Bokeh control utilizing time-of-flight sensor to estimate distances to an object

A device, comprising:

• a time-of-flight sensor which, in operation, transmits an optical pulse signal into an image scene and receives return optical pulse signals corresponding to portions of the transmitted optical pulse signal reflected by at least one object in the image scene;
• distance estimation circuitry which, in operation, estimates a minimum distance to the at least one object based on a time between transmitting the optical pulse signal and receiving a first portion of the return optical pulse signals, and estimates a maximum distance to the at least one object based on a time between transmitting the optical pulse signal and receiving a second portion of the return optical pulse signals;
• a camera;
• and
• processing circuitry coupled to the distance estimation circuitry and the camera, the processing circuitry, in operation, controls a focus distance of the camera based on the estimated minimum and maximum distances to the at least one object.

A method, comprising:

• transmitting, by a time-of-flight sensor device, an optical pulse signal into an image scene;
• receiving, by the time-of-flight sensor device, first return optical pulse signals corresponding to portions of the transmitted optical pulse signal reflected by a first object in the image scene;
• receiving, by the time-of-flight sensor device, second return optical pulse signals corresponding to portions of the transmitted optical pulse signal reflected by a second object in the image scene;
• estimating a first minimum distance and a first maximum distance to the first object based on a time between transmitting the optical pulse signal and receiving the first return optical pulse signals;
• estimating a second minimum distance and a second maximum distance to the second object based on a time between transmitting the optical pulse signal and receiving the second return optical pulse signals;
• and
• controlling a focus distance of a camera based on one of:
• the estimated first minimum and first maximum distances to the first object or the estimated second minimum and second maximum distances to the second object.