Pulse width modulated integration for time of flight imaging
US11914036B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 17, 2020 |
| Grant date | Feb 27, 2024 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 17, 2042 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S17/36
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
One example provides a method of operating a time-of-flight camera system comprising an illumination source and an image sensor. The method comprises operating the illumination source and the image sensor to control a plurality of integration cycles and a plurality of readout cycles. In each integration cycle, the method comprises performing a plurality of pulse width modulated (PWM) illumination cycles where each PWM illumination cycle is separated from one or more adjacent PWM illumination cycles by a non-illumination cycle. For each PWM illumination cycle, the method comprises directing photocharge to in-pixel memory for each pixel that is performing image integration and for each non-illumination cycle conducting photocharge away from the in-pixel memory for each pixel that is performing image integration. The readout cycle comprises, for each pixel that performed image integration, reading a charge stored in the in-pixel memory after the integration cycle.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.