That means the sensors could be mass produced at a relatively low cost, making them feasible to use in a range of consumer gadgets and other electronic devices.
Spare expects Canesta's first 3-D chips to be used in industrial devices -- such as cameras that count prescription pills -- later this year. Consumer gadgets using the sensors should hit the market next year.
If Spare is correct, the sensors could be used in digital cameras to enhance and speed up autofocus systems. They could be used in computers, coupled with facial recognition software, to authenticate and log in authorized users.
Perhaps most intriguing are their potential uses in cars. Some automakers have been placing ultrasonic sensors in the rear bumpers of cars to warn drivers when they are about to hit an object or a person. Canesta would like to see its 3-D sensors replace those ultrasonic ones.
The sensors may find a place inside cars as well. They could be used in place of weight detectors to determine if a child is in a seat and whether an air bag should deploy. They also could be used to detect when someone is inside a car when they aren't supposed to be, such as a thief or even a baby accidentally left behind by an absent-minded parent.
Maybe 3-D image sensors won't catch on as much as Spare and Canesta envision. I'm dubious, for instance, that a no-touch interface will replace the keyboard and mouse for the bulk of computer users any time soon.
Still, I see a bright future for 3-D sensors. And I, for one, can't wait until I can ditch my remote control and game controllers and enter the world of the "Minority Report."
Contact Troy Wolverton at twolverton@mercurynews.com or 408-920-5021. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/troywolv.
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