Hybrid time-of-flight and imager module

US11609313B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Waymo LLC · US

Inventors

• Caner Onal · Palo Alto, US
• David Schleuning · Oakland, US
• Brendan Hermalyn · San Francisco, US
• Simon Verghese · Arlington, US
• Alex McCauley · Sunnyvale, US
• Brandyn White · Mountain View, US
• Ury Zhilinsky · Foster City, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 21, 2018
• Grant date: Mar 21, 2023
• Expiry date: Nov 12, 2041

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01S17/931
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods that provide both an image of a scene and depth information for the scene. An example system includes at least one time-of-flight (ToF) sensor and an imaging sensor. The ToF sensor and the imaging sensor are configured to receive light from a scene. The system also includes at least one light source and a controller that carries out operations. The operations include causing the at least one light source to illuminate at least a portion of the scene with illumination light according to an illumination schedule. The operations also include causing the at least one ToF sensor to provide information indicative of a depth map of the scene based on the illumination light. The operations additionally include causing the imaging sensor to provide information indicative of an image of the scene based on the illumination light.