texture projecting light bulb is described. The texture projecting light bulb ses a light source, an integrator surrounding the light source, and an enclosure surrounding the integrator. The integrator comprises an interior surface and at least one aperture. At least a portion of the enclosure is translucent.

In a 3rd aspect, the texture projecting light bulb of aspect 2, wherein the light source is configured to produce infrared light.

In a 4th aspect, the texture projecting light bulb of any one of aspects 1-3, wherein the light source is configured to produce visible light.

In a 5th aspect, the texture projecting light bulb of any one of aspects 1-4, wherein the light source is configured to produce a combination of infrared and e light.

In a 6th aspect, the texture projecting light bulb of any one of aspects 2-5, wherein the integrator comprises an integrating .

In a 7th aspect, the e projecting light bulb of any one of aspects 2-6, wherein the integrator comprises an integrating cube.

In an 8th aspect, the texture projecting bulb of any one of aspects 2-7, wherein the interior surface of the integrator comprises a specularly reflective material.

In a 9th aspect, the texture ting bulb of any one of aspects 2-8, wherein the interior surface of the integrator is at least partially coated with a specularly reflective coating.

In a 10th , the texture projecting bulb of any one of aspects 2-9, wherein the or surface of the ator ses a diffusive material.

In an 11th , the texture projecting bulb of any one of aspects 2-10, wherein the interior surface of the integrator is at least partially coated with a diffusive coating.

In a 12th aspect, the e projecting bulb of any one of aspects 2-11, wherein the extended light source comprises an incandescent filament.

In a 13th aspect, the texture ting bulb of any one of aspects 2-12, wherein the extended light source comprises a light-emitting diode.

In a 14th aspect, the e projecting bulb of any one of aspects 2-13, wherein the extended light source comprises a gas-discharge element.

In a 15th , the texture projecting bulb of any one of aspects 2-14, wherein the extended light source comprises an arc light.

In a 16th aspect, the texture projecting bulb of any one of aspects 1-15, wherein at least a portion of the enclosure comprises a hot mirror.

In a 17th aspect, the texture projecting bulb of any one of aspects 1-16, wherein at least a portion of the enclosure is opaque.

In an 18th aspect, the texture projecting light bulb of any one of aspects 1- 17, wherein at least a portion of the interior surface of the enclosure is capable of ing light.

In a 19th aspect, the texture projecting light bulb of any one of aspects 2- 18, wherein the ucent portion of the enclosure is configured to project a structured light pattern.

In a 20th aspect, the texture projecting light bulb of any one of aspects 1- 19, wherein at least a n of the enclosure is cal.

In a 21st aspect, the texture projecting light bulb of aspect 20, wherein the aperture of the integrator is located at the center of the spherical portion of the enclosure.

In a 22nd aspect, the texture projecting light bulb of any one of aspects 1- 21, wherein the light bulb further comprises a base configured to be mechanically and electrically connected to a light bulb socket.

In a 23rd aspect, the texture projecting light bulb of aspect 22, wherein the base ses a threaded base.

In a 24th aspect, the texture projecting light bulb of any one of s 2- 23, wherein the light bulb further comprises a baffle ed at least partially within the integrator.

In a 25th aspect, the texture projecting light bulb of aspect 24, wherein at least a portion of the baffle is located along a straight line path between the light source and the aperture.

In a 26th aspect, the texture ting light bulb of any one of aspects 24- , wherein the baffle intersects every straight line path between the light source and the aperture.

In a 27th aspect, the texture projecting light bulb of any one of aspects 24- 26, wherein the baffle comprises a specularly reflective surface.

In a 28th aspect, the texture projecting light bulb of any one of s 24- 27, wherein the baffle comprises a diffusely reflective surface.

In a 29th , an augmented reality system is described. The augmented reality system ses a wearable y system and a texture projecting light bulb. The wearable display system comprises a head -mounted display configured to project light to a user to display augmented reality image content, and an outward-facing imaging system configured to image the world around the user. The texture projecting light bulb is configured to project a textured light pattern. The wearable display system is configured to detect the textured light n projected by the texture projecting light bulb. The texture projecting light bulb is the e projecting light bulb of any one of aspects 1-28.

In a 30th aspect, the augmented reality system of aspect 29, wherein the head-mounted display is configured to display augmented reality image content based at least in part on the textured light pattern detected by the wearable display system.

In a 31st aspect, the augmented reality system of any one of aspects 29-30, wherein the head-mounted display comprises a waveguide configured to allow a view of the world h the waveguide and project light to the user by ing light out of the waveguide and into an eye of the user.

In a 32nd , the augmented reality system of aspect 31, wherein the waveguide is part of a stack of waveguides, n each waveguide of the stack is configured to output light with different amounts of ence in comparison to one or more other waveguides of the stack of waveguides.

In a 33rd aspect, the augmented reality system of any one of aspects 29-32, wherein the ounted display comprises a light field display.

In a 34th aspect, the augmented reality system of any one of aspects 29-33, wherein the outward-facing imaging system is ured to detect infrared light.

In a 35th aspect, a display system comprises an augmented y display system, a l reality display system, or a computer vision system, and the texture projecting light bulb of any one of aspects 1-28. The ted reality system can comprise the augmented reality system of any one of s 29-34.

Other Considerations Each of the processes, methods, and algorithms described herein and/or depicted in the attached figures may be embodied in, and fully or partially automated by, code modules ed by one or more physical computing systems, hardware computer processors, application-specific circuitry, and/or electronic re configured to execute ic and particular computer instructions. For example, computing systems can include general purpose computers (e.g., servers) programmed with specific computer instructions or special purpose computers, special purpose circuitry, and so forth. A code module may be compiled and linked into an executable program, installed in a dynamic link y, or may be written in an interpreted programming language. In some implementations, particular operations and s may be performed by circuitry that is specific to a given function.

Further, certain implementations of the functionality of the t disclosure are sufficiently mathematically, computationally, or technically complex that application-specific hardware or one or more physical ing devices (utilizing appropriate specialized executable instructions) may be necessary to perform the functionality, for example, due to the volume or complexity of the calculations involved or to e results substantially in real-time. For example, animations or video may include many frames, with each frame having millions of pixels, and specifically programmed computer hardware is necessary to process the video data to provide a desired image processing task or application in a commercially reasonable amount of time.

Code modules or any type of data may be stored on any type of nontransitory computer-readable medium, such as physical computer storage including hard drives, solid state memory, random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), optical disc, volatile or non-volatile storage, combinations of the same and/or the like. The methods and modules (or data) may also be transmitted as generated data signals (e.g., as part of a carrier wave or other analog or digital propagated signal) on a variety of computerreadable transmission mediums, including wireless-based and wired/cable-based mediums, and may take a variety of forms (e.g., as part of a single or multiplexed analog signal, or as multiple discrete digital packets or frames). The results of the disclosed processes or process steps may be stored, persistently or otherwise, in any type of non-transitory, tangible computer storage or may be communicated via a computer-readable transmission .

Any processes, blocks, states, steps, or functionalities in flow diagrams described herein and/or depicted in the attached figures should be understood as potentially representing code modules, segments, or ns of code which include one or more executable ctions for implementing specific functions (e.g., logical or arithmetical) or steps in the process. The various processes, , states, steps, or functionalities can be combined, rearranged, added to, deleted from, modified, or otherwise changed from the illustrative examples provided herein. In some ments, additional or different computing systems or code modules may perform some or all of the functionalities described herein. The methods and processes bed herein are also not limited to any particular sequence, and the blocks, steps, or states relating thereto can be performed in other sequences that are appropriate, for example, in serial, in parallel, or in some other manner. Tasks or events may be added to or removed from the disclosed example embodiments. Moreover, the separation of various system components in the implementations described herein is for illustrative purposes and should not be tood as requiring such tion in all implementations. It should be understood that the described m components, methods, and systems can generally be integrated together in a single computer product or packaged into multiple computer products. Many implementation variations are possible.

The ses, s, and systems may be implemented in a network (or buted) ing environment. Network environments include enterprise-wide computer networks, intranets, local area ks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), personal area networks (PAN), cloud computing networks, crowd-sourced computing networks, the Internet, and the World Wide Web. The network may be a wired or a wireless network or any other type of communication network.

The systems and methods of the disclosure each have several innovative aspects, no single one of which is solely sible or required for the desirable attributes sed herein. The various features and processes described above may be used independently of one another, or may be combined in various ways. All possible combinations and subcombinations are intended to fall within the scope of this disclosure.

Various modifications to the implementations described in this disclosure may be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be d to other implementations without departing from the spirit or scope of this disclosure. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to the implementations shown herein, but are to be ed the widest scope consistent with this disclosure, the principles and the novel features disclosed herein.

Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate implementations also can be implemented in ation in a single implementation. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single entation also can be implemented in multiple entations separately or in any suitable subcombination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the ation, and the d combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination. No single feature or group of es is necessary or indispensable to each and every embodiment.

Conditional language used herein, such as, among others, "can," "could," ," "may," "e.g.," and the like, unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain ments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, ts and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and/or steps are in any way required for one or more ments or that one or more embodiments arily include logic for deciding, with or t author input or prompting, whether these features, elements and/or steps are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment. The terms "comprising," "including," "having," and the like are synonymous and are used inclusively, in an open-ended fashion, and do not exclude additional elements, features, acts, operations, and so forth. Also, the term "or" is used in its inclusive sense (and not in its exclusive sense) so that when used, for example, to t a list of elements, the term "or" means one, some, or all of the elements in the list. In on, the articles "a," "an," and "the" as used in this application and the appended claims are to be construed to mean "one or more" or "at least one" unless ied otherwise.

As used herein, a phrase referring to "at least one of" a list of items refers to any combination of those items, including single members. As an example, "at least one of: A, B, or C" is intended to cover: A, B, C, A and B, A and C, B and C, and A, B, and C.

Conjunctive language such as the phrase "at least one of X, Y and Z," unless specifically stated otherwise, is otherwise tood with the context as used in general to convey that an item, term, etc. may be at least one of X, Y or Z. Thus, such conjunctive language is not generally intended to imply that certain embodiments require at least one of X, at least one of Y and at least one of Z to each be present.

Similarly, while operations may be depicted in the drawings in a particular order, it is to be recognized that such operations need not be performed in the ular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. Further, the drawings may tically depict one more example processes in the form of a flowchart. However, other operations that are not depicted can be incorporated in the example methods and processes that are schematically illustrated. For example, one or more additional operations can be performed before, after, simultaneously, or between any of the illustrated operations. Additionally, the operations may be rearranged or reordered in other implementations. In n circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Moreover, the separation of various system components in the implementations described above should not be tood as requiring such separation in all implementations, and it should be understood that the described program components and systems can generally be integrated together in a single re product or packaged into multiple software products. Additionally, other implementations are within the scope of the ing claims. In some cases, the actions recited in the claims can be performed in a different order and still achieve desirable results.

The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that the prior publication (or ation derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.

Claims (20)

WHAT IS D IS:

1. A light bulb comprising: at least one light source that is ured to produce infrared light and visible light; and at least one structure that encloses the at least one light source and that is transmissive to the visible light, wherein the at least one ure includes at least one first region that is transmissive to infrared light and at least one second region that is opaque to ed light.

2. The light bulb of claim 1, n the at least one light source includes a light source that produces both the infrared light and the visible light.

3. The light bulb of claim 1, wherein the at least one light source includes a first light source that produces the infrared light and a second light source that produces the visible light.

4. The light bulb of any one of the claims 1 to 3, wherein the at least one first region is arranged to project a pattern of the infrared light that is detectable by a computer vision system.

5. The light bulb of claim 4, wherein the pattern comprises at least one of a grid, a plurality of point-like images, or a plurality of bars.

6. The light bulb of any one of the claims 1 to 5, further comprising one or more baffles disposed at least partially within the at least one structure.

7. The light bulb of claim 6, wherein at least one of the one or more baffles is located along a straight line path between the at least one light source and the at least one first region.

8. The light bulb of any one of the claims 1 to 7, wherein the at least one ure includes an integrator surrounding at least a portion of the at least one light source and an enclosure at least partially surrounding the ator.

9. The light bulb of claim 8, wherein the at least one light source comprises a first light source that produces the infrared light and a second light source that produces the visible light, the first light source being disposed within the integrator, the second light source being disposed outside the integrator.

10. The light bulb of claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the integrator comprises an re configured to allow light to pass out of the integrator.

11. The light bulb of claim 10, wherein at least a portion of the at least one first region and at least a portion of the at least one second region are disposed within a half-space bounded by a plane tangent to the integrator at the aperture.

12. The light bulb of any one of the claims 8 to 11, n the enclosure comprises the at least one first region and the at least one second region.

13. The light bulb of any one of the claims 1 to 12, wherein the at least one light source comprises an incandescent nt.

14. The light bulb of any one of the claims 1 to 13, wherein the at least one light source comprises a light-emitting diode.

15. The light bulb of any one of the claims 1 to 14, wherein the at least one structure includes an interior surface comprising a specularly reflective al.

16. The light bulb of any one of the claims 1 to 15, wherein the at least one structure includes an interior surface coated with a arly reflective coating.

17. The light bulb of any one of the claims 1 to 16, wherein the at least one structure includes an interior surface comprising a diffusive material.

18. The light bulb of any one of the claims 1 to 17, wherein the at least one structure includes an interior surface coated with a diffusive coating.

19. The light bulb of any one of the claims 1 to 18, wherein the at least one second region comprises a hot mirror transmissive to visible light and reflective to infrared light.

20. The light bulb of any one of the claims 1 to 19, wherein the at least one second region ses a material capable of absorbing infrared light. WO 13753 WO 13753 WO 13753 WO 13753 4/1 0 WO 13753 /108 102 FIG. ‘IA i102106 FIG. ‘IB FIG. ‘IC 6/1 0 FIG. ‘ID 106 134 FIG. ‘IE ///'108 FIG. ‘II' WO 13753 7/1 0 "“\108 FIG. ‘IG ///108 FIG. ‘IH 106 134 ~~ : Local sing : "h. &Data Module I I________________I _____764 w____| I.___ _____ Remote : : Remote Processmg : : Data Module : : Reposflory WO 13753