Intel publishes more info on its F200 structured light front camera.
RealSense F200 camera
The IR Laser Projector emits a structured pattern of Class 1 infrared light used to determine the dimensional characteristics of objects by the depth camera:
Laser projected structured light patterns are quite unusual
Intel explains that the right (green) pattern is, in fact, changing at fast speed, so that if one makes a picture of it at 1/30s exposure, it blurs into the left (gray) pattern. EETimes says that the projector emits 16 different patterns.
A Youtube video talks about the camera capabilities:
