Concurrent rgbz sensor and system

Abstract

Two-dimensional (2D) color information and 3D-depth information are concurrently obtained from a 2D pixel array. The 2D pixel array is arranged in a first group of a plurality of rows. A second group of rows of the array are operable to generate 2D-color information and pixels of a third group of the array are operable to generate 3D-depth information. The first group of rows comprises a first number of rows, the second group of rows comprises a second number of rows that is equal to or less than the first number of rows, and the third group of rows comprises a third number of rows that is equal to or less than the second number of rows. In an alternating manner, 2D-color information is received from a row selected from the second group of rows and 3D-depth information is received from a row selected from the third group of rows.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . An image sensor unit, comprising:
 a two-dimensional (2D) pixel array arranged in a first group of a plurality of rows, pixels of a second group of rows of the array being operable to generate 2D-color information based on an image of at least one object received by the 2D pixel array, pixels of a third group of the array being operable to generate 3D-depth information of the at least one object, the first group of rows comprising a first number of rows, the second group of rows comprising a second number of rows that is equal to or less than the first number of rows, and the third group of rows comprising a third number of rows that is equal to or less than the second number of rows; and   a controller coupled to the 2D pixel array to select in an alternating manner a row from the second group of rows to output the generated 2D-color information based on the image of the at least one object and a row from the third group of rows to output the generated 3D-depth information of the at least one object.   
     
     
         11 . The image sensor unit according to  claim 10 , wherein the row selected from the second group of rows is the same row as the row selected from the third group of rows. 
     
     
         12 . The image sensor unit according to  claim 10 , wherein the row selected from the second group of rows is the different from the row selected from the third group of rows. 
     
     
         13 . The image sensor unit according to  claim 10 , wherein the 3D-depth information comprises triangulation information corresponding to a scanned row of spots of the at least one object. 
     
     
         14 . The image sensor unit according to  claim 13 , wherein the 3D-depth information is based on a linear integration of photoelectrons generated by the pixels of the row selected from the third group of rows. 
     
     
         15 . The image sensor unit according to  claim 13 , wherein the 3D-depth information is based on a logarithmic integration of photoelectrons generated by the pixels of the row selected from the third group of rows. 
     
     
         16 . The image sensor unit according to  claim 13 , wherein the triangulation information comprises timestamp information for the scanned row of spots. 
     
     
         17 . The image sensor unit according to  claim 13 , further comprising a laser light source to illuminate the scanned row of spots. 
     
     
         18 . The image sensor unit according to  claim 17 , wherein the laser light source comprises one of a visible laser light source, a near infrared laser light source, a point light source, a monochromatic illumination source, an X-Y addressable laser light source, or a Micro Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) based laser scanner. 
     
     
         19 . A system, comprising:
 a two-dimensional (2D) pixel array arranged in a first group of a plurality of rows, pixels of a second group of rows of the array being operable to generate 2D-color information based on an image of at least one object received by the 2D pixel array, pixels of a third group of the array being operable to generate 3D-depth information of the at least one object, the first group of rows comprising a first number of rows, the second group of rows comprising a second number of rows that is equal to or less than the first number of rows, and the third group of rows comprising a third number of rows that is equal to or less than the second number of rows;   a controller coupled to the 2D pixel array to select in an alternating manner a row from the second group of rows to output the generated 2D-color information based on the image of the at least one object and a row from the third group of rows to output the generated 3D-depth information of the at least one object; and   a display coupled to the 2D pixel array and the controller, the display being operative to display a first image of the at least one object based on the generated 2D-color information and to display a second image of the at least one object based on the generated 3D-depth information.   
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 19 , wherein the 3D-depth information comprises triangulation information corresponding to a scanned row of spots of the at least one object,
 wherein the triangulation information comprises timestamp information for the scanned row of spots.   
     
     
         21 . The system according to  claim 20 , wherein the 3D-depth information is based on a linear integration of photoelectrons generated by the pixels of the row selected from the third group of rows. 
     
     
         22 . The system according to  claim 20 , wherein the 3D-depth information is based on a logarithmic integration of photoelectrons generated by the pixels of the row selected from the third group of rows. 
     
     
         23 . The system according to  claim 20 , further comprising a laser light source to illuminate the scanned row of spots,
 wherein the laser light source comprises one of a visible laser light source, a near infrared laser light source, a point light source, a monochromatic illumination source, an X-Y addressable laser light source, or a Micro Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) based laser scanner.   
     
     
         24 . The system according to  claim 19 , wherein the display comprises a touchscreen display. 
     
     
         25 . The system according to  claim 24 , wherein the system comprises part of mobile communication device.