OVERLAPPING CHARGE ACCUMULATION DEPTH SENSORS AND METHODS OF OPERATING THE SAME
First Claim
1. A depth sensor comprising:
- a depth sensor array comprising a plurality of rows each of which comprises a plurality of depth pixels, accumulates photocharge generated in response to an optical signal reflected from an object and a gating signal for an integration time, and outputs a result of photocharge accumulation in response to completion of the photocharge accumulation; and
a row control block configured to sequentially reset the plurality of rows and apply the gating signal to the plurality of rows sequentially,wherein the row control block is further configured to change a phase of the gating signal applied to a row, with respect to which the outputting of the result of photocharge accumulation has been completed, by a predetermined angle, and to perform a plurality of cycles of application of the reset signal and the gating signal with respect to an entire single frame; and
wherein a period of photocharge accumulation in at least one reset row in response to the gating signal having a changed phase overlaps a period of photocharge accumulation in at least one row in which photocharge accumulation based on the gating signal having a phase before being changed is being carried out.
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Abstract
One embodiment includes sequentially resetting rows and applying a gating signal to the rows sequentially in order in which the rows are reset; accumulating at each of the rows photocharge generated in response to an optical signal reflected from an object and the gating signal for an integration time; and reading a result of photocharge accumulation from each of the rows. A phase of the gating signal applied to a row with respect to which the reading has been completed, may be changed. A period of photocharge accumulation based on the gating signal having a changed phase in at least one row, which has been subjected to the reading and then reset, may overlap a period of photocharge accumulation in at least one row in which photocharge accumulation based on the gating signal having a phase before being changed is being carried out.
30 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A depth sensor comprising:
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a depth sensor array comprising a plurality of rows each of which comprises a plurality of depth pixels, accumulates photocharge generated in response to an optical signal reflected from an object and a gating signal for an integration time, and outputs a result of photocharge accumulation in response to completion of the photocharge accumulation; and a row control block configured to sequentially reset the plurality of rows and apply the gating signal to the plurality of rows sequentially, wherein the row control block is further configured to change a phase of the gating signal applied to a row, with respect to which the outputting of the result of photocharge accumulation has been completed, by a predetermined angle, and to perform a plurality of cycles of application of the reset signal and the gating signal with respect to an entire single frame; and wherein a period of photocharge accumulation in at least one reset row in response to the gating signal having a changed phase overlaps a period of photocharge accumulation in at least one row in which photocharge accumulation based on the gating signal having a phase before being changed is being carried out. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of estimating a distance using a depth sensor, the method comprising:
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(a) sequentially resetting a plurality of rows and applying a gating signal to the plurality of rows sequentially; (b) accumulating at each of the rows photocharge generated in response to an optical signal reflected from an object and the gating signal for an integration time; and (c) reading a result of photocharge accumulation from each of the rows sequentially in order of completion of the photocharge accumulation, wherein (a) through (c) are sequentially repeated in a plurality of cycles; wherein a phase of the gating signal applied to a row with respect to which the reading of the result of photocharge accumulation has been completed, is changed by a predetermined angle; and wherein a period of photocharge accumulation based on the gating signal having a changed phase in at least one row, which has been subjected to the reading and then reset, overlaps a period of photocharge accumulation in at least one row in which photocharge accumulation based on the gating signal having a phase before being changed is being carried out. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of operating a depth sensor that includes a plurality of pixel rows that sequentially store charge generated in response to an optical signal that is reflected from an object, the method comprising:
resetting a second pixel row that stores charge subsequent to a first pixel row stores charge, before the first pixel row has completed a reading operation of the charge that was stored therein. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of operating a depth sensor that includes a plurality of pixel rows that sequentially store charge generated in response to an optical signal that is reflected from an object, the method comprising:
storing charge in a first pixel row in response to a gating signal while simultaneously storing charge in a second pixel row in response to a phase-changed version of the gating signal.
Specification