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US 11,598,850 B2Granted
Apparatus and method for illumination
AssigneeSony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
InventorsDaniel Van Nieuwenhove, Ward Van Der Tempel
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Abstract
An apparatus has an illumination layer having an array of a plurality of illuminators, and a circuit layer having one or more drivers for controlling the plurality of illuminators. The laser layer and the circuit layer overlap at least partially, and each driver of the one or more drivers controls at least one illuminator of the plurality of illuminators.
Claims16
An apparatus comprising:
- an illumination layer including an array of a plurality of illuminators;
- a circuit layer including one or more drivers for controlling the plurality of illuminators;
- an image sensor;
- and
- circuitry configured to control the image sensor and the one or more drivers;
- wherein the illumination layer and the circuit layer overlap at least partially;
- wherein each driver of the one or more drivers controls at least one illuminator of the plurality of illuminators;
- and
- wherein a respective driver is disposed directly below a respective illuminator;
- and
- wherein the illumination layer and the circuit layer are stacked directly on each other;
- and
- wherein at least one of the circuitry and the one or more drivers is configured to control a subset of the plurality of illuminators corresponding to a first region;
- and
- wherein at least one of the circuitry and the image sensor is further configured to control a subset of pixels on which the first region is imaged to integrate light detection signals.
12 more elements
A method comprising:
- illuminating, with illumination light originating from an illuminator apparatus, a scene, and acquiring an image of the scene;
- wherein
- the illuminator apparatus comprises:
- an illumination layer including an array of a plurality of illuminators,
- a circuit layer including one or more drivers for controlling the plurality of illuminators,
- an image sensor, and
- circuitry configured to control the image sensor and the one or more drivers,
- wherein the illumination layer and the circuit layer overlap at least partially,
- wherein each driver of the one or more drivers controls at least one illuminator of the plurality of illuminators;
- and
- wherein a respective driver is disposed directly below a respective illuminator;
- and
- wherein the illumination layer and the circuit layer are stacked directly on each other;
- and
- wherein at least one of the circuitry and the illumination layer is configured to control a subset of the plurality of illuminators corresponding to a first region;
- and
- wherein at least one of the circuitry and the image sensor is further configured to control a subset of pixels on which the first region is imaged to integrate light detection signals.
14 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.