초록 ▼

An image capture module and an image capture apparatus for inputting shape of an object in three dimensional space, including a light emitting section which emits light to the object for reflection by the object and imaging of reflected light on a photo-receiving plane of a reflected light image det

An image capture module and an image capture apparatus for inputting shape of an object in three dimensional space, including a light emitting section which emits light to the object for reflection by the object and imaging of reflected light on a photo-receiving plane of a reflected light image detecting section via an image capture optical system. The reflected light image detecting section detects a reflected light image indicative of a distribution of intensity of the reflected light. The light may be irradiated evenly to the object and the shape of the object may be detected correctly even if the object has irregularity by disposing the light emitting section closely to the image capture optical system. The object may be illuminated evenly by the light from a light emitting section having plural light emitting elements by disposing the light emitting elements symmetrically about the image capture optical system. The object may be illuminated more evenly by the light from the light emitting elements by using reflecting elements which surround respective light emitting elements and focus light toward the object.

대표청구항 ▼

What is new and desired to be secured and protected by U.S. Letters Patent is: 1. An imaging apparatus comprising: a casing including an optical filter; a plurality of light sources, in the casing, each configured to emit an invisible light to be reflected by an object; and a two dimensional image

What is new and desired to be secured and protected by U.S. Letters Patent is: 1. An imaging apparatus comprising: a casing including an optical filter; a plurality of light sources, in the casing, each configured to emit an invisible light to be reflected by an object; and a two dimensional image sensor, in the casing, surrounded by the light sources and configured to receive the reflected invisible lights from the object through the optical filter, wherein the optical filter selectively transmits the invisible lights and blocks a visible light, further comprising: a control mechanism configured to control the image sensor to generate a first image when the light sources are emitting the invisible lights and a second image when the light sources are not emitting the invisible lights, wherein an image of the external object is generated from a difference between the first image and the second image. 2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light sources are infrared LEDs. 3. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the two dimensional image sensor is a CCD image sensor. 4. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a number of the lights sources is more than or equal to 3. 5. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light sources are arranged symmetrically about a center of the two dimensional image sensor. 6. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light sources are arranged symmetrically around the image sensor. 7. A portable imaging apparatus configured to be placed on a desk, comprising: a casing including an optical filter at a top surface of the casing; at least two light sources, in the casing, each configured to upwardly emit an invisible light, through the optical filter, to be reflected by an external object; and an image sensor, disposed in the casing, surrounded by the light sources, and configured to downwardly receive the reflected invisible lights from the external object through the optical filter, wherein the optical filter is configured to selectively transmit light having a predetermined wavelength corresponding to the light sources in the casing, further comprising: a control mechanism configured to control the image sensor to generate a first image when the light sources are emitting the invisible lights and a second image when the light sources are not emitting the invisible lights, wherein an image of the external object is generated from a difference between the first image and the second image. 8. The image apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the light sources are infrared LEDs. 9. The imaging apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the image sensor is a CCD image sensor. 10. The imaging apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the light sources are arranged symmetrically around the image sensor. 11. The imaging apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a number of the lights sources is more than or equal to 3. 12. The imaging apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the light sources are arranged symmetrically about a center of the image sensor.