US Patent Application 17737030. APPARATUS, PROCESSING CIRCUITRY AND METHOD FOR MEASURING DISTANCE FROM DIRECT TIME OF FLIGHT SENSOR ARRAY TO AN OBJECT simplified abstract

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APPARATUS, PROCESSING CIRCUITRY AND METHOD FOR MEASURING DISTANCE FROM DIRECT TIME OF FLIGHT SENSOR ARRAY TO AN OBJECT

Organization Name

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


Inventor(s)

Chin Yin of Tainan City (TW)

Shang-Fu Yeh of Hsinchu City (TW)

Chiao-Yi Huang of Hsinchu County (TW)

Chih-Lin Lee of Miaoli County (TW)

APPARATUS, PROCESSING CIRCUITRY AND METHOD FOR MEASURING DISTANCE FROM DIRECT TIME OF FLIGHT SENSOR ARRAY TO AN OBJECT - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 17737030 titled 'APPARATUS, PROCESSING CIRCUITRY AND METHOD FOR MEASURING DISTANCE FROM DIRECT TIME OF FLIGHT SENSOR ARRAY TO AN OBJECT

Simplified Explanation

This patent application describes an apparatus, processing circuitry, and method for measuring the distance to an object using a direct time of flight (DTOF) sensor array and photon detection signals.

  • The apparatus includes a light source and a DTOF sensor array that receives a reflected signal from the object.
  • The processing circuitry, which is connected to the DTOF sensor array, includes a first time to digital converter (TDC) and a second TDC placed on opposite sides of the DTOF sensor array.
  • The processing circuitry receives a first photon detection signal transmitted by a first pixel through the first TDC and a second photon detection signal transmitted by the same first pixel through the second TDC.
  • The processing circuitry calculates the distance from the first pixel to the object by analyzing the arrival times of the photon detection signals detected by the first and second TDCs.

This innovation allows for accurate distance measurement by utilizing photon detection signals and TDCs on opposite sides of the sensor array.


Original Abstract Submitted

An apparatus, a processing circuitry and a method for measuring a distance to an object are provided. The apparatus comprising a light source, a direct time of flight (DTOF) sensor array configured to receive a reflected signal from the object, a processing circuitry coupled to the DTOF sensor array and comprising a first time to digital converter (TDC) and a second TDC, respectively disposed on opposite sides of the DTOF sensor array, the processing circuitry configured to receive, by the first TDC, a first photon detection signal transmitted by a first pixel, receive, by the second TDC, a second photon detection signal transmitted by the first pixel, and calculate a first distance from the first pixel to the object according to a first arrival time of the first photon detection signal detected by the first TDC and a second arrival time of the second signal detected by the second TDC.

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