Ranging processing device, ranging module, ranging processing method, and program

A ranging module, comprising:

• a light emission unit configured to irradiate irradiated light of first to fourth phases onto an object;
• a light reception unit configured to output, when charges generated by receiving reflected light reflected by the object are distributed to a first tap and a second tap according to a distance to the object, eight detection signals two of which are detected for each of the irradiated light of the first to fourth phases;
• a four-phase ranging operation unit configured to perform an operation to calculate depth indicating the distance to the object by using all the eight detection signals;
• a two-phase ranging operation unit configured to perform an operation to calculate the depth indicating the distance to the object by alternately using four detection signals based on the irradiated light of the first phase and the irradiated light of the second phase and four detection signals based on the irradiated light of the third phase and the irradiated light of the fourth phase among the eight detection signals;
• and
• a condition determination unit configured to make condition determination based on the detection signals and switch between the four-phase ranging operation unit and the two-phase ranging operation unit.

A ranging processing method, comprising:

• performing four-phase ranging operation processing for performing, when charges generated by irradiating irradiated light of first to fourth phases onto an object and receiving reflected light reflected by the object are distributed to a first tap and a second tap according to a distance to the object, an operation to calculate depth indicating the distance to the object by using all eight detection signals two of which are detected for each of the irradiated light of the first to fourth phases;
• performing two-phase ranging operation processing for performing the operation to calculate the depth indicating the distance to the object by alternately using four detection signals based on the irradiated light of the first phase and the irradiated light of the second phase and four detection signals based on the irradiated light of the third phase and the irradiated light of the fourth phase among the eight detection signals;
• and
• making condition determination based on the detection signals and switching between the four-phase ranging operation processing and the two-phase ranging operation processing to be used.

A program for causing a computer of a ranging processing device that performs ranging processing to perform the ranging processing, the ranging processing comprising:

• performing four-phase ranging operation processing for performing, when charges generated by irradiating irradiated light of first to fourth phases onto an object and receiving reflected light reflected by the object are distributed to a first tap and a second tap according to a distance to the object, an operation to calculate depth indicating the distance to the object by using all eight detection signals two of which are detected for each of the irradiated light of the first to fourth phases;
• performing two-phase ranging operation processing for performing the operation to calculate the depth indicating the distance to the object by alternately using four detection signals based on the irradiated light of the first phase and the irradiated light of the second phase and four detection signals based on the irradiated light of the third phase and the irradiated light of the fourth phase among the eight detection signals;
• and
• making condition determination based on the detection signals and switching between the four-phase ranging operation processing and the two-phase ranging operation processing to be used.