# US 10,313,356 B2 · Secure communications using SPAD ToF systems > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,313,356 B2 - Document ID: US10313356B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/169,172 - Filed: 2016-05-31 - Published: 2017-06-29 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2015-12-23 - Assignees: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited - Applicants: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited - Inventors: Jeffrey M. Raynor - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10313356B2 ## CPC - H04L 63/107: {wherein the security policies are location-dependent, e.g. entities privileges depend on current location or allowing specific operations only from locally connected terminals} - G01S 7/006: {using shared front-end circuitry, e.g. antennas (G01S13/765, G01S13/825 take precedence)} - G01S 7/4861: Circuits for detection, sampling, integration or read-out - G01S 7/4865: Time delay measurement, e.g. time-of-flight measurement, time of arrival measurement or determining the exact position of a peak (peak detection in noise, signal conditioning G01S7/487) - G01S 17/10: using transmission of interrupted, pulse-modulated waves (determination of distance by phase measurements G01S17/32) - H04B 10/1143: {Bidirectional transmission} - H10F 30/225: the potential barrier working in avalanche mode, e.g. avalanche photodiodes - H10F 55/25: wherein the radiation-sensitive devices and the electric light source are all semiconductor devices - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION ## Abstract A ToF SPAD based range detecting module is configurable for operation in a first mode to make a distance determination relative to an object within a field of view. The ToF SPAD based range detecting module is further configurable for operation in a second mode to engage in bi-directional data communication with another apparatus within the field of view. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus, comprising: a ToF SPAD based range detecting module configured to operate in a first mode to generate at least one distance determination between the apparatus and an object within a module field of view, and further configured to operate in a second mode to data communicate with another apparatus; wherein the ToF SPAD based range detecting module includes: a carrier detector configured to detect a communications signal carrier from the data communication with the another apparatus; and a controller configured to control operation in the first mode and in the second mode by disabling operation in the first mode in response to the detection of the communications signal carrier by the carrier detector. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said another apparatus comprises another ToF SPAD based range detecting module. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carrier detector is configured to generate an interrupt for the controller to control the module in the second mode and disable the first mode when the carrier detector detects the communications signal carrier. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a modulator configured to receive data to be transmitted and generate a signal for controlling a VCSEL driver controlling a narrow-beamwidth VCSEL illumination source of the ToF SPAD based range detecting module. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a demodulator configured to receive an output of at least one SPAD of the ToF SPAD based range detecting module and generate an encoded data output. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a data decoder configured to decode the encoded data output. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a clock and data recovery circuit configured to receive an output of at least one SPAD of the ToF SPAD based range detecting module and determine oscillator control signals for controlling an oscillator for clock synchronization between the apparatus and said another apparatus. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising ranging circuitry of the ToF SPAD based range detecting module for determining the at least one distance determination between the apparatus and the object within the module field of view. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ToF SPAD based range detecting module comprises: a narrow beamwidth illumination source that is controllable to transmit information to said another apparatus; at least one single photon avalanche detector configured to receive information transmitted by said another apparatus from a narrow beamwidth illumination source when the apparatus and said another apparatus are aligned. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the narrow beamwidth illumination source comprises at least one vertical cavity surface emitting laser. ### Claim 11 A method, comprising: generating using at least one ToF SPAD based range detecting module at least one distance determination between an apparatus and an object within a module field of view in a first mode of operation; data communicating using the at least one ToF SPAD based range detecting module with at least one further apparatus in a second mode of operation; detecting a communications signal carrier from the data communication with the another apparatus; and disabling operation in the first mode in response to the detection of the communications signal carrier by the carrier detector. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein said further apparatus comprises another ToF SPAD based range detecting module. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising: controlling the at least one ToF SPAD based range detecting module in the first mode of operation to generate the at least one distance determination; and controlling the at least one ToF SPAD based range detecting module in the second mode of operation to communicate with the further apparatus.