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US 11,962,900 B2Granted
Multiple fields of view time of flight sensor
AssigneeSTMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
InventorsNeale Dutton, Stuart McLeod, Bruce Rae
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In some embodiments, a ToF sensor includes an illumination source module, a transmitter lens module, a receiver lens module, and an integrated circuit that includes a ToF imaging array. The ToF imaging array includes a plurality of SPADs and a plurality of ToF channels coupled to the plurality of SPADs. In a first mode, the ToF imaging array is configured to select a first group of SPADs corresponding to a first FoV. In a second mode, the ToF imaging array is configured to select a second group of SPADs corresponding to a second FoV different than the first FoV.
Claims20
A time of flight (ToF) sensor comprising:
- an illumination source configured to project light towards a scene;
- and
- a ToF imaging array configured to measure distances to objects in the scene, the ToF imaging array comprising:
- a plurality of photodetectors, and
- a plurality of ToF channels coupled to the plurality of photodetectors, wherein:
- in a first mode, the ToF imaging array is configured to select a first group of photodetectors from the plurality of photodetectors, the first group of photodetectors corresponding to a first field of view (FoV), the first FoV having a first predetermined fixed size corresponding with the ToF imaging array being in the first mode, the ToF imaging array also configured to measure distances to objects in the scene corresponding to the first FoV, wherein the plurality of ToF channels are configured to transmit ToF data corresponding to the first FoV, and
- in a second mode, the ToF imaging array is configured to select a second group of photodetectors from the plurality of photodetectors, the second group of photodetectors being different than the first group of photodetectors, the second group of photodetectors corresponding to a second FoV, the second FoV having a second predetermined fixed size corresponding with the ToF imaging array being in the second mode, the ToF imaging array configured to measure distances to objects in the scene corresponding to the second FoV, wherein the ToF imaging array is configured to turn off a third group of unselected photodetectors of the plurality of photodetectors before the ToF imaging array measures distances to objects in the scene corresponding to the second FoV, and wherein the plurality of ToF channels are configured to transmit ToF data corresponding to the second FoV.
4 more elements
A mobile device comprising:
- a first camera having a first field of view (FoV);
- a second camera having a second FoV;
- a first light source configured to project light towards a scene;
- a second light source configured to project light towards the scene;
- a first transmitter (TX) lens, wherein the first light source is configured to project light through the first TX lens;
- a second transmitter TX lens, wherein the second light source is configured to project light through the second TX lens;
- a time of flight (ToF) imaging array configured to measure distances to objects in the scene, the ToF imaging array comprising:
- a plurality of photodetectors, and
- a plurality of ToF channels coupled to the plurality of photodetectors, wherein:
- in a first mode, the ToF imaging array is configured to select a first group of photodetectors from the plurality of photodetectors, the first group of photodetectors corresponding to the first FoV, and measure distances to objects in the scene corresponding to the first FoV, wherein the plurality of ToF channels are configured to transmit ToF data corresponding to the first FoV, and
- in a second mode, the ToF imaging array is configured to select a second group of photodetectors from the plurality of photodetectors, the second group of photodetectors being different than the first group of photodetectors and corresponding to the second FoV having a different size than the first FoV, and measure distances to objects in the scene corresponding to the second FoV, wherein the ToF imaging array is configured to turn off a third group of unselected photodetectors of the plurality of photodetectors before the ToF imaging array measures distances to objects in the scene corresponding to the second FoV, and wherein the plurality of ToF channels are configured to transmit ToF data corresponding to the second FoV;
- and
- a receiver (RX) lens, wherein the ToF imaging array is configured to receive photons through the RX lens.
10 more elements
A device comprising:
- a dual camera system comprising a first camera having a first field of view (FoV), and a second camera having a second FoV;
- a transmitter (TX) lens;
- an illumination source configured to project light through the TX lens;
- a receiver (RX) lens configured to receive reflected photons originating from the illumination source;
- and
- a time of flight (ToF) imaging array configured to receive the reflected photons via the RX lens, the ToF imaging array comprising:
- a plurality of photodetectors occupying a first area surrounded by a first perimeter, and
- a plurality of ToF channels coupled to the plurality of photodetectors, wherein:
- in a first mode, the ToF imaging array is configured to activate the illumination source with a first intensity, and select a first group of photodetectors from the plurality of photodetectors, the first group of photodetectors occupying the first area and corresponding to the first FoV, wherein the plurality of ToF channels are configured to transmit ToF data corresponding to the first FoV, and
- in a second mode, the ToF imaging array is configured to activate the illumination source with a second intensity and to select a second group of photodetectors from the plurality of photodetectors, the second group of photodetectors occupying a second area smaller than the first area, the second area being surrounded by a second perimeter that is within the first perimeter, wherein the second intensity is higher than the first intensity, and wherein the plurality of ToF channels are configured to transmit ToF data corresponding to the second FoV.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.