Light detector and distance measuring device
AssigneesKabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation
InventorsHiroshi Kubota, Nobu Matsumoto
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Abstract
A light detector according to an embodiment includes a light receiver and a controller. The controller is configured to set first and second light-receiving regions. The first light-receiving region includes first and second pixel regions. The second light-receiving region includes a third pixel region. An area of the third pixel region is larger than a total area of the first and second pixel regions. The light receiver is configured to, when light is applied: cause each of the first and second pixel regions within the first light-receiving region to individually output a signal; and cause the third pixel region within the second light-receiving region to output signals collectively.
Claims14
A light detector comprising:
- a light receiver including a plurality of sensors arranged two dimensionally on a substrate;
- and
- a controller configured to set a light-receiving region in which the sensors are selectively turned on in the light receiver, wherein
- the controller is configured to set a first light-receiving region and a second light-receiving region different from the first light-receiving region based on information on coordinates input from outside,
- the first light-receiving region including a first pixel region and a second pixel region, each of the first pixel region and the second pixel region including at least one of the sensors, and
- the second light-receiving region including a third pixel region, an area of the third pixel region being larger than a total area of the first pixel region and the second pixel region, and
- the light receiver is configured to, when light is applied:
- cause each of the first pixel region and the second pixel region within the first light-receiving region to individually output a signal;
- and
- cause the third pixel region within the second light-receiving region to output signals collectively.
A distance measuring device comprising:
- a light emitter configured to emit an optical signal;
- a light receiver including a plurality of sensors arranged two dimensionally on a substrate;
- a controller configured to set a light-receiving region in which the sensors are selectively turned on in the light receiver;
- and
- a signal processor capable of performing analog-to-digital conversion processing and time-to-digital conversion processing, wherein
- the controller is configured to set a first light-receiving region and a second light-receiving region different from the first light-receiving region based on information on coordinates input from outside,
- the first light-receiving region including a first pixel region and a second pixel region, each of the first pixel region and the second pixel region including at least one of the sensors, and
- the second light-receiving region including a third pixel region, an area of the third pixel region being larger than a total area of the first pixel region and the second pixel region, and
- the signal processor is configured to:
- perform the analog-to-digital conversion processing individually on an output of the first pixel region and an output of the second pixel region;
- and
- perform the time-to-digital conversion processing on a signal obtained by collecting outputs of the third pixel region.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.