# US 12,222,442 B2 · Ranging system, calibration method, program, and electronic apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,222,442 B2 - Document ID: US12222442B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/276,638 - Filed: 2019-09-26 - Published: 2022-02-10 - Granted: 2025-02-11 - Earliest claimed: 2018-10-10 - Assignees: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation - Applicants: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation - Inventors: Shunji Maeda - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12222442B2 ## CPC - G01S 7/4802: {using analysis of echo signal for target characterisation; Target signature; Target cross-section} - G01C 3/00: Measuring distances in line of sight; Optical rangefinders (tapes, chains or wheels for measuring length G01B3/00; active triangulation systems, i.e. using the transmission and reflection of electromagnetic waves other than radio waves, G01S17/48) - G01C 3/06: Use of electric means to obtain final indication - G01S 7/497: Means for monitoring or calibrating - G01S 17/10: using transmission of interrupted, pulse-modulated waves (determination of distance by phase measurements G01S17/32) - G01S 17/89: for mapping or imaging - G01S 17/894: Three-dimensional [3D] imaging with simultaneous measurement of time-of-flight at a two-dimensional [2D] array of receiver pixels, e.g. time-of-flight cameras or flash lidar - G01S 17/931: of land vehicles - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES - G01C: MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY (measuring liquid level G01F; radio navigation, determining distance or velocity by use of propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effects, propagation time, of radio waves, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S) ## Abstract Ranging systems, calibration methods, programs, and electronic apparatus with lower cost calibration are disclosed. In one example, a ranging system includes a light source, a sensor that detects reflection light of light emitted from the light source and reflected on a target object, a determination unit that determines whether or not a peripheral object is usable as a reflection object on the basis of a predetermined determination condition, and a generation unit that generates a correction table for correcting an offset value between a true value of a range value and a measured value on the basis of a detection result received from the sensor and obtained by detecting reflection light of light applied from the light source to a target object usable as the reflection object in a case where the peripheral object is determined to be usable as the reflection object. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A ranging system for mounting on an electronic apparatus, the ranging system comprising: a light source that emits light; a sensor that detects reflection light of light emitted from the light source unit and reflected on a target object; a determination unit that determines whether or not a peripheral object is usable as a reflection object on a basis of a predetermined determination condition; and a generation unit that generates a correction table for correcting an offset value between a true value of a range value and a measured value on a basis of a detection result received from the sensor and obtained by detecting reflection light of light applied from the light source to a target object usable as the reflection object in a case where the peripheral object is determined to be usable as the reflection object, wherein the determination unit determines that a second surface that is included in the target object and has unknown reflectance is usable as the reflection object in a case where a first surface on a side where the light source and the sensor are provided is in contact with the second surface, the target object includes a charging stand that has a function of charging the electronic apparatus, and the determination unit determines that the second surface is usable as the reflection object when the electronic apparatus is placed on the charging stand during charge, and comes into such a state where the first surface of the electronic apparatus faces the second surface of the charging stand. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The ranging system according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines that the second surface is usable as the reflection object when the electronic apparatus is placed on the target object and comes into such a state where the first surface of the electronic apparatus faces the second surface of the target object. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The ranging system according to claim 1, wherein, in a case where a part of a body of a user is in contact with or adjacent to a position near the light source and the sensor, the determination unit determines that the part of the body of the user is usable as the reflection object. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The ranging system according to claim 3, wherein the determination unit determines that the part of the body of the user is usable as the reflection object when the user brings the part of the body into contact with the position near the light source and the sensor to use an application executed by the electronic apparatus. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The ranging system according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines that a second surface that is included in the target object and has unknown reflectance is usable as the reflection object in a case where a first surface on a side where the light source and the sensor are provided faces in a direction toward the second surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The ranging system according to claim 5, wherein the determination unit determines that the second surface is usable as the reflection object when the electronic apparatus is placed on a given object and comes into such a state where a third surface of the electronic apparatus on a side opposite to the first surface faces a fourth surface of the target object, and comes into such a state where light from the light source is applicable to the second surface of the target object. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The ranging system according to claim 1, further comprising: a reflection member that has known reflectance, wherein the determination unit determines that the reflection member is usable as the reflection object by adaptively controlling a light amount of light from the light source in a case where a first surface on a side where the light source and the sensor are provided faces in a given direction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The ranging system according to claim 7, wherein the determination unit determines that the reflection member is usable as the reflection object by setting a light amount of light from the light source to such an amount that the reflection member receives a sufficient light amount when the target object is absent in a direction where the first surface of the electronic apparatus faces in a state where the electronic apparatus is used in an open place. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The ranging system according to claim 7, wherein the determination unit determines that the reflection member is usable as the reflection object when a light amount of light from the light source is allowed to be set to such an amount that light does not reach the second surface included in the target object and that the reflection member obtains a sufficient light amount in a case where the first surface of the electronic apparatus placed on the target object faces in a direction toward a second surface included in the target object and having unknown reflectance. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The ranging system according to claim 9, wherein the determination unit determines that the second surface is usable as the reflection object when the light amount of light from the light source is not allowed to be set to such an amount that light does not reach the second surface of the target object and that the reflection member obtains a sufficient light amount. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The ranging system according to claim 1, further comprising: a range image sensor of a TOF (Time Of Flight) type and configured to adopt an indirect system. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The ranging system according to claim 1, further comprising: a ranging apparatus that includes the light source and the sensor; and a control apparatus that includes the determination unit and the generation unit. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The ranging system according to claim 1, configured as a ranging apparatus that includes the light source, the sensor, the determination unit, and the generation unit. ### Claim 14 A ranging system for mounting on an electronic apparatus, wherein, the ranging system comprising: a light source that emits light; a sensor that detects reflection light of light emitted from the light source and reflected on a target object; a determination unit that determines whether or not a peripheral object is usable as a reflection object on a basis of a predetermined determination condition; and a generation unit that generates a correction table for correcting an offset value between a true value of a range value and a measured value on a basis of a detection result received from the sensor and obtained by detecting reflection light of light applied from the light source to a target object usable as the reflection object in a case where the peripheral object is determined to be usable as the reflection object, wherein the determination unit determines that a second surface that is included in the target object and has unknown reflectance is usable as the reflection object in a case where a first surface on a side where the light source and the sensor are provided is in contact with the second surface, the target object includes a member fixed to a connector of a cable of a charger connectable to a connection unit of the electronic apparatus, and the determination unit determines that the second surface is usable as the reflection object when the connector is connected to the connection unit of the electronic apparatus during charge, and comes into such a state where the first surface of the electronic apparatus faces the second surface of the member. ### Claim 15 A ranging system for mounting on an electronic apparatus, the ranging system comprising: a light source that emits light; a sensor that detects reflection light of light emitted from the light source and reflected on a target object; a memory storing a program; and a processor configured to execute the program to perform operations comprising: determining whether or not a peripheral object is usable as a reflection object on a basis of a predetermined determination condition, generating a correction table for correcting an offset value between a true value of a range value and a measured value on a basis of a detection result received from the sensor and obtained by detecting reflection light of light applied from the light source to a target object usable as the reflection object in a case where the peripheral object is determined to be usable as the reflection object, determining that a second surface that is included in the target object and has unknown reflectance is usable as the reflection object in a case where a first surface on a side where the light source and the sensor are provided is in contact with the second surface, wherein the target object includes a charging stand that has a function of charging the electronic apparatus, and determining that the second surface is usable as the reflection object when the electronic apparatus is placed on the charging stand during charge, and comes into such a state where the first surface of the electronic apparatus faces the second surface of the charging stand. ### Claim 16 A ranging system for mounting on an electronic apparatus, the ranging system comprising: a light source that emits light; a sensor that detects reflection light of light emitted from the light source and reflected on a target object; a memory storing a program; and a processor configured to execute the program to perform operations comprising: determining whether or not a peripheral object is usable as a reflection object on a basis of a predetermined determination condition; and generating a correction table for correcting an offset value between a true value of a range value and a measured value on a basis of a detection result received from the sensor and obtained by detecting reflection light of light applied from the light source to a target object usable as the reflection object in a case where the peripheral object is determined to be usable as the reflection object, determining that a second surface that is included in the target object and has unknown reflectance is usable as the reflection object in a case where a first surface on a side where the light source and the sensor are provided is in contact with the second surface, wherein the target object includes a member fixed to a connector of a cable of a charger connectable to a connection interface of the electronic apparatus, and determining that the second surface is usable as the reflection object when the connector is connected to the connection interface of the electronic apparatus during charge, and comes into such a state where the first surface of the electronic apparatus faces the second surface of the member. ### Claim 17 A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program for controlling a ranging system that is mountable on an electronic apparatus and that includes a light source that emits light and a sensor that detects reflection light of light emitted from the light source and reflected on a target object, the program being executable by a processor to perform operations comprising: determining whether or not a peripheral object is usable as a reflection object on a basis of a predetermined determination condition, generating a correction table for correcting an offset value between a true value of a range value and a measured value on a basis of a detection result received from the sensor and obtained by detecting reflection light of light applied from the light source to a target object usable as the reflection object in a case where the peripheral object is determined to be usable as the reflection object, determining that a second surface that is included in the target object and has unknown reflectance is usable as the reflection object in a case where a first surface on a side where the light source and the sensor are provided is in contact with the second surface, wherein the target object includes a charging stand that has a function of charging the electronic apparatus, and determining that the second surface is usable as the reflection object when the electronic apparatus is placed on the charging stand during charge, and comes into such a state where the first surface of the electronic apparatus faces the second surface of the charging stand. ### Claim 18 A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program for controlling a ranging system that is mountable on an electronic apparatus and that includes a light source that emits light and a sensor that detects reflection light of light emitted from the light source and reflected on a target object, the program being executable by a processor to perform operations comprising: determining whether or not a peripheral object is usable as a reflection object on a basis of a predetermined determination condition; and generating a correction table for correcting an offset value between a true value of a range value and a measured value on a basis of a detection result received from the sensor and obtained by detecting reflection light of light applied from the light source to a target object usable as the reflection object in a case where the peripheral object is determined to be usable as the reflection object, determining that a second surface that is included in the target object and has unknown reflectance is usable as the reflection object in a case where a first surface on a side where the light source and the sensor are provided is in contact with the second surface, wherein the target object includes a member fixed to a connector of a cable of a charger connectable to a connection interface of the electronic apparatus, and determining that the second surface is usable as the reflection object when the connector is connected to the connection interface of the electronic apparatus during charge, and comes into such a state where the first surface of the electronic apparatus faces the second surface of the member.