Electronic apparatus and method

A method of determining a distance to an object based on at least first reflected light provided by a reflection of first pulsed light on the object and second reflected light provided by a reflection of a second pulsed light on the object, comprising:

• receiving an electrical signal indicating an intensity of reception light;
• specifying, based on the electrical signal, a first duration from when the first pulsed light is emitted until when the first reflected light is received within a first measurement range;
• determining, based on the first duration, a second measurement range of the second reflected light;
• specifying, within the second measurement range based on the electrical signal, a second duration from when the second pulsed light is emitted until when the second reflected light is received within the second measurement range;
• determining the distance from the electronic apparatus to the object according to the second duration;
• determining the second measurement range shorter than the first duration;
• estimating first intensity of a light which does not include the second reflected light among the reception lights based on the electrical signal;
• determining a first threshold value for determining whether or not the reception light includes the second reflected light on a basis of the first intensity and a specific value;
• and
• determining the second reflected light on a basis of the first threshold value to measure the second duration.

An electronic apparatus that determines a distance to an object, comprising:

• a light source that emits first pulsed light to the object and emits second pulsed light to the object after the emission of the first pulsed light;
• a light receiver that receives light and outputs an electrical signal indicating an intensity of reception light;
• and
• processing circuitry configured to:
• specify, based on the electrical signal, a first duration from when the first pulsed light is emitted until when the first reflected light is received within a first measurement range;
• determine, based on the first duration, a second measurement range of the second reflected light;
• specify, within the second measurement range based on the electrical signal, a second duration from when the second pulsed light is emitted until when the second reflected light is received within the second measurement range;
• determine the distance from the electronic apparatus to the object according to the second duration;
• determine the second measurement range shorter than the first duration;
• estimate first intensity of a light which does not include the second reflected light among the reception lights based on the electrical signal;
• determine a first threshold value for determining whether or not the reception light includes the second reflected light on a basis of the first intensity and a specific value;
• and
• determine the second reflected light on a basis of the first threshold value to measure the second duration.

A method of measuring a distance from an object, comprising:

• emitting a first pulse light from a light source to the object and emitting a second pulse light to the object after emitting the first pulse light;
• receiving a light by a light receiver to output an electrical signal indicating an intensity of the reception light;
• based on a first time from when the first pulse light is emitted until when a first reflected signal provided by a reflection of the first pulse light on the object is received by the light receiver and a time range during which the light receiver receives a second reflected signal provided by a reflection of the second pulse light on the object, measuring a second time from when the second pulse light is emitted and until when the light receiver receives the second reflected light provided by the reflection of the second pulse signal on the object, the time range being shorter than the first time;
• calculating a distance to the object based on the second time;
• based on the electrical signal, estimating a first intensity of a light which does not include the second reflected light among the lights received by the light receiver;
• and
• at a time of measuring the second time, determining a first threshold value for determining whether or not the reception light includes the second reflected light based on the first intensity and a predetermined value, and determining the second reflected light based on the first threshold value.