Method and system to increase dynamic range of time-of-flight (TOF) and/or imaging sensors
US7379100B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 14, 2005 |
| Grant date | May 27, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 22, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S7/4865
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Dynamic range of photodetector sensors useable in a TOF system is enhanced by capturing images of an object using multiple exposure time settings. Longer exposure settings more appropriately capture non-reflective and/or distant objects, while shorter exposure settings more appropriately capture reflective and/or closer objects. During parallel mode operation, detection signal readouts are taken from each photodetector at different time intervals within an overall exposure time. In sequential mode operation, detection signal readouts are taken and stored for each photodetector at the end of a first exposure time interval and the photodetectors are reset. After a second, different exposure time interval readouts are taken and stored, and the photodetectors reset, etc. In these modes one of the time exposure intervals will be relatively optimum for enhanced dynamic range operation. Once images with multiple exposure settings are obtained, best effort brightness and range images can be obtained, and motion artifacts can be reduced.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.