Infineon Technologies Ag

Martin Flatscher

Markus Dielacher

Josef Prainsack

Michael Mark

Robert Lobnik

Hannes Plank

Armin Josef Schoenlieb

Heinrich Guenther Heiss

Rainer Matischek

Stefan Gansinger

Hartwig Unterassinger

Franz Michael Darrer

Thomas Herndl

Martin Gotschlich

Manfred Greschitz

Michael Stadler

Thomas Gigl

Michael Aichner

Mattias Welponer Bachmayer

Alexander Venus

A display device is provided. The display device includes a plurality of first light-emitting elements configured to emit light for displaying an optical image on a front side of the display device. Additionally, the display device includes at least one second light-emitting element configured to emit infrared light for illuminating a scene in front of the front side of the display device.

Display device and electronic device including the display device

An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a display device configured to display an optical image on a front side of the display device. Further, the electronic device includes at least one sensor configured to measure electromagnetic radiation received from a scene in front of the front side of the display device. The display device includes a first display region using a first display technology and exhibiting a first transmissivity for the electromagnetic radiation. The display device further includes a second display region using a second display technology and exhibiting a second transmissivity for the electromagnetic radiation. The first transmissivity is higher than the second transmissivity. The at least one sensor is arranged on a back side of the display device and faces the first display region.

Electronic device

An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes: a display device including a plurality of light-emitting elements for displaying an optical image on a front side of the display device; an illumination element integrated into the display device and configured to emit light for illuminating a scene in front of the front side of the display device; an optical sensor configured to sense reflections of the light from the scene; an optical transmitter configured to transmit an optical control signal encoded with control information for controlling light emission by the illumination element; and an optical receiver integrated into the display device and configured to receive the optical control signal and generate an electrical control signal based on the optical control signal. The electronic device further includes a driver circuit integrated into the display device and configured to drive the illumination element based on the electrical control signal.

Electronic device and method for an electronic device

Time-of-flight (TOF) systems and techniques whereby a first exposure obtains pixel measurements for a first subset of pixels of a pixel array, using a first reference signal. For a second exposure, the first subset of the pixels, e.g., every second line of the pixel array, are set to a 'hold' state, so that values obtained from the first measurement are maintained. A second exposure using a second reference signal is performed for a second subset of the pixels. The first and second reference signals may have different phase shifts relative to a signal modulating an optical signal being measured. The result is an array of pixels in which the first and second subsets hold results of the first and second exposures, respectively. These pixel values can then be read out all at once, with certain calculations being performed directly as pixel values are read from the pixel array.

Image sensor with interleaved hold for single-readout depth measurement

An example time-of-flight device may include an emitter component configured to emit a plurality of modulated signals toward an object during a transmission window, wherein the plurality of modulated signals emitted during the transmission window are to be used to determine a single distance measurement associated with the object and the time-of-flight device. The time-of-flight device may include a control component configured to cause, via the emitter component, emission of a first modulated signal and emission of a second modulated signal, of the plurality of modulated signals, toward the object, wherein the first modulated signal is emitted during a first portion of the transmission window and has a first phase of a plurality of preconfigured phases, and wherein the second modulated signal is emitted during a second portion of the transmission window and has a second phase of the plurality of preconfigured phases; and cause, using the emission of the first modulated signal and the emission of the second modulated signal during the transmission window, an emulation of a transmission of a measurement signal that has a measurement phase defined based on the first phase and the second phase, wherein the measurement phase is different from the first phase and the second phase.

Phase emulator for a time-of-flight (ToF) device

A time-of-flight (TOF) sensor includes an array of pixels. Each pixel includes: a differential pixel configured to output a differential voltage signal between first and second nodes, based on an electrical modulation signal applied to different regions of the differential pixel and an incoming correlated light signal; a first readout circuit coupled to the first node; a second readout circuit coupled to the second node; and a compensation circuit coupled to the first and second readout circuits and configured to compensate for offset caused by incoming uncorrelated light. Each readout circuit has a storage device configured to be discharged by photo current during an exposure phase, sensed during a readout phase and recharged during a reset phase. Recharging of each storage device is controlled by a single reset transistor included in each compensation circuit or by one or more global reset transistors located outside the array of pixels.

Time-of-flight sensor with reduced transistor count pixels

An imaging system may comprise a plurality of pixels to selectively operate in a first operating mode or a second operating mode. When operating in the first operating mode, the plurality of pixels is binned during an exposure phase such that an output during a readout phase corresponds to a summed photocurrent that is a sum of a plurality of concurrent photocurrents, each corresponding to one of the plurality of pixels. When operating in the second operating mode, the plurality of pixels is not binned during the exposure phase such that an output during the readout phase corresponds to a set of separate photocurrents, each corresponding to one of a set of the plurality of pixels.

Global pixel binning for ambient light sensing

An imaging system may include a modulation component to provide a modulation signal. The imaging system may include an illumination component to receive the modulation signal and emit a modulated optical signal based on the modulation signal, and provide an electrical illumination signal. The electrical illumination signal may be an electrical representation of the modulated optical signal emitted by the illumination component. The imaging system may include an electrical mixer to receive the electrical illumination signal and the modulation signal, multiply the electrical illumination signal and the modulation signal in order to form a mixed signal, filter the mixed signal in order to form a filtered mixed signal, and output, based on the filtered mixed signal, a calibration signal associated with calibrating the imaging system.

Electrical mixer as reference path for time-of-flight measurement

An apparatus, having a transmitted light power/energy monitor configured to monitor transmitted power/energy of light transmitted by a light source, and a controller configured to determine and control a maximum transmit light time based on the transmitted light power/energy and a transmit light power/energy threshold based on time.

Adaptive transmit light control

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.

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Martin Flatscher