Patent 9398287 was granted and assigned to Google on July, 2016 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
An electronic device (100) includes a depth sensor (120), a first imaging camera (114, 116), and a controller (802). The depth sensor (120) includes a modulated light projector (119) to project a modulated light pattern (500). The first imaging camera (114, 116) is to capture at least a reflection of the modulated light pattern (500). The controller (802) is to selectively modify (1004) at least one of a frequency, an intensity, and a duration of projections of the modulated light pattern by the modulated light projector responsive to at least one trigger event (1002). The trigger event can include, for example, a change (1092) in ambient light incident on the electronic device, detection (1094) of motion of the electronic device, or a determination (1096) that the electronic device has encountered a previously-unencountered environment.