Method and apparatus for characterizing a time-of-flight sensor and/or a cover covering the time-of-flight sensor

An apparatus for characterizing a time-of-flight sensor and/or a cover covering the time-of-flight sensor, the apparatus comprising:

• a time-of-flight sensor configured to perform at least one coded modulation measurement for obtaining measurement data for light reflected from the cover back to the time-of-flight sensor, wherein a measurement range of the time-of-flight sensor is configured to end shortly after the cover for the at least one coded modulation measurement;
• and
• a processing circuit configured to determine characterization data based on the measurement data, wherein the characterization data indicate a quantity related to the time-of-flight sensor and/or the cover,
• wherein an illumination element of the time-of-flight sensor is configured to emit the light for the at least one coded modulation measurement based on an illumination signal having an alternating series of high and low pulses of varying duration,
• wherein electronic circuitry of a light capturing element of the time-of-flight sensor is driven for the at least one coded modulation measurement based on a reference signal having an alternating series of high and low pulses of varying duration,
• wherein the pulse durations of the high and low pulses in the illumination signal and the reference signal and a time-shift between the illumination signal and the reference signal are adjusted to mitigate a response of the time-of-flight sensor to reflections of objects behind the cover for the at least one coded modulation measurement.