3D Camera

I recently found out on the internet there are quite a few of 3D camera, which is known as All-Solid-State 3D camera based on the principle of Time-of-Flight(TOF). Below is some basic concept I found from the website of a swiss company CSEM. New information is coming up:

The camera emits an RF modulated optical radiation field (typically 20 MHz or higher) in the infra-red spectrum. This signal is diffusely backscattered by the scene and detected by the camera. Every pixel is able to demodulate the signal and detect its phase, which is proportional to the distance of the reflecting object. The pixel is also referred to as a "lock-in pixel", since it also determines modulation amplitude and offset of the signal allowing the camera to generate a gray-scale image of the scene.

Modulated input signal: phase, amplitude and offset.

The project with CEDES has been awarded with the european IST prize.

Further information on the camera specifications as well as technical background can be found at www.mesa-imaging.ch. MESA Imaging AG was founded in July 2006 to commercialize the world-leading 3D Time-of-Flight depth mapping technology developed by CSEM.

(from: http://www.csem.ch/detailed/p_531_3d_cam.htm)

read more:
http://www.mesa-imaging.ch/index.php