According to James Consulting, Apple’s new TrueDepth camera system on the iPhone X is truly impressive—but it also feels familiar. The technology works by projecting 30,000 infrared dots onto a person’s face using a dot matrix projector, and then capturing that pattern with an infrared camera. This method bears a striking resemblance to how Microsoft Kinect operated. Both systems rely on structured light techniques to capture depth information.
The Kinect used a structured light approach in 3D vision, where a known pattern of light (like a grid or dot matrix) is projected onto a surface, and the deformation of that pattern is analyzed to reconstruct 3D geometry. This technique often involves an infrared emitter and a dedicated infrared camera. The iPhone X follows a similar principle, though it adds more advanced machine learning algorithms to enhance accuracy and performance.
In addition to this, traditional stereo cameras can also estimate depth by analyzing the difference between two images—much like how human eyes perceive depth. However, the iPhone X takes it a step further with its specialized hardware, including the Flood Illuminator, which helps the camera function in low-light conditions. While Apple hasn’t confirmed whether the iPhone X uses a color image sensor, it's likely that such a component is present to complement the infrared data.
Comparing the iPhone X to the original Kinect, both devices share several key components: infrared projectors, cameras, and advanced processing units. The Kinect, for example, had an astigmatic lens that allowed it to capture different focal lengths horizontally and vertically, giving it more depth information per pixel. However, this design could sometimes affect image quality.
Despite these differences, both systems ultimately rely on machine learning models trained on vast datasets—whether it’s recognizing body positions in Kinect or facial expressions in the iPhone X. These models help interpret the raw data from the sensors and deliver accurate results in real time. The evolution of this technology shows how far we've come, and it's clear that Apple has taken inspiration from earlier innovations while pushing the boundaries of what's possible.
Piezo Ceramic Sounding Plate,Full Range Piezo Ceramic Buzzer Element,Piezoelectric Ceramic Diaphragm
NINGBO SANCO ELECTRONICS CO., LTD. , https://www.sancobuzzer.com