Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation

Yohtaro Yasu

Nobuhiko Shigyo

Katsuhiko Hanzawa

Takashi Kobayashi

Yuichi Kato

Miho Akagi

A distance measuring device () including a plurality of pixels () provided in a row direction and a column direction, a plurality of AD conversion circuits () provided in the row direction, each of the plurality of AD conversion circuits performing AD conversion on pixel signals of a corresponding column, and a signal processing section () that generates a depth image signal based on conversion results of the plurality of AD conversion circuits, wherein the plurality of pixels () include a plurality of valid pixels () provided in the row direction and the column direction to correspond to the depth image signal, each of the valid pixels including a plurality of charge transfer sections (TA, TB) that extract pixel signals corresponding to a light amount of incident light in different periods, and a plurality of light-shielded pixels () provided in the column direction on at least one of two end sides in the row direction with respect to a region provided with the plurality of valid pixels (), each of the plurality of light-shielded pixels being covered with a light-shielding film (M).

Distance measuring device

A DLL circuit () includes a phase delay circuit (), a selection circuit (), a detection circuit (), and a clock stop circuit (). The phase delay circuit () generates a plurality of delayed signals having different phases according to a clock signal. The selection circuit () selects one of the plurality of delayed signals as an output signal according to a setting signal. The detection circuit () detects a timing of switching the setting signal. The clock stop circuit () stops input of the clock signal to the phase delay circuit () for a predetermined period including the timing detected by the detection circuit ().

DLL circuit and distance measuring sensor

[Problem] To provide a signal generation apparatus that is used in a ToF camera system especially adopting an indirect system and can suppress occurrence of erroneous distance measurement caused by distance measurement of a same target by a plurality of cameras with a simple configuration. [Solving means] There is provided a signal generation apparatus including a first pulse generator configured to generate a pulse to be supplied to a light source that irradiates light upon a distance measurement target, a second pulse generator configured to generate a pulse to be supplied to a pixel that receives the light reflected by the distance measurement target, and a signal generation section configured to generate a pseudo-random signal for inverting a phase of signals to be generated by the first pulse generator and the second pulse generator.

Signal generation apparatus

A signal generation apparatus is used in a ToF camera system especially adopting the indirect system and suppresses occurrence of a cyclic error. The signal generation apparatus includes a first pulse generator configured to generate a pulse to be supplied to a light source that irradiates light upon a distance measurement target, a second pulse generator configured to generate a pulse to be supplied to a pixel that receives the light reflected by the distance measurement target, and a signal selection section configured to select and output a duty cycle of a signal to be outputted from the first pulse generator from between a first duty cycle and a second duty cycle different from the first duty cycle.

Signal generation apparatus for time-of-flight camera with suppressed cyclic error

A sensor chip includes: a pixel array unit that has a rectangular-shaped area in which a plurality of sensor elements are arranged in an array pattern; and a global control circuit, in which driving elements simultaneously driving the sensor elements are arranged in one direction, and each of the driving elements is connected to a control line disposed for each one column of the sensor elements, that is arranged to have a longitudinal direction to be along a long side of the pixel array unit. For example, the present technology can be applied to ToF sensor.

Sensor chip and electronic apparatus

[Problem] To provide a pulse generator that is used in a ToF camera system especially adopting the indirect system and can be ready for various settings of a frequency or a phase with a simple configuration. [Solving means] There is provided a pulse generator that includes a first counter that determines a phase of a pulse to be outputted and used for distance measurement to a distance measurement target using an input signal, and a second counter that determines a frequency of the pulse using the input signal.

Pulse generator and signal generation apparatus

To provide a signal generation apparatus that is used in a ToF camera system especially adopting an indirect system and can suppress occurrence of erroneous distance measurement caused by distance measurement of a same target by a plurality of cameras with a simple configuration. There is provided a signal generation apparatus including a first pulse generator configured to generate a pulse to be supplied to a light source that irradiates light upon a distance measurement target, a second pulse generator configured to generate a pulse to be supplied to a pixel that receives the light reflected by the distance measurement target, and a signal generation section configured to generate a pseudo-random signal for inverting a phase of signals to be generated by the first pulse generator and the second pulse generator.

A signal generation apparatus for use with a ToF camera system includes a first pulse generator configured to generate a pulse to be supplied to a light source that irradiates light to a distance measurement target, a second pulse generator configured to generate a pulse to be supplied to pixels that receive light reflected by the distance measurement target, and a switching section configured to switch a setting of a modulation frequency of the first pulse generator and the second pulse generator within a predetermined period.

A time of flight sensor is disclosed. In one example, it includes a pixel array with pixels arranged in rows and columns. A global control circuit disposed along a first side of the pixel array outputs a global control signal to the pixels. The global control circuit has a clock tree structure that includes buffer circuits and driving circuits. A rolling control circuit disposed along a second side of the pixel array outputs a rolling control signal to the pixels. A column circuit with analog-to-digital converters is coupled to the pixels.

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Kanagawa, Japan

Yohtaro Yasu