Optoelectronic sensor and method for measuring a distance

US11079478B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Fondazione Bruno Kessler · IT

Inventors

• Daniele Perenzoni · Trento, IT
• David Stoppa · Trento, IT
• Leonardo Gasparini · Trento, IT
• Matteo Perenzoni · Trento, IT
• Nicola Massari · Trento, IT
• Ulrich ZWÖLFER · Waldkirch, DE
• Kai Waslowski · Trento, IT
• Alexander BOHLI · Trento, IT
• Michael Albert · Stamford, US
• Friedhelm Wiethege · Waldkirch, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 10, 2018
• Grant date: Aug 3, 2021
• Expiry date: Aug 19, 2039

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01S17/04
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An optoelectronic sensor (10) for measuring a distance of an object (18) in accordance with a time of flight principle comprises a light transmitter (12) for transmitting a light signal (14), a light receiver (22) for receiving the light signal (20) after reflection or remission by the object (18), the light receiver (22) having a first plurality of pixel elements (24, 24a) each configured as an avalanche photo diode element biased with a bias voltage greater than a breakdown voltage and thus operated in a Geiger mode in order to trigger an avalanche event upon light reception, a distance measuring unit (34) having a second plurality of time of flight measuring units (34a) connected to pixel elements (24a) for determining a time of flight between transmission and reception of a light signal, the second plurality being less than the first plurality, switching means (32, 32a) for connecting selected pixel elements (24a) to time of flight measuring units (34a) in a one-to-one fashion, and a pixel selection unit (28, 30) for determining pixel elements (24a) to be connected by the switching means (32, 32a) based on an intensity measurement.