The invention relates to a light propagation time camera comprising an illumination means for emitting a structured light in the form of a plurality of light spots or light structures - and comprising a light propagation time sensor for detecting the light emitted and reflected by a scene, - comprising an evaluation unit which is designed such that the following steps are provided for determining an exposure time and/or light intensity: - detecting a brightness pattern by means of the light propagation time sensor, - dividing the brightness pattern into tile-shaped pixel groups, wherein a dimension of the pixel groups is defined such that the centre points of the pixel groups have a distance which is equal to or greater than a minimum distance of the received light structures, - ascertaining a brightness maximum value within the pixel groups, - forming a brightness sequence or determining a brightness distribution starting from the ascertained brightness maximum values - determining an exposure time and/or light intensity of the emitted light on the basis of the brightness sequence or brightness distribution.
A camera system includes a sensor having a plurality of pixels sensitive to electromagnetic radiation; and an evaluator. The sensor is arranged behind a semi-transparent layer. The evaluator is configured to suppress an interference pattern occurring on the sensor by a pixel-by-pixel correction.
H04N 25/617 - Traitement du bruit, p. ex. détection, correction, réduction ou élimination du bruit pour réduire les interférences électromagnétiques, p. ex. le bruit d'horloge
H04N 23/52 - Éléments optimisant le fonctionnement du capteur d'images, p. ex. pour la protection contre les interférences électromagnétiques [EMI] ou la commande de la température par des éléments de transfert de chaleur ou de refroidissement
The invention relates to a time-of-flight camera comprising an illumination means for emitting a pulsed and/or modulated light, wherein the light is emitted in the form of a dot pattern or a plurality of spots, comprising a receiving sensor with multiple pixels for receiving the emitted dot pattern or the emitted spots, wherein the size of the pixels is smaller than the extension of an individual received spot, and wherein the extension of the spot is determined such that the received spot illuminates multiple pixels, and comprising an evaluation unit which is designed in such a way that, for a distance measurement, only those pixels in the area of the received spot are evaluated which lie within a predefined value range of a pixel measurement variable, and the remaining pixels are omitted or given a negligible weighting.
The invention relates to a camera with an illumination means which emits light in the form of a dot pattern or a plurality of spots, comprising a receiving sensor with multiple pixels for receiving the emitted dot pattern or the emitted spots, wherein the size of the pixels is smaller than the extension of an individual spot and wherein the extension of the spot is determined such that the received spot illuminates multiple pixels, in which at least one measured value is output for at least some of the spots, and comprising an evaluation unit which is designed in such a way that it can be decided on the basis of the pixels in the area of the received spots whether a spot lies on at least one object edge.
G01S 7/481 - Caractéristiques de structure, p. ex. agencements d'éléments optiques
G01S 7/4863 - Réseaux des détecteurs, p. ex. portes de transfert de charge
G01S 7/487 - Extraction des signaux d'écho désirés
G01S 17/36 - Systèmes déterminant les données relatives à la position d'une cible pour mesurer la distance uniquement utilisant la transmission d'ondes continues, soit modulées en amplitude, en fréquence ou en phase, soit non modulées avec comparaison en phase entre le signal reçu et le signal transmis au même moment
G01S 17/894 - Imagerie 3D avec mesure simultanée du temps de vol sur une matrice 2D de pixels récepteurs, p. ex. caméras à temps de vol ou lidar flash
G01S 17/10 - Systèmes déterminant les données relatives à la position d'une cible pour mesurer la distance uniquement utilisant la transmission d'ondes à modulation d'impulsion interrompues
A laser device includes a semiconductor laser component. The semiconductor laser component includes a laser array. The laser array includes a plurality of semiconductor lasers emitting a laser light vertically. The laser device further includes an optics device. The optics device includes at least a second optics element, and a first optics element arranged between the second optics element and the laser array along an optical axis. The optics device is configured for expanding the laser light emitted from the semiconductor lasers, collimating the expanded laser light, and for shaping a beam profile of the collimated laser light.
H01S 5/183 - Lasers à émission de surface [lasers SE], p. ex. comportant à la fois des cavités horizontales et verticales comportant uniquement des cavités verticales, p. ex. lasers à émission de surface à cavité verticale [VCSEL]
H01S 5/42 - Réseaux de lasers à émission de surface
6.
Light Time-of-Flight Pixel With Controllable Transfer Gate
A light time-of-flight pixel comprising at least one modulation gate (GA, GB) having a mixing and a transfer region (TA, TB), and comprising at least one storage region (SGA, SGB), the transfer region (TA, TB) being arranged between the mixing region and the storage region (SGA, SGB), the transfer region being doped in such a way that a modulation gate voltage present at the modulation gate (GA, GB) opens or closes charge transfer to the storage region (SGA, SGB).
The invention relates to a PMD light transit time sensor (22) for an optical distance measurement system, comprising an array of PMD light transit time pixels (21), said light transit time pixels having diode nodes (Ga, Gb) for an A channel and a B channel (A, B) and being connectable to a corresponding column line (cola, colb) via a first switch (S1) and to a reset potential (vreset) via a second switch (S2). The PMD light transit time sensor comprises multiple shift registers, which are constructed and connected to the pixels such that the two switches (S1, S2) can be switched in an alternating manner on the basis of register entries of the individual registers (FF), wherein multiple columns or rows are at least partly assigned to a shift register; and a switch matrix (80), which is designed such that the column lines (cola, colb) can be connected to one of a plurality of amplifiers (100) and multiple column lines (cola, colb) can be connected to a common amplifier (100). The light transit time sensor (22) is designed such that during an integration time period, the charges photogenerated on the light transit time pixel are accumulated on the diode nodes (diode a, diode b) and the connected column lines (cola, colb).
The invention relates to a light transit time pixel comprising —at least one modulation gate (GA, GB) which has a photoactive region (FAB) and a storage region (MA, MB), said storage region (MA, MB) having a locally increased n-type doping below the modulation gate (GA, GB) and delimiting the photoactive region (FAB) of the modulation gate (GA, GB), —at least one transfer gate (TXA, TXB) which adjoins the storage region (MA, MB) of the modulation gate (GA, GB), —at least one reading diode (DA, DB) which follows the transfer gate (TXA, TXB), —at least one drain gate (DG) which adjoins one side of the light-sensitive region (FAB) of the modulation gate (GA, GB), and —at least one drain diode (DD) which follows the drain gate (DG).
The invention relates to a method for the dynamic extension of raw phase images of a time-of-flight camera or time-of-flight camera system, in which method at least two depth images are taken using different exposure times.
The invention relates to a laser device (10) having a semiconductor laser component (12) comprising a laser array (14) with a plurality of semiconductor lasers (13) which emit laser light (16) vertically, and having an optics apparatus (19) comprising at least one second optics element and one first optics element (21) arranged between the second optics element (22) and the laser array (14), said optics elements being arranged along an optical axis (24), wherein the optics apparatus (19) is provided to expand the laser light (16) emitted by the semiconductor lasers (18), to collimate the laser light (16) expanded by the first optics element (21) and to shape the beam profile of the collimated laser light (16).
A camera system that comprises a sensor, consisting of one or more pixels sensitive to electromagnetic radiation; a lighting device; and an evaluation unit; the sensor and the lighting device being located behind a semi-transparent layer that reflects some of the radiation of the lighting device back to the sensor, characterized in that in the memory of the evaluation unit a reference signal is stored which characterizes the cross-talk signal to be expected for a recording and the reference signal is subtracted from the signal of the recording.
G01S 17/36 - Systèmes déterminant les données relatives à la position d'une cible pour mesurer la distance uniquement utilisant la transmission d'ondes continues, soit modulées en amplitude, en fréquence ou en phase, soit non modulées avec comparaison en phase entre le signal reçu et le signal transmis au même moment
G01S 17/894 - Imagerie 3D avec mesure simultanée du temps de vol sur une matrice 2D de pixels récepteurs, p. ex. caméras à temps de vol ou lidar flash
The invention relates to a camera system having a sensor which has a multiplicity of pixels that are sensitive to electromagnetic radiation, a semitransparent layer being applied to a receiving side of the sensor, an evaluation unit of the camera system being designed in such a way that an interference pattern occurring on the receiving side of the sensor is suppressed by a correction which is carried out pixel by pixel.
09 - Appareils et instruments scientifiques et électriques
42 - Services scientifiques, technologiques et industriels, recherche et conception
Produits et services
Motion measurement apparatus, Distance measuring apparatus; Optical sensors, 2D sensors, 3D sensors, Distance sensors, Position sensors, Radar sensors, Light barriers, Light sensors; Cameras [photography]; Image processing systems; 3D image sensor and System components for 3D image sensors; 2D and 3D measuring systems; Image scanning apparatus; Steering apparatus, automatic, for vehicles; Controls for production monitoring; Computer software for data collection, evaluation, processing and storage; Software for monitoring, analysing, controlling and running physical world operations; apps. Engineering services; Industrial analysis and research services; Technical measurement and testing.
15.
TIME-OF-FLIGHT CAMERA HAVING A SPAD LIGHT TIME-OF-FLIGHT SENSOR
The invention relates to a time-of-flight camera, comprising an illumination means (10) for emitting light pulses and a SPAD light time-of-flight sensor (20) having at least one SPAD pixel, wherein: the at least one SPAD pixel is free of distortion; in order to determine distance, light events occurring at the SPAD pixel are counted with temporal resolution in predefined time intervals; light events are assigned to an object if the number of light events exceeds an evaluation threshold value (AS); an object distance is determined using a time difference between an emitted light pulse and a received light pulse; the SPAD pixel has a first and a second memory; the first memory is used for storing, with temporal resolution, the number of light events, which are detected in order to form a histogram for determining distance; the second memory is used to store a number of background-light events; the histogram events are detected in a histogram interval and the background-light events are detected in a background-light interval; for a distance measurement, both intervals are run through multiple times during a predefined measurement duration; the time-of-flight camera is designed such that the counting of the light events in a light time-of-flight pixel is stopped if either the predefined measurement duration is reached or the number of detected background-light events exceeds a preset background-light threshold value (HS).
A light time-of-flight pixel comprising at least one modulation gate (GA, GB) having a mixing and a transfer region (TA, TB), and comprising at least one storage region (SGA, SGB), the transfer region (TA, TB) being arranged between the mixing region and the storage region (SGA, SGB), the transfer region being doped in such a way that a modulation gate voltage present at the modulation gate (GA, GB) opens or closes charge transfer to the storage region (SGA, SGB).
G01S 7/4863 - Réseaux des détecteurs, p. ex. portes de transfert de charge
G01S 17/36 - Systèmes déterminant les données relatives à la position d'une cible pour mesurer la distance uniquement utilisant la transmission d'ondes continues, soit modulées en amplitude, en fréquence ou en phase, soit non modulées avec comparaison en phase entre le signal reçu et le signal transmis au même moment
G01S 7/4914 - Réseaux des détecteurs, p. ex. portes de transfert de charge
The invention relates to a light transit time pixel comprising - at least one modulation gate (GA, GB) which has a photoactive region (FAB) and a storage region (MA, MB), said storage region (MA, MB) having a locally increased n-type doping below the modulation gate (GA, GB) and delimiting the photoactive region (FAB) of the modulation gate (GA, GB), - at least one transfer gate (TXA, TXB) which adjoins the storage region (MA, MB) of the modulation gate (GA, GB), - at least one reading diode (DA, DB) which follows the transfer gate (TXA, TXB), - at least one drain gate (DG) which adjoins one side of the light-sensitive region (FAB) of the modulation gate (GA, GB), and - at least one drain diode (DD) which follows the drain gate (DG).
Described is a circuit for background light suppression (SBI, 500) for a light propagation time sensor (22) which operates according to a phase measuring principle and the light propagation time pixels of which have integration nodes or diodes (Ga, Gb, diode_a, diode_b) for the accumulation of charges, having an input stage (50), an operational amplifier (OP) and an SBI current source (SQ), wherein the input phase (50) has bypass and common mode circuits (SBP, SVcm) via which signals of the integration nodes (Ga, Gb, diode_a, diode_b) are guided to the operational amplifier (OP) and via which the operational amplifier (OP) can be switched to a maximum detection or common mode operation, wherein the operational amplifier (OP) is designed such that based on the signals of the integration nodes (Ga, Gb, diode_a, diode_b) switched by the input stage (50) to the operational amplifier (OP), a gate voltage (gate_cs) is generated for the SBI current source (SQ), wherein the SBI current source (SQ) has a first current source (SQ1) for the maximum detection operation and a second and third current source (SQ2a, SQ2b) for the common mode operation, wherein the current sources (SQ1, SQ2a, SQ2b) can be connected via switches (S) to integration nodes (Ga, Gb, diode_a, diode_b).
G01S 7/4913 - Circuits de détection, d'échantillonnage, d'intégration ou de lecture des circuits
G01S 7/4914 - Réseaux des détecteurs, p. ex. portes de transfert de charge
G01S 7/4915 - Mesure du temps de retard, p. ex. détails opérationnels pour les composants de pixelsMesure de la phase
G01S 17/36 - Systèmes déterminant les données relatives à la position d'une cible pour mesurer la distance uniquement utilisant la transmission d'ondes continues, soit modulées en amplitude, en fréquence ou en phase, soit non modulées avec comparaison en phase entre le signal reçu et le signal transmis au même moment
G01S 17/894 - Imagerie 3D avec mesure simultanée du temps de vol sur une matrice 2D de pixels récepteurs, p. ex. caméras à temps de vol ou lidar flash
The invention relates to a PMD light transit time sensor (22) for an optical distance measurement system, comprising an array of PMD light transit time pixels (21), said light transit time pixels having diode nodes (Ga, Gb) for an A channel and a B channel (A, B) and being connectable to a corresponding column line (cola, colb) via a first switch (S1) and to a reset potential (vreset) via a second switch (S2). The PMD light transit time sensor comprises multiple shift registers, which are constructed and connected to the pixels such that the two switches (S1, S2) can be switched in an alternating manner on the basis of register entries of the individual registers (FF), wherein multiple columns or rows are at least partly assigned to a shift register; and a switch matrix (80), which is designed such that the column lines (cola, colb) can be connected to one of a plurality of amplifiers (100) and multiple column lines (cola,colb) can be connected to a common amplifier (100). The light transit time sensor (22) is designed such that during an integration time period, the charges photogenerated on the light transit time pixel are accumulated on the diode nodes (diode a, diode b) and the connected column lines (cola, colb).
G01S 7/4863 - Réseaux des détecteurs, p. ex. portes de transfert de charge
G01S 7/4914 - Réseaux des détecteurs, p. ex. portes de transfert de charge
G01S 17/36 - Systèmes déterminant les données relatives à la position d'une cible pour mesurer la distance uniquement utilisant la transmission d'ondes continues, soit modulées en amplitude, en fréquence ou en phase, soit non modulées avec comparaison en phase entre le signal reçu et le signal transmis au même moment
20.
METHOD AND DEVICE FOR THE DYNAMIC EXTENSION OF A TIME-OF-FLIGHT CAMERA SYSTEM
The invention relates to a method for the dynamic extension of raw phase images of a time-of-flight camera or time-of-flight camera system, in which method at least two depth images are taken using different exposure times.
G01S 17/894 - Imagerie 3D avec mesure simultanée du temps de vol sur une matrice 2D de pixels récepteurs, p. ex. caméras à temps de vol ou lidar flash
G01S 17/36 - Systèmes déterminant les données relatives à la position d'une cible pour mesurer la distance uniquement utilisant la transmission d'ondes continues, soit modulées en amplitude, en fréquence ou en phase, soit non modulées avec comparaison en phase entre le signal reçu et le signal transmis au même moment
G01S 7/493 - Extraction des signaux d'écho désirés
The disclosure relates to a time-of-flight camera comprising an illumination for emitting a modulated light, a light propagation time sensor, an illumination circuit for operating the illumination, a clock generator for generating a modulation signal, wherein the clock generator is designed in such a way that individual pulses of the modulation signal can be suppressed within a predetermined time interval.
The disclosure relates to a light propagation time pixel, comprising modulation gates and integration nodes which are arranged on the upper face of a photosensitive semiconductor region. The photosensitive semiconductor region is designed as an N-epitaxy and is delimited laterally and/or at the corners by p-doped vertical p-structures. A buried layer with a p-doping adjoins the lower face of the photosensitive semiconductor region, and the vertical p-structures are in electric contact with the buried layer.
G01S 7/4865 - Mesure du temps de retard, p. ex. mesure du temps de vol ou de l'heure d'arrivée ou détermination de la position exacte d'un pic
G01S 17/36 - Systèmes déterminant les données relatives à la position d'une cible pour mesurer la distance uniquement utilisant la transmission d'ondes continues, soit modulées en amplitude, en fréquence ou en phase, soit non modulées avec comparaison en phase entre le signal reçu et le signal transmis au même moment
G01S 17/894 - Imagerie 3D avec mesure simultanée du temps de vol sur une matrice 2D de pixels récepteurs, p. ex. caméras à temps de vol ou lidar flash
The disclosure relates to a pixel array for a camera, in particular for a light propagation time camera, having: a plurality of pixel elements arranged in a matrix arrangement, wherein each individual pixel element has a photoelectric region and at least one other region which is non-sensitive to light; and a plurality of routing paths which are arranged in a grid-like manner and which divide the pixel array into fields. A group of first fields and a group of second fields are created, in which each of the first fields is provided by a photoelectric region of one of the pixel elements and each of the second fields is provided by the other regions, wherein the first fields and the second fields are arranged in an alternating manner similar to a chessboard. The disclosure further relates to a corresponding camera, in particular a light propagation time camera for a light propagation time camera system, and to a corresponding light propagation time camera system.
H01L 27/14 - Dispositifs consistant en une pluralité de composants semi-conducteurs ou d'autres composants à l'état solide formés dans ou sur un substrat commun comprenant des composants semi-conducteurs sensibles aux rayons infrarouges, à la lumière, au rayonnement électromagnétique d'ondes plus courtes ou au rayonnement corpusculaire, et spécialement adaptés, soit comme convertisseurs de l'énergie dudit ra
H04N 5/345 - Extraction de données de pixels provenant d'un capteur d'images en agissant sur les circuits de balayage, p.ex. en modifiant le nombre de pixels ayant été échantillonnés ou à échantillonner en lisant partiellement une matrice de capteurs SSIS
H04N 5/3745 - Capteurs adressés, p.ex. capteurs MOS ou CMOS ayant des composants supplémentaires incorporés au sein d'un pixel ou connectés à un groupe de pixels au sein d'une matrice de capteurs, p.ex. mémoires, convertisseurs A/N, amplificateurs de pixels, circuits communs ou composants communs
The disclosure relates to a time-of-flight camera comprising: a time-of-flight sensor having several time-of-flight pixels for determining a phase shift of emitted and captured light, distance values being determined in accordance with the detected phase shifts, characterised in that the time-of-flight camera has a memory in which parameters of a point spread function, which characterise the time-of-flight camera and the time-of-flight sensor, are stored; an evaluation unit which is designed to deploy a detected complex-valued image in Fourier space, in accordance with the stored point-spread function, and a complex-valued image corrected by diffused light is determined and the phase shifts or distance values are determined using the corrected complex-valued image.
G01S 17/36 - Systèmes déterminant les données relatives à la position d'une cible pour mesurer la distance uniquement utilisant la transmission d'ondes continues, soit modulées en amplitude, en fréquence ou en phase, soit non modulées avec comparaison en phase entre le signal reçu et le signal transmis au même moment
G01S 7/48 - Détails des systèmes correspondant aux groupes , , de systèmes selon le groupe
G01S 17/894 - Imagerie 3D avec mesure simultanée du temps de vol sur une matrice 2D de pixels récepteurs, p. ex. caméras à temps de vol ou lidar flash
25.
LIGHT PROPAGATION TIME PIXEL AND LIGHT PROPAGATION TIME SENSOR WITH CORRESPONDING PIXEL
The invention relates to a light propagation time pixel, comprising modulation gates (ModA, Mod0, ModB) and integration nodes (Ga, Gb) which are arranged on the upper face of a photosensitive semiconductor region (100). The photosensitive semiconductor region (100) is designed as an N-epitaxy and is delimited laterally and/or at the corners by p-doped vertical p-structures (105). A buried layer (102) with a p-doping adjoins the lower face of the photosensitive semiconductor region (100), and the vertical p-structures (105) are in electric contact with the buried layer (102).
The invention relates to a time-of-flight camera comprising an illumination for emitting a modulated light, a light propagation time sensor, an illumination circuit for operating the illumination, a clock generator for generating a modulation signal, wherein the clock generator is designed in such a way that individual pulses of the modulation signal can be suppressed within a predetermined time interval.
G01S 17/36 - Systèmes déterminant les données relatives à la position d'une cible pour mesurer la distance uniquement utilisant la transmission d'ondes continues, soit modulées en amplitude, en fréquence ou en phase, soit non modulées avec comparaison en phase entre le signal reçu et le signal transmis au même moment
G01S 17/89 - Systèmes lidar, spécialement adaptés pour des applications spécifiques pour la cartographie ou l'imagerie
The invention relates to a time-of-flight camera comprising: an illumination unit for emitting modulated light, a flight-of-time sensor, an illumination circuit for operating the illumination unit, and a clock generator for generating a modulation signal, the flight-of-time sensor being operated at a duty cycle of 50% and the illumination unit being operated with a phase-synchronous PWM signal to adjust the power.
G01S 17/36 - Systèmes déterminant les données relatives à la position d'une cible pour mesurer la distance uniquement utilisant la transmission d'ondes continues, soit modulées en amplitude, en fréquence ou en phase, soit non modulées avec comparaison en phase entre le signal reçu et le signal transmis au même moment
G01S 17/89 - Systèmes lidar, spécialement adaptés pour des applications spécifiques pour la cartographie ou l'imagerie
The invention relates to a pixel array (24) for a camera, in particular for a light propagation time camera (18), having: a plurality of pixel elements (36) arranged in a matrix arrangement, wherein each individual pixel element (36) has a photoelectric region (38) and at least one other region (40, 42, 68) which is non-sensitive to light; and a plurality of routing paths (58) which are arranged in a grid-like manner and which divide the pixel array (24) into fields (60, 62). A group of first fields (60) and a group of second fields (62) are created, in which each of the first fields (60) is provided by a photoelectric region (38) of one of the pixel elements (36) and each of the second fields (62) is provided by the other regions (40, 42, 68), wherein the first fields (60) and the second fields (62) are arranged in an alternating manner similar to a chessboard. The invention further relates to a corresponding camera, in particular a light propagation time camera (18) for a light propagation time camera system (10), and to a corresponding light propagation time camera (10) system.
The disclosure relates to a method for calibrating and/or evaluating a light propagation time camera by means of a reference surface, wherein the light propagation time camera has a light propagation time sensor consisting of an array of light propagation time pixels, in which method various spacings between the light propagation time camera and the reference surface are set in order to calibrate and/or evaluate the light propagation time camera by means of translational spacing changes. The method has the following steps: determining first distance data for a first spacing, determining second distance data for a second spacing, calculating distance differences from the first and second distance data, determining an orientation of the light propagation time camera with respect to the reference surface on the basis of the calculated distance differences.
G01S 17/89 - Systèmes lidar, spécialement adaptés pour des applications spécifiques pour la cartographie ou l'imagerie
G01S 17/36 - Systèmes déterminant les données relatives à la position d'une cible pour mesurer la distance uniquement utilisant la transmission d'ondes continues, soit modulées en amplitude, en fréquence ou en phase, soit non modulées avec comparaison en phase entre le signal reçu et le signal transmis au même moment
G01S 7/481 - Caractéristiques de structure, p. ex. agencements d'éléments optiques
The invention relates to a time-of-flight camera (1) comprising: a time-of-flight sensor (22) having several time-of-flight pixels (23) for determining a phase shift of emitted and captured light (Sp2), distance values (d) being determined in accordance with the detected phase shifts (Δφ), characterised in that the time-of-flight camera (20) has a memory in which parameters of a point spread function (PSF), which characterise the time-of-flight camera (20) and the time-of-flight sensor (22), are stored; an evaluation unit which is designed to deploy a detected complex-valued image (I(x)) in Fourier space, in accordance with the stored point-spread function (PSF), and a complex-valued image (I0(x)) corrected by diffused light is determined and the phase shifts (I0(x)) or distance values (d) are determined using the corrected complex-valued image (I0(x)).
G01S 17/36 - Systèmes déterminant les données relatives à la position d'une cible pour mesurer la distance uniquement utilisant la transmission d'ondes continues, soit modulées en amplitude, en fréquence ou en phase, soit non modulées avec comparaison en phase entre le signal reçu et le signal transmis au même moment
G01S 17/89 - Systèmes lidar, spécialement adaptés pour des applications spécifiques pour la cartographie ou l'imagerie
An optical sensor device configured to detect a time of flight of an electromagnetic signal includes a semiconductor substrate with a conversion region configured to convert at least a portion of the electromagnetic signal into photo-generated charge carriers. A deep control electrode is formed in a trench extending into the semiconductor substrate. The deep control electrode extends deeper into the semiconductor substrate than a shallow control electrode. A control circuit is configured to apply to the deep control electrode and to the shallow control electrode varying potentials having a fixed phase relationship to each other, to generate electric potential distributions in the conversion region, by which the photo-generated charge carriers in the conversion region are directed. The directed photo-generated charge carriers are detected at at least one readout node.
G01S 17/36 - Systèmes déterminant les données relatives à la position d'une cible pour mesurer la distance uniquement utilisant la transmission d'ondes continues, soit modulées en amplitude, en fréquence ou en phase, soit non modulées avec comparaison en phase entre le signal reçu et le signal transmis au même moment
32.
Optical sensor device having a depleted doping region adjacent to a control electrode and method for manufacturing the optical sensor device
An optical sensor device includes a semiconductor substrate including a conversion region to convert an electromagnetic signal into photo-generated charge carriers, a read-out node configured to read-out a first portion of the photo-generated charge carriers, a control electrode, which is formed in a trench extending into the semiconductor substrate, and a doping region in the semiconductor substrate, where the doping region is adjacent to the trench, where the doping region has a doping type different from the read out node, and where the doping region has a doping concentration so that the doping region remains depleted during operation.
G01S 17/08 - Systèmes déterminant les données relatives à la position d'une cible pour mesurer la distance uniquement
H01L 23/48 - Dispositions pour conduire le courant électrique vers le ou hors du corps à l'état solide pendant son fonctionnement, p. ex. fils de connexion ou bornes
H01L 31/02 - Dispositifs à semi-conducteurs sensibles aux rayons infrarouges, à la lumière, au rayonnement électromagnétique d'ondes plus courtes, ou au rayonnement corpusculaire, et spécialement adaptés, soit comme convertisseurs de l'énergie dudit rayonnement e; Procédés ou appareils spécialement adaptés à la fabrication ou au traitement de ces dispositifs ou de leurs parties constitutives; Leurs détails - Détails
H01L 31/0232 - Dispositifs à semi-conducteurs sensibles aux rayons infrarouges, à la lumière, au rayonnement électromagnétique d'ondes plus courtes, ou au rayonnement corpusculaire, et spécialement adaptés, soit comme convertisseurs de l'énergie dudit rayonnement e; Procédés ou appareils spécialement adaptés à la fabrication ou au traitement de ces dispositifs ou de leurs parties constitutives; Leurs détails - Détails Éléments ou dispositions optiques associés au dispositif
H01L 31/101 - Dispositifs sensibles au rayonnement infrarouge, visible ou ultraviolet
The present invention concerns a lighting device comprising a source for generating electromagnetic radiation, and a beam shaper which is so arranged and adapted that in operation of the lighting device it spatially expands the electromagnetic radiation issuing from the source. In comparison therewith the object of the present invention is to provide such a lighting device which ensures eye safety even when the beam shaper is detached or damaged. For that purpose it is proposed according to the invention that the lighting device has a sensor which is so adapted that in operation of the lighting device it detects a state of the beam shaper, wherein the sensor and the source are so operatively connected together and adapted that if during operation of the lighting device the state of the beam shaper changes in such a way that electromagnetic radiation could issue from the lighting device without the beam shaper being in the beam path of the electromagnetic radiation the source is switched off.
F21V 25/04 - Dispositifs de sécurité associés structuralement avec les dispositifs d'éclairage entrant en action quand le dispositif d'éclairage est dérangé, démonté ou cassé ouvrant le circuit électrique
The invention relates to a method for calibrating and/or evaluating a light propagation time camera (1, 20) by means of a reference surface (45), wherein the light propagation time camera (1, 20) has a light propagation time sensor (22) consisting of an array of light propagation time pixels, in which method various spacings between the light propagation time camera (1, 20) and the reference surface (45) are set in order to calibrate and/or evaluate the light propagation time camera (1, 20) by means of translational spacing changes, the method have the following steps: determining first distance data for a first spacing, determining second distance data for a second spacing, calculating distance differences from the first and second distance data, determining an orientation of the light propagation time camera (1, 20) with respect to the reference surface (45) on the basis of the calculated distance differences.
G01S 17/89 - Systèmes lidar, spécialement adaptés pour des applications spécifiques pour la cartographie ou l'imagerie
G06T 7/80 - Analyse des images capturées pour déterminer les paramètres de caméra intrinsèques ou extrinsèques, c.-à-d. étalonnage de caméra
G01S 17/36 - Systèmes déterminant les données relatives à la position d'une cible pour mesurer la distance uniquement utilisant la transmission d'ondes continues, soit modulées en amplitude, en fréquence ou en phase, soit non modulées avec comparaison en phase entre le signal reçu et le signal transmis au même moment
The invention relates to a light propagation time camera system (1), which is designed to determine distance values (φ, d) from a phase shift (Δφ(tL)) of an emitted and received modulated signal (Sp1, Sp2), comprising a lighting means (10) for emitting the modulated signal (Sp1) and a light propagation time sensor (20) for receiving and demodulating the received signal (Sp2) having at least one light propagation time pixel, wherein the system (1) is designed in such a way that a distance value (φ, d, D1, D2) is determined for each of at least two different modulation frequencies, and comprising an evaluating unit, which is designed in such a way that a disturbance of a measurement is detected from a difference of the distance values and/or a difference of the phase amplitudes (A1, A2).
G01S 17/36 - Systèmes déterminant les données relatives à la position d'une cible pour mesurer la distance uniquement utilisant la transmission d'ondes continues, soit modulées en amplitude, en fréquence ou en phase, soit non modulées avec comparaison en phase entre le signal reçu et le signal transmis au même moment
G01S 17/89 - Systèmes lidar, spécialement adaptés pour des applications spécifiques pour la cartographie ou l'imagerie
36.
LIGHT PROPAGATION TIME CAMERA AND METHOD FOR OPERATING SUCH A LIGHT PROPAGATION TIME CAMERA
The invention relates to a method for operating a light propagation time camera comprising a light propagation time sensor (22) consisting of multiple light propagation time pixels (23). The light propagation time pixels (23) are designed such that charges are collected in an alternating manner in a first and second integration node (Ga, Gb) synchronously with a modulation signal, wherein an exposure control process (500) with the following steps is carried out: a) detecting useful light amplitudes (A) of a sub-quantity of the pixels (23) provided in the light propagation time sensor (22), said pixel sub-quantity being selected using a selection mask (IMask), b) ascertaining an actual amplitude quantile (Aist,p) on the basis of the useful light amplitudes (A), which are detected in step a), of the selected pixel sub-quantity and a specified quantile (p), and c) ascertaining and outputting a subsequent integration time (tint,t+1) on the basis of the actual amplitude quantile (Aist,p) ascertained in step b), the current integration time (tint,t), and a specified target amplitude quantile (Asoll,p).
G01C 3/08 - Utilisation de détecteurs électriques de radiations
G01S 7/487 - Extraction des signaux d'écho désirés
G01S 17/36 - Systèmes déterminant les données relatives à la position d'une cible pour mesurer la distance uniquement utilisant la transmission d'ondes continues, soit modulées en amplitude, en fréquence ou en phase, soit non modulées avec comparaison en phase entre le signal reçu et le signal transmis au même moment
G01S 17/89 - Systèmes lidar, spécialement adaptés pour des applications spécifiques pour la cartographie ou l'imagerie
G01S 7/481 - Caractéristiques de structure, p. ex. agencements d'éléments optiques
The invention relates to a lighting device (9, 9') with a source (7) for generating electromagnetic radiation and a beam former (8) which spatially expands the electromagnetic radiation exiting the source. In order to ensure eye safety even when the beam former becomes detached or is damaged, the lighting device has a sensor which detects the state of the beam former during the operation of the lighting device, and the sensor and the source are operatively connected to each other and designed such that the source is deactivated if the state of the beam former changes during the operation of the lighting device such that electromagnetic radiation could exit the lighting device without the beam former being located in the beam path of the electromagnetic radiation. The sensor (11) is preferably an electric switch which is closed when the beam former (8) or a protective cap (1) for the beam former (8) is arranged at a position of the lighting device provided for the beam former or the protective cap.
H01S 5/068 - Stabilisation des paramètres de sortie du laser
F21V 25/04 - Dispositifs de sécurité associés structuralement avec les dispositifs d'éclairage entrant en action quand le dispositif d'éclairage est dérangé, démonté ou cassé ouvrant le circuit électrique
39.
LIGHT PROPAGATION TIME SENSOR WITH A CHARGE COMPENSATION DEVICE
The invention relates to a light propagation time sensor (22) with at least one light propagation time pixel (23) for demodulating a received modulated light (Sp2). The light propagation time pixel (23) has at least two integration nodes (Ga, Gb), and the integration nodes (Ga, Gb) are connected to a charge compensation device (500), said charge compensation device (500) having at least two SBI input transistors (M1, M2) which actuate SBI current transistors (M3, M4) in the event of an integration node (Ga, Gb) potential (Ua, Ub) that exceeds an SBI threshold (USBI) ) in magnitude such that a compensation current (ik) flows to both integration nodes (Ga, Gb) at the same level, wherein the source connections of the SBI current transistors (M3, M4) are not connected to a supply voltage (UDD) but rather to a working voltage (URES, Uarb).
G01S 17/36 - Systèmes déterminant les données relatives à la position d'une cible pour mesurer la distance uniquement utilisant la transmission d'ondes continues, soit modulées en amplitude, en fréquence ou en phase, soit non modulées avec comparaison en phase entre le signal reçu et le signal transmis au même moment
G01S 17/89 - Systèmes lidar, spécialement adaptés pour des applications spécifiques pour la cartographie ou l'imagerie
G01S 7/481 - Caractéristiques de structure, p. ex. agencements d'éléments optiques
A method for operating a time-of-flight camera including a time-of-flight sensor comprising an array of time-of-flight pixels with at least two integration nodes, wherein in a 3D mode the time-of-flight sensor and an illumination means are operated by means of a modulation signal and on the basis of the charges accumulated at the integration nodes distance values are determined, characterized in that in a power saving mode the time-of-flight sensor is operated with a control signal for motion detection, the frequency of which is lower than a lowest frequency of the modulation signal for a distance determination in the 3D mode, wherein an object motion is determined based on a differential value at the integration nodes is provided.
G01S 7/48 - Détails des systèmes correspondant aux groupes , , de systèmes selon le groupe
G01S 17/08 - Systèmes déterminant les données relatives à la position d'une cible pour mesurer la distance uniquement
G01S 17/36 - Systèmes déterminant les données relatives à la position d'une cible pour mesurer la distance uniquement utilisant la transmission d'ondes continues, soit modulées en amplitude, en fréquence ou en phase, soit non modulées avec comparaison en phase entre le signal reçu et le signal transmis au même moment
G01S 17/89 - Systèmes lidar, spécialement adaptés pour des applications spécifiques pour la cartographie ou l'imagerie
A light propagation time camera system and a method for operating such a system, in which—in a distance measurement a first range-related variable is ascertained using a phase shift in an emitted and received signal for a first modulation frequency,—and in a control measurement a second range-related variable is ascertained, wherein the control measurement is performed at a second modulation frequency, which differs from the first modulation frequency, and the control measurement is performed with a smaller number of phases than the distance measurement is provided.
G01C 3/08 - Utilisation de détecteurs électriques de radiations
G01S 17/08 - Systèmes déterminant les données relatives à la position d'une cible pour mesurer la distance uniquement
G01S 17/36 - Systèmes déterminant les données relatives à la position d'une cible pour mesurer la distance uniquement utilisant la transmission d'ondes continues, soit modulées en amplitude, en fréquence ou en phase, soit non modulées avec comparaison en phase entre le signal reçu et le signal transmis au même moment
G01S 17/89 - Systèmes lidar, spécialement adaptés pour des applications spécifiques pour la cartographie ou l'imagerie
A light speed camera system, with a camera module, which has a light speed photo sensor, preferably based on mixed photo detection, having at least one reception pixel, and with an illumination module which has an illumination light source, wherein the illumination module and the camera module each have a transmission circuit which is formed in such a way that a first signal as a differential signal and a second signal as a modulated basic voltage can be transmitted between the camera module and illumination module via a differential signal line is provided.
H04L 25/49 - Circuits d'émissionCircuits de réception à conversion de code au transmetteurCircuits d'émissionCircuits de réception à pré-distorsionCircuits d'émissionCircuits de réception à insertion d'intervalles morts pour obtenir un spectre de fréquence désiréCircuits d'émissionCircuits de réception à au moins trois niveaux d'amplitude
G01C 3/08 - Utilisation de détecteurs électriques de radiations
G01S 17/88 - Systèmes lidar, spécialement adaptés pour des applications spécifiques
G01S 17/36 - Systèmes déterminant les données relatives à la position d'une cible pour mesurer la distance uniquement utilisant la transmission d'ondes continues, soit modulées en amplitude, en fréquence ou en phase, soit non modulées avec comparaison en phase entre le signal reçu et le signal transmis au même moment
G01S 17/89 - Systèmes lidar, spécialement adaptés pour des applications spécifiques pour la cartographie ou l'imagerie
A time-of-flight camera, having a time-of-flight sensor, which has at least one receiving pixel and is configured as a photomixing detector, having an illumination means, and having a modulator, which is connected to the time-of-flight sensor and to the illumination means, wherein a control sensor is arranged in the region of the illumination means such that at least some of the radiation emitted by the illumination means can be received by the control sensor is provided.
H04N 7/18 - Systèmes de télévision en circuit fermé [CCTV], c.-à-d. systèmes dans lesquels le signal vidéo n'est pas diffusé
G01S 17/36 - Systèmes déterminant les données relatives à la position d'une cible pour mesurer la distance uniquement utilisant la transmission d'ondes continues, soit modulées en amplitude, en fréquence ou en phase, soit non modulées avec comparaison en phase entre le signal reçu et le signal transmis au même moment
G01S 17/89 - Systèmes lidar, spécialement adaptés pour des applications spécifiques pour la cartographie ou l'imagerie
A time-of-flight camera includes a photosensor and a reference photosensor. Each of the photosensors have accumulation gates and each are configured as a photomixing detector (PMD). A readout device is connected to the accumulation gates of the photosensor and to the accumulation gates of the reference photosensor. The readout device is configured to read out an electric quantity that corresponds to a charge that is present at respective ones of the accumulation gates. An integration time of accumulating the charges is the same for the photosensor and for the reference photosensor and is dimensioned so as to prevent the reference photosensor from reaching saturation during operation of the time-of-flight camera.
A time-of-flight camera system includes a photosensor having at least one receiving pixel and a source of illumination. A modulator is configured to provide a modulation signal to the photosensor and to the source of illumination. A control sensor is connected to at least one reference light source or an electric mixer. The control sensor is disposed in a vicinity of the source of illumination such that the control sensor receives at least a portion of the radiation emitted by the source of illumination. The control sensor is configured to provide an electric output signal that substantially matches an intensity-over-time curve of the received radiation.
G01S 17/10 - Systèmes déterminant les données relatives à la position d'une cible pour mesurer la distance uniquement utilisant la transmission d'ondes à modulation d'impulsion interrompues
G01S 17/36 - Systèmes déterminant les données relatives à la position d'une cible pour mesurer la distance uniquement utilisant la transmission d'ondes continues, soit modulées en amplitude, en fréquence ou en phase, soit non modulées avec comparaison en phase entre le signal reçu et le signal transmis au même moment
G01S 17/89 - Systèmes lidar, spécialement adaptés pour des applications spécifiques pour la cartographie ou l'imagerie
A monitoring system includes at least one three-dimensional (3D) time-of-flight (TOF) camera configured to monitor a safety-critical area. An evaluation unit is configured to activate a safety function upon an entrance of at least one of an object and a person into the monitored area and to suppress the activation of the safety function where at least one clearance element is recognized as being present on the at least one of the object and the person.
