Patent · US Active

Time of flight illumination circuit

US9185762B2 · kind B2 · utility

17Cited by
4References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 19, 2013
Grant dateNov 10, 2015
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 29, 2033

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02B20/30
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Some aspects of the present disclosure provide system and method of operation of a driving circuit for a light emitting element in a Time-of-Flight (ToF) camera. A DC-DC converter is configured to emit a constant current, and is coupled in parallel to a first modulation switch configured to connect the driving circuit to ground. The first modulation switch is further configured to alternate connections between the current source and ground at a frequency in a desired range of operation to produce an AC current. In some embodiments, an RC circuit element is coupled to an output electrode of the light emitting element and configured to apply a reverse bias to decrease turn-off time of the light emitting element. In some embodiments, a second modulation switch is coupled to the output electrode and configured to apply the reverse bias across the light emitting element. Other systems and methods are also disclosed.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.