Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation

Hayato Kamizuru

Katsuhisa Daio

Takeshi Yuwaki

Akihito Kamiegawa

Osamu Ozawa

Daisuke Hirono

Hiroyuki Shoubu

Yasuhiro Shinozuka

Shouichi Kuroki

Masatoshi Kitada

Naoki Masumitsu

The control circuit according to the present disclosure includes a passive circuit () and an active circuit (). The passive circuit () is configured to: supply current to a Single Photon Avalanche Diode (SPAD) element () from a supply path (Rp); and output a first pulse signal (P) according to a signal Generated in the SPAD element (). The active circuit () is configured to: supply current to the SPAD element () selectively from among a plurality of supply paths; and output a second pulse signal (P) according to a signal generated in the SPAD element ().

Control circuit and distance measuring system

A light reception device comprises a pixel array including a plurality of pixels, each of the plurality of pixels including a photosensitive element configured to generate a signal in response to detection of a photon by the photosensitive element, wherein the plurality of pixels include a first pixel having a first sensitivity to detect a first photon incident on the first pixel and a second pixel having a second sensitivity to detect a second photon incident on the second pixel, wherein the second sensitivity is lower than the first sensitivity.

Light reception device and distance measurement device

Provided is a control circuit and a distance measurement system. The control circuit includes first wiring to which a first power supply voltage is applied, second wiring to which a second power supply voltage is applied. The control circuit further includes a current supply unit, a first withstand voltage unit, an inverter connected to a cathode of the SPAD element, and a second withstand voltage unit. Furthermore, the control circuit includes an N-type first transistor that is provided between the cathode of the SPAD element and an input terminal of the inverter, and has a gate connected to the second wiring, and a P-type second transistor that is provided between the second wiring and a source of the first transistor, and has a gate connected to an output terminal of the inverter.

Control circuit and distance measurement system to improve sensitivity characteristics of SPAD element

Provided is a light-emission driving device that includes a light-emission current detection unit, a phase difference detection unit, and a delay unit. The light-emission current detection unit detects a light-emission current for causing a light-emitting element to emit light, the light-emission current being supplied from a light-emission driving unit. The phase difference detection unit detects a phase difference between the detected light-emission current and a drive signal for controlling the supply of the light-emission current in the light-emission driving unit. The delay unit adjusts propagation delay of the drive signal in accordance with the detected phase difference, and supplies the adjusted drive signal to the light-emission driving unit as a drive signal.

Light-emission driving device and light-emitting device

A light receiving device of the present disclosure includes: a pixel array unit having a plurality of pixelstoeach including a light receiving unittothat generates a signal according to reception of photons; a first switch unit thattorecharges the light receiving unitto; and a recharge control unitthat controls the first switch unittoaccording to output of the light receiving unitto, and the recharge control unitis shared among the plurality of pixelsto. By this sharing of the recharge control unit, since the circuit area of the circuit unitper pixel can be reduced, the aperture ratio can be increased while miniaturizing the pixel. Preferably, the recharge control unitincludes a four-input OR circuitand a recharge signal generation circuit. The OR circuitobtains the OR of the logic signals retrieved from each cathode electrode of the SPAD sensorstosupplied through the comparatorsto. The OR output of the OR circuitis supplied to the recharge signal generation circuit. The recharge signal generation circuitgenerates the recharge signal RCHG by delaying the OR output of the OR circuitby a predetermined delay time, and supplies the recharge signal RCHG to the first switch unitsto. As a result, the recharge control unitperforms the recharge control in response to the OR signal of the logic signal whose logic is inverted at the time when photons are incident on one or more of the SPAD sensorsto. Furthermore, a distance measuring device of the present disclosure includes: a light source that irradiates an object to be measured with light; and a light receiving device that receives light reflected by the object to be measured, and the light receiving device includes the light receiving device having the above configuration.

Light receiving device and distance measuring device

A configuration of a light emission device that shortens a light emission latency time of a light emitting element is simplified. A light emission drive circuit includes a light emission current wire, a light emission current switch, a preliminary current wire, and a preliminary current switch. The light emission current wire flows a light emission current for causing a light emitting element to emit light, is the light emitting element. The light emission current switch is connected to the light emission current wire, and controls the light emission current. The preliminary current wire flows, in the light emission current wire, a preliminary current for exciting an inductance component of the light emission current wire before a light emission period being a period in which the light emission current flows in the light emitting element. The preliminary current switch is connected to the preliminary current wire, and controls the preliminary current.

Light emission drive circuit and light emission device

A driving device that includes a temperature monitoring circuit, a headroom voltage monitoring circuit, a power supply voltage monitoring circuit, and a control unit. The temperature monitoring circuit detects a temperature of a drive circuit that drives a light emitting element in a test light emission period of the light emitting element. The headroom voltage monitoring circuit detects a headroom voltage of the drive circuit in the test light emission period. The power supply voltage monitoring circuit detects a power supply voltage supplied to the light emitting element in the test light emission period. The control unit adjusts the power supply voltage in the test light emission period according to an input/output potential difference of the light emitting element varying depending on the temperature of drive circuit so as to obtain a headroom voltage necessary and sufficient for causing a prescribed drive current to flow through the light emitting element.

Driving device, light emitting device, and driving method

An abnormality of output laser light is detected for enhancement in safety. A light-source drive device includes a light-source control unit, a light-receiving unit, and an abnormality detection unit. The light-source control unit included in the light-source drive device controls light emission of a light source. The light-receiving unit included in the light-source drive device receives light from the light source through an output part allowing outward output of light of the light source. The abnormality detection unit included in the light-source drive device detects an abnormality of the light output from the output part, on the basis of the received light.

Light-source drive device and light-emitting device

The present invention relates to a driving device, a driving method, and a light-emitting unit that make it possible to appropriately drive a light-emitting element. The driving device according to the present invention includes: a setting section () that sets at least one of a bias current of a light-emitting element (an LD) or a target current for setting output light from the light-emitting element (the LD) to desired intensity on the basis of a result of detection of an offset light amount when the light-emitting element (the LD) does not emit light; and an output controller () that controls an output of a driving current of the light-emitting element (the LD) on the basis of at least one of the set bias current or the set target current. The detection of the offset light amount is performed by a light-receiving element (a PD) that receives a portion of the output light. The present invention is applicable to a ranging module, for example.

Driving device, driving method, and light-emitting unit

To detect a malfunction of a light-emission driving unit that drives a light emitting element in a light-emission driving device. A malfunction detection device is provided to the light-emission driving device including the light-emission driving unit that supplies a light-emission current for causing the light emitting element to emit light during a light-emission period during which the light emitting element is caused to emit light. The malfunction detection device provided to this light-emission driving device detects, on the basis of a voltage of an output terminal, a malfunction of the light-emission driving unit, the output terminal being a terminal in the light-emission driving unit that supplies the light-emission current for causing the light emitting element to emit light during the light-emission period, the terminal supplying the light-emission current.

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Kanagawa, Japan

Hayato Kamizuru