Reference Pixel Array with Varying Sensitivities for TOF Sensor
First Claim
1. A demodulation sensor, comprising:
- an illumination module for generated modulated light for illuminating a scene;
one or more imaging pixels for detecting the modulated light returning from the scene;
an array of reference pixels in a reference pixel array for receiving reference modulated light from the illumination module, wherein the reference pixels in the reference pixel array have different sensitivities to the reference modulated light from the illumination module; and
a controller for determining a phase relationship between the modulated light generated by the illumination module with reference to the reference pixel array and the modulated light detected by the one or more imaging pixels.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The sensitivity of a reference pixel array RPA to the reference modulated light MLR is varied for different reference pixels RP of the reference pixel array RPA. In one embodiment the different sensitivities of the reference pixels RP in the RPA is achieved by designing the pixels to have different light sensitivities with respect to each other. In another embodiment, the different sensitivities are achieved by changing optical coupling between the separate reference pixels RP of the reference pixel array RPA to the reference modulated light MLR such as by changing how the different reference pixels RP couple to the aperture LGA of the light guide LG.
41 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A demodulation sensor, comprising:
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an illumination module for generated modulated light for illuminating a scene; one or more imaging pixels for detecting the modulated light returning from the scene; an array of reference pixels in a reference pixel array for receiving reference modulated light from the illumination module, wherein the reference pixels in the reference pixel array have different sensitivities to the reference modulated light from the illumination module; and a controller for determining a phase relationship between the modulated light generated by the illumination module with reference to the reference pixel array and the modulated light detected by the one or more imaging pixels. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A demodulation method, comprising:
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generating modulated light for illuminating a scene; detecting the modulated light returning from the scene to produce a three dimensional image of the scene; receiving and detecting reference modulated light with a reference pixel array of reference pixels having different sensitivities to the reference modulated light; and determining a phase relationship between the modulated light and the detected modulated light returning from the scene with reference to the reference pixel array. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A demodulation sensor, comprising:
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an illumination module for generated modulated light for illuminating a scene; one or more imaging pixels for detecting the modulated light returning from the scene; an array of reference pixels in a reference pixel array for receiving reference modulated light from the illumination module; a controller for determining a phase relationship between the modulated light generated by the illumination module with reference to the reference pixel array and the modulated light detected by the one or more imaging pixels a reference pixel evaluator that generates a synchronizing signal to the controller in response pixels selected from the reference pixel array based on averaging and/or weighting a phase reference based on one or more of the reference pixels in the reference pixel array.
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Specification