Time of flight sensors and sensing methods

US12164063B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Arvin Emadi · San Jose, US
• Charles Razzell · Pleasanton, US
• John Hanks · Austin, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 10, 2022
• Grant date: Dec 10, 2024
• Expiry date: Nov 9, 2042

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01S17/894
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A time of flight sensor includes a time of flight (TOF) processor having a digital TOF port, a digital input port, and a digital output port, the TOF processor comprising a phase detector including cyclically rotating demultiplexer (DEMUX), a first summer coupled to a first DEMUX output, a second summer coupled to a second DEMUX output, a third summer coupled to a third DEMUX output, a fourth summer coupled to a fourth DEMUX output, and a phase estimator coupled to outputs of the first summer, the second summer, the third summer and the fourth summer and having a phase estimate output; a driver having a digital driver port coupled to the digital TOF port and a driver output port; and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) having an output port coupled to the digital input port of the digital TOF processor.