Invention Grant
- Patent Title: Time-of-flight (TOF) image sensor using amplitude modulation for range measurement
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Application No.: US15340972Application Date: 2016-11-01
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Publication No.: US10557925B2Publication Date: 2020-02-11
- Inventor: Yibing Michelle Wang , Tae-Yon Lee , Ilia Ovsiannikov
- Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
- Applicant Address: KR
- Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
- Current Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
- Current Assignee Address: KR
- Agency: Renaissance IP Law Group LLP
- Main IPC: G01C3/08
- IPC: G01C3/08 ; G01S7/486 ; G01S17/10 ; G01S17/89

Abstract:
The Time-of-Flight (TOF) technique is combined with analog amplitude modulation within each pixel in an image sensor. The pixel may be a two-tap pixel or a one-tap pixel. Two photoelectron receiver circuits in the pixel receive respective analog modulating signals. The distribution of the received photoelectron charge between these two circuits is controlled by the difference (or ratio) of the two analog modulating voltages. The differential signals generated in this manner within the pixel are modulated in time domain for TOF measurement. Thus, the TOF information is added to the received light signal by the analog domain-based single-ended to differential converter inside the pixel itself. The TOF-based measurement of range and its resolution are controllable by changing the duration of modulation. An autonomous navigation system with these features may provide improved vision for drivers under difficult driving conditions like low light, fog, bad weather, or strong ambient light.
Public/Granted literature
- US20180059224A1 TIME-OF-FLIGHT (TOF) IMAGE SENSOR USING AMPLITUDE MODULATION FOR RANGE MEASUREMENT Public/Granted day:2018-03-01
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