Distance sensor, distance measurement device, and image sensor

A distance measurement device comprising:

• a light source section that emits a first light pulse, the first light pulse including a first ramp portion between a first signal level and a second signal level and a first discrete signal edge between the first signal level and the second signal level that is different from the first ramp portion;
• a controller that instructs the light source section to emit the first light pulse;
• a lens that a first reflected light pulse corresponding to the first light pulse enters;
• a light receiver that includes a photodiode which causes a signal charge to be generated by receiving the first reflected light pulse via the lens, and generates a light reception signal by storing the signal charge and converting the signal charge into a voltage;
• a signal edge detector that performs a first detection operation of detecting the first discrete signal edge corresponding to the first reflected light pulse in the light reception signal;
• and
• a time measurement section that performs, on a basis of the first discrete signal edge, a first measurement operation of measuring a first time interval from an emission timing of the first light pulse in the light source section to a reception timing of the first reflected light pulse in the light receiver.

An image sensor comprising:

• a controller that instructs a light source section to emit a first light pulse, the first light pulse including a first ramp portion between a first signal level and a second signal level and a first discrete signal edge between the first signal level and the second signal level that is different from the first ramp portion;
• a plurality of light receivers that each includes a photodiode which causes a signal charge to be generated by receiving a first reflected light pulse corresponding to the first light pulse, and each generates a light reception signal by storing the signal charge and converting the signal charge into a voltage;
• a signal edge detector that performs a first detection operation of detecting the first discrete signal edge corresponding to the first reflected light pulse in the light reception signal;
• and
• a measurement section that performs, on a basis of the first discrete signal edge, a first measurement operation of measuring a first time interval from an emission timing of the first light pulse in the light source section to a reception timing of the first reflected light pulse in one of the plurality of light receivers.