Infineon Technologies Ag

Josef Prainsack

Markus Dielacher

Martin Flatscher

Michael Mark

Rainer Matischek

Franz Michael Darrer

Robert Lobnik

Martin Gotschlich

Hartwig Unterassinger

Stefan Gansinger

Representative implementations of devices and techniques provide adaptable settings for imaging devices and systems. Operating modes may be defined based on whether movement is detected within a predetermined area. One or more parameters of illumination or modulation may be dynamically adjusted based on the present operating mode.

Dynamic conservation of imaging power

Representative implementations of devices and techniques provide adjustable parameters for imaging devices and systems. Dynamic adjustments to one or more parameters of an imaging component may be performed based on changes to the relative velocity of the imaging component or to the proximity of an object to the imaging component.

Dynamic adjustment of imaging parameters

The present disclosure relates to an imaging apparatus. The imaging apparatus comprises a pixel array. The pixel array comprises a first pixel comprising a first radiation-sensitive region and at least one associated charge storage region for collecting electrical charges from the first radiation-sensitive region. The pixel array also comprises a second pixel comprising a second radiation-sensitive region and at least one associated charge storage region for collecting electrical charges from the second radiation-sensitive region. Furthermore, the imaging apparatus comprises control circuitry configured to generate a common compensation signal being common to the first and second pixels. The common compensation signal mitigates a saturation of the respective charge storage regions of the first and second pixels.

Imaging apparatus and imaging method for capturing imaging data via a pixel array

An apparatus includes a detector circuit configured to receive a modulated electromagnetic wave signal from an illumination source and to provide a detection signal having a frequency dependent on a modulation frequency of the modulated electromagnetic wave signal. The apparatus further includes a reference circuit configured to generate a reference signal based on the detection signal. The apparatus further includes a sensor circuit configured to generate based on the reference signal a sensor signal based on reflected modulated electromagnetic waves emitted by the illumination source and reflected by an object. The apparatus further includes a processing circuit configured to determine distance information related to the object based on the sensor signal.

Time of flight apparatuses and an illumination source

The imaging apparatus includes an image sensor circuit comprising a time of flight sensor pixel. The imaging apparatus further includes a first light emitter having a first spatial offset relative to the time of flight sensor pixel. The imaging apparatus further includes a second light emitter having a second spatial offset relative to the time of flight sensor pixel. The imaging apparatus further includes an image processing circuit configured to produce an image of a region of an object based on first sensor pixel image data and second sensor pixel image data generated by the time of flight sensor pixel. The first sensor pixel image data is based on received light emitted by the first light emitter and reflected at the object's region and wherein the second sensor pixel image data is based on received light emitted by the second light emitter and reflected at the object's region.

Imaging apparatuses and a time of flight imaging method

An embodiment of the invention relates to a local area sensor network including a central unit configured to receive a resource allocation request from a priority network sensor in a reserved timeslot and in response to designate a shared timeslot allocation. The priority network sensor transmits a resource allocation request in a reserved timeslot, and the sensor transmits data in the allocated shared timeslot. A sensor network can be formed with multiple gateways that each communicate over wired and wireless portions of the network. The central unit communicates with the gateways over the wired portion of the network. Wireless nodes communicate wirelessly with the gateways. The central unit receives a plurality of link quality indicators from the gateways for respective wireless paths to the wireless sensors, and selects a gateway for relaying a message from the central unit to a wireless sensor based on the link quality indicators.

Medium access control in industrial and automotive wireless with combined wired and wireless sensor networks

A sensor array arrangement for a time of flight measurement system is disclosed. The arrangement includes a plurality of pixels and circuitry. The plurality of pixels are configured such that a first plurality of pixels receive a first reference signal and a second plurality of pixels receive a second reference signal. The first and second reference signals are phase shifted with respect to each other. The circuitry calculates depth information by combining information from first and second pixel sensor signals. The first pixel sensor signal is based on the first reference signal. The second pixel sensor signal is based on the second reference signal.

Systems and methods for time of flight measurement using a single exposure

Representative implementations of devices and techniques provide conservation of charge in a pixel. Charge in the pixel may be alternately stored in a first gate capacitance of the pixel and a second gate capacitance of the pixel. Transferring the charge between the gate capacitances conserves some or all of the charge, and reduces input power used to charge the gate capacitances.

Charge conservation in pixels

A time-of-flight (TOF) camera system includes a radiation source, a radiation detector, a location sensor system and a processor. The radiation source is configured to generate and emit a radiation that strikes a target object. The radiation detector is configured to detect the radiation reflected from the target object and generate a sample set comprising at least two raw samples detected in succession at different times based on the reflected radiation. The location sensor system is configured to detect movements of the TOF camera during the detection and generate a movement signal having portions thereof uniquely corresponding to each of the raw samples of the sample set based on the movements of the TOF camera, wherein a portion of the movement signal is detected at a same time of generating the corresponding raw sample. The processor is configured to receive the raw samples and the corresponding movement signal portions and generate an object information based on the raw samples and the corresponding movement signal portion.

Time-of-flight camera with location sensor system

Representative implementations of devices and techniques provide dynamic calibration for imaging devices and systems. A reference pixel is arranged to receive an electrical reference signal and to output a calibration signal. The reference signal may be based on imaging illumination.

Integrated reference pixel

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.

Growing community of inventors

Graz, Austria

Josef Prainsack