Imaging devices and decoding methods thereof for determining distances to objects

An imaging device, comprising:

• a pixel;
• and
• a signal processor configured to:
• apply a first set of control signals to the pixel to generate a first pixel signal, a second pixel signal, a third pixel signal, and a fourth pixel signal, based on light reflected from an object;
• apply a second set of control signals to the pixel to generate a fifth pixel signal, a sixth pixel signal, a seventh pixel signal, and an eighth pixel signal based on the light reflected from the object;
• calculate a first distance to the object using a first method;
• calculate a second distance to the object using a second method different than the first method;
• and
• determine a final distance to the object based on the first distance and the second distance.

A system, comprising:

• a light source configured to emit modulated light;
• and
• an imaging device, including:
• a pixel;
• and
• a signal processor configured to:
• apply a first set of control signals to the pixel to generate a first pixel signal, a second pixel signal, a third pixel signal, and a fourth pixel signal based on the modulated light reflected from an object;
• apply a second set of control signals to the pixel to generate a fifth pixel signal, a sixth pixel signal, a seventh pixel signal, and an eighth pixel signal based on the modulated light reflected from the object;
• and
• calculate a distance to the object based on comparisons between selected ones of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth pixel signals, wherein the first set of control signals and the second set of control signals adhere to a Gray code coding scheme.