Depth scanning image sensor
AssigneeImasenic Advanced Imaging, S.L.
InventorsAndrea Ferrario, Andrew Scott, Adria Bofill Petit, Renato Turchetta
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Abstract
A imaging device according to the present disclosure comprises a pixel array comprising a plurality of pixels; a signal generator for generating an exposure timing scheme defining exposure durations for ones of the pixels grouped in at least one subgroup of the pixels, wherein ones of the exposure durations cover at least portions between a frame start time and a frame end time of predefined frame; a synchronizer for synchronizing a generation of a light pulse with the exposure timing scheme; and means for readout of charges accumulated in grouped ones of the pixels.
Claims17
An imaging device for 3D imaging comprising:
- a pixel array comprising a plurality of pixels;
- the plurality of pixels comprises a plurality of subgroups of pixels, at least one of the plurality of subgroups of pixels comprising depth scanning pixels;
- a signal generator for generating an exposure timing scheme defining exposure durations for the at least one subgroup of the pixels, wherein ones of the exposure durations cover at least portions between a frame start time and a frame end time of a predefined frame;
- a synchronizer for synchronizing a generation of a light pulse with the exposure timing scheme;
- and
- readout circuitry for readout of charges accumulated in the at least one subgroup of the pixels;
- wherein the at least one subgroup of pixels comprise a photodiode, a transistor for resetting the photodiode, a floating diffusion, a transistor TX for transferring a charge from the photodiode to the floating diffusion, a transistor for resetting the floating diffusion, a source follower for converting the charge at the floating diffusion into a voltage, and a select transistor for providing the voltage to an output line.
A method of 3D imaging of an object using a pixel array, wherein the pixel array comprises a plurality of subgroups of pixels and at least one of the plurality of subgroups of pixels comprises depth scanning pixels, and wherein the at least one subgroup of pixels comprise a photodiode, a transistor for resetting the photodiode, a floating diffusion, a transistor TX for transferring a charge from the photodiode to the floating diffusion, a transistor for resetting the floating diffusion, a source follower for converting the charge at the floating diffusion into a voltage, and a select transistor for providing the voltage to an output line, the method comprising:
- generating a light pulse;
- exposing the at least one subgroup of pixels of a pixel array to the light pulse, reflected from the object, according to an exposure timing scheme defining exposure durations for the at least one subgroup of the pixels, wherein ones of the exposure durations cover at least portions between a frame start time and a frame end time of predefined frame;
- reading out charges accumulated in the at least one subgroup of the pixels;
- determining a temporal position of a peak of the reflected light pulse.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.