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US 11,714,172 B2Granted
Light reception device and distance measurement device
AssigneeSony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
InventorsOsamu Ozawa, Hayato Kamizuru
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Abstract
A light reception device comprises a pixel array including a plurality of pixels, each of the plurality of pixels including a photosensitive element configured to generate a signal in response to detection of a photon by the photosensitive element, wherein the plurality of pixels include a first pixel having a first sensitivity to detect a first photon incident on the first pixel and a second pixel having a second sensitivity to detect a second photon incident on the second pixel, wherein the second sensitivity is lower than the first sensitivity.
Claims18
A light reception device, comprising:
- a pixel array including a plurality of pixels, each of the plurality of pixels including a photosensitive element configured to generate a signal in response to detection of a photon,
- wherein the plurality of pixels include:
- a first pixel having a first photosensitive element consisting of a first single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) configured to output a first signal via a first inverter from a cathode of the first SPAD,
- a second pixel having a second photosensitive element consisting of a second SPAD configured to output a second signal via a second inverter from a cathode of the second SPAD,
- a third pixel having a third photosensitive element consisting of a third SPAD configured to output a third signal via a third inverter from a cathode of the third SPAD, wherein a light reception area of the first pixel is larger than a light reception area of the second pixel and a light reception area of the third pixel, and
- a fourth pixel having a fourth photosensitive element consisting of a fourth SPAD configured to output a fourth signal via a fourth inverter from a cathode of the fourth SPAD, wherein a light reception area of the fourth pixel is larger than the light reception area of the second pixel and the light reception area of the third pixel,
- wherein the second pixel is disposed between the first pixel and the third pixel, and
- wherein the third pixel is disposed between the second pixel and the fourth pixel.
5 more elements
A light reception system comprising:
- a light source configured to irradiate a measurement object with light;
- and
- a light reception device configured to receive light reflected by the measurement object, wherein
- the light reception device includes a pixel array including a plurality of pixels, the pixel array including:
- a first pixel having a first photosensitive element consisting of a first single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) configured to output a first signal via a first inverter from a cathode of the first SPAD,
- a second pixel having a second photosensitive element consisting of a second SPAD configured to output a second signal via a second inverter from a cathode of the second SPAD, a third pixel having a third photosensitive element consisting of a third SPAD configured to output a third signal via a third inverter from a cathode of the third SPAD, wherein a light reception area of the first pixel is larger than a light reception area of the second pixel and a light reception area of the third pixel, and
- a fourth pixel having a fourth photosensitive element consisting of a fourth SPAD configured to output a fourth signal via a fourth inverter from a cathode of the fourth SPAD, wherein a light reception area of the fourth pixel is larger than the light reception area of the second pixel and the light reception area of the third pixel,
- wherein the second pixel and the third pixel are each disposed between the first pixel and the fourth pixel.
5 more elements
A light reception device, comprising:
- a pixel array including a plurality of pixels, wherein the plurality of pixels include:
- a first pixel comprising a first photosensitive element consisting of a first single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) element configured to output a first pulse signal in response to photon detection,
- a second pixel comprising a second photosensitive element consisting of a second SPAD element configured to output a second pulse signal in response to photon detection,
- a third pixel comprising a third photosensitive element consisting of a third SPAD element configured to output a third pulse signal in response to photon detection, and
- a fourth pixel comprising a fourth photosensitive element consisting of a fourth SPAD element configured to output a fourth pulse signal in response to photon detection,
- wherein a light reception area of the first pixel is larger than a light reception area of the second pixel and a light reception area of the third pixel,
- wherein a light reception area of the fourth pixel is larger than the light reception area of the second pixel and the light reception area of the third pixel,
- wherein the second pixel is disposed between the first pixel and the third pixel, and wherein the third pixel is disposed between the second pixel and the fourth pixel.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.