The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 03, 2020
Filed:
May. 25, 2017
Applicant:
Stmicroelectronics, Inc., Coppell, TX (US);
Inventors:
Assignee:
STMicroelectronics, Inc., Coppell, TX (US);
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G01C 3/08 (2006.01); G01S 7/484 (2006.01); G01S 17/10 (2020.01); G01S 7/486 (2020.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G01S 7/484 (2013.01); G01S 7/4868 (2013.01); G01S 17/10 (2013.01);
Abstract
A time of flight range detection device includes a laser configured to transmit an optical pulse into an image scene, a return single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) array, a reference SPAD array, a range detection circuit coupled to the return SPAD array and the reference SPAD array, and a laser driver circuit. The range detection circuit in operation determines a distance to an object based on signals from the return SPAD array and the reference SPAD array. The laser driver circuit in operation varies an output power level of the laser in response to the determined distance to the object.