Integrated lidar image-sensor devices and systems and related methods of operation

A Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) apparatus, comprising:

• a detector comprising a first pixel and a second pixel configured to output respective detection signals responsive to light incident thereon, the first pixel comprising one or more time of flight (ToF) sensors, and the second pixel comprising one or more image sensors;
• and
• receiver optics configured to collect the light over a field of view and direct first and second portions of the light to the first and second pixels, respectively,
• wherein the receiver optics and/or arrangement of the first and second pixels in the detector are configured to correlate the first and second pixels such that depth information indicated by the respective detection signals output from the first pixel is correlated with image information indicated by the respective detection signals output from the second pixel, and
• wherein the receiver optics comprise a wavelength-selective beam splitter or filter that is configured to direct the first portion of the light of a first wavelength range to the first pixel, and to direct the second portion of the light of a second wavelength range to the second pixel.

A Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) apparatus, comprising:

• a detector comprising a first pixel and a second pixel configured to output respective detection signals responsive to light incident thereon, the first pixel comprising one or more time of flight (ToF) sensors, and the second pixel comprising one or more image sensors;
• receiver optics configured to collect the light over a field of view and direct first and second portions of the light to the first and second pixels, respectively, wherein the receiver optics and/or arrangement of the first and second pixels in the detector are configured to correlate the first and second pixels such that depth information indicated by the respective detection signals output from the first pixel is correlated with image information indicated by the respective detection signals output from the second pixel;
• an emission source that is configured to output light emission of a first wavelength range to illuminate the field of view, wherein the first portion of the light comprises the first wavelength range;
• and
• a control circuit that is configured to receive the respective detection signals output from the first and second pixels having the depth information correlated with the image information, and is configured to output control signals to adjust the light emission from the emission source based on the respective detection signals from the first pixels and the second pixels.

A Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) apparatus, comprising:

• a detector array comprising a plurality of first pixels and a plurality of second pixels configured to output respective detection signals responsive to light incident thereon, the first pixels comprising time of flight (ToF) sensors, and the second pixels comprising image sensors, wherein the detector array comprises:
• a substrate;
• first junction regions in the substrate that define the ToF sensors, the first junction regions having a first depth relative to a surface of the substrate;
• and
• second junction regions in the substrate that define the image sensors adjacent the first junction regions, the second junction regions having a second depth that is less than the first depth relative to the surface of the substrate.

A Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) apparatus, comprising:

• a detector comprising a first pixel and a second pixel configured to output respective detection signals responsive to light incident thereon, the first pixel comprising one or more time of flight (ToF) sensors, and the second pixel comprising one or more image sensors;
• and
• receiver optics configured to collect the light over a field of view and direct first and second portions of the light to the first and second pixels, respectively,
• wherein the receiver optics are configured to correlate the first and second pixels such that depth information indicated by the respective detection signals output from the first pixel is correlated with image information indicated by the respective detection signals output from the second pixel,
• wherein the receiver optics comprise a wavelength-selective beam splitter or filter that is configured to direct the first portion of the light of a first wavelength range to the first pixel, and to direct the second portion of the light of a second wavelength range to the second pixel.