Photodetector, a photodector array comprising photodetectors, an object detector comprising the photodetecter array and an object detecting procedure
First Claim
1. An object detector that receives a light reflected from an object to determine a position and an image of the object, said object detector comprising:
- a light-emitting unit that emits a pulse of light having a predetermined wavelength, wherein at least a portion of the pulse of light is reflected from the object;
a photodetector unit for receiving the reflected light from the object and generating output signals, the reflected light including at least the portion of the pulse of light reflected from the object, wherein the photodetector unit includes a photodetector array comprising a plurality of photodetectors each having photosensitivity variable in a positive range through a negative range, and arranged in a two-dimensional arrangement;
a control signal supply means for supplying a control signal for controlling the photosensitivity of each photodetector of the photodetector unit;
a signal detecting means for detecting the output signals of the photodetectors on each line or row of the photodetectors of the photodetector unit; and
a control means for controlling the adjustment of the time when the light-emitting unit emits light, and controlling one of the time when the control signal supply means supplies a control signal to the photodetectors, and the time when the signal detecting means detects the output signals of the photodetectors on each line or row.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A photodetector has a semiconductor substrate which produces light-induced charge upon the absorption of incident light. A first electrode and a second electrode are attached to the surface of the semiconductor substrate so as to form metal-semiconductor junctions. When control voltage VB, which is variable in a positive range through a negative range, is applied to the first electrode, a photocurrent flows through the second electrode and depletion layers are formed in the surface of the semiconductor substrate. The control voltage VB applied to the first electrode increases the expanse of one of the depletion layers relative to that of the other to cause the light-induced charge to drift toward one of the depletion layers or the other. Consequently, a positive or negative current is delivered through the second electrode. Thus, the photosensitivity of the photodetector can be controlled by the control voltage VB.
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Citations
57 Claims
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1. An object detector that receives a light reflected from an object to determine a position and an image of the object, said object detector comprising:
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a light-emitting unit that emits a pulse of light having a predetermined wavelength, wherein at least a portion of the pulse of light is reflected from the object; a photodetector unit for receiving the reflected light from the object and generating output signals, the reflected light including at least the portion of the pulse of light reflected from the object, wherein the photodetector unit includes a photodetector array comprising a plurality of photodetectors each having photosensitivity variable in a positive range through a negative range, and arranged in a two-dimensional arrangement; a control signal supply means for supplying a control signal for controlling the photosensitivity of each photodetector of the photodetector unit; a signal detecting means for detecting the output signals of the photodetectors on each line or row of the photodetectors of the photodetector unit; and a control means for controlling the adjustment of the time when the light-emitting unit emits light, and controlling one of the time when the control signal supply means supplies a control signal to the photodetectors, and the time when the signal detecting means detects the output signals of the photodetectors on each line or row. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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12. An object detector that receives a light reflected from an object to determine a position and an image of the object, said object detector comprising:
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a light-emitting unit that emits a pulse of light having a predetermined wavelength, wherein at least a portion of the pulse of light is reflected from the object; a photodetector unit for receiving the reflected light from the object and generating output signals, the reflected light including at least the portion of the pulse of light reflected from the object, wherein the photodetector unit includes a photodetector array comprising a plurality of photodetectors each having photosensitivity variable in a positive range through a negative range, and arranged in a two-dimensional arrangement; an optical system provided with a visible radiation absorbing means for absorbing visible radiation included in the light reflected from the object; a control signal supply means for supplying a control signal for controlling the photosensitivity of each photodetector of the photodetector unit; a signal detecting means for detecting the output signals of the photodetectors on each line or row of the photodetector unit; and a control means for controlling the adjustment of the time when the light-emitting unit emits light, the time when the control signal supply means supplies a control signal to the photodetectors, and the time when the signal detecting means detects the output signals of the photodetectors on each line or row of the photodetector unit. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. An object detector that receives light reflected from an object to determine a position and an image of the object, said object detector comprising:
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a light-emitting unit that emits a pulse of light having a predetermined wavelength, wherein at least a portion of the pulse of light is reflected from the object; a photodetector unit for receiving the reflected light from the object and generating output signals, the reflected light including at least the portion of the pulse of light reflected from the object, wherein the photodetector unit includes a photodetector array comprising a plurality of photodetectors each having photosensitivity variable in a positive range through a negative range, and arranged in a two-dimensional arrangement; an optical system provided with a visible radiation absorbing means for absorbing visible radiation included in the light reflected from the object; a control signal supplying means for supplying a control signal for controlling the photosensitivity of each photodetector of the photodetector unit, provided with a time window setting means for specifying lines or rows of the photodetectors to set a time window; a signal detecting means for detecting the output signals of the photodetectors on each line or row of the photodetectors of the photodetector unit, capable of selectively detecting output signals of the photodetectors on each line or row within the time window; and a control means for controlling the adjustment of the time when the light-emitting unit emits light, the time when the control signal supply means supplies a control signal to the photodetectors, and the time when the signal detecting means detects the output signals of the photodetectors on each line or row. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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16. An object detector that receives light reflected from an object to determine a position and an image of the object, said object detector comprising:
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a light-emitting unit that emits a pulse of light having a predetermined wavelength, wherein at least a portion of the pulse of light is reflected from the object; a photodetector unit for receiving the reflected light from the object and generating output signals, the reflected light including at least the portion of the pulse of light reflected from the object, wherein the photodetector unit includes a photodetector array comprising a plurality of photodetectors each having photosensitivity variable in a positive range through a negative range, and arranged in a two-dimensional arrangement; an optical system provided with a visible radiation absorbing means for absorbing visible radiation included in the reflected light reflected from the object;
a control signal supply means for supplying a control signal for controlling the photosensitivity of the photodetectors of the photodetector unit;a signal detecting means for detecting output signals of the photodetectors on each line or row of the photodetector unit; a signal storage means for storing output signals of the signal detecting means for parallel access; and a control means for controlling the adjustment of the time when the light-emitting unit emits light, the time when the control signal supply means supplies a control signal to the photodetectors and, the time when the signal detecting means detects the output signals of the photodetectors on each line or row of the photodetector unit.
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18. An object detector that receives light reflected from an object to determine a position and an image of the object, said object detector comprising:
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a light-emitting unit that emits a pulse of light having a predetermined wavelength, wherein at least a portion of the pulse of light is reflected from the object; a photodetector unit for receiving the reflected light from the object and generating output signals, the reflected light including at least the portion of the pulse of light reflected from the object, wherein the photodetector unit includes a two-dimensional photodetector array comprising a plurality of photodetectors that generates output signals, each photodetector having photosensitivity variable in a positive range through a negative range and arranged in a two-dimensional arrangement and a linear photodetector array comprising a plurality of photodetectors each having a fixed conversion efficiency; an optical system provided with a visible radiation absorbing or visible radiation separating means for separating light radiation having wavelengths other than those of visible radiation from the light reflected from the object so that light radiation having wavelengths other than those of visible radiation falls on the photodetector unit; a control signal supply means for supplying a control signal for controlling the photosensitivity of each photodetector of the two-dimensional photodetector array of the photodetector unit; a first signal detecting means for detecting the output signals of the photodetectors on each line or row of the two-dimensional photodetector array; a second signal detecting means for detecting the output signals of the photodetectors of the linear photodetector array; and a control means for controlling the adjustment of the time when the light-emitting unit emits a pulse of light, the time when the control signal supply means supplies a control signal to each photodetector, the time when the first signal detecting means detects the output signals of the photodetectors on each line or row of the two-dimensional photodetector array, and the time when the second signal detecting means detects the output signals of the photodetectors of the linear photodetector array. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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19. An object detector that receives the light reflected from an object to determine a position and an image of the object, said object detector comprising:
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a light-emitting unit that emits a pulse of light having a predetermined wavelength, wherein at least a portion of the pulse of light is reflected from the object; a photodetector unit for receiving the reflected light from the object and generating output signals, the reflected light including at least the portion of the pulse of light reflected from the object, wherein the photodetector unit includes a two-dimensional photodetector array comprising a plurality of photodetectors that generates output signals, each photodetector having photosensitivity variable in a positive range through a negative range and arranged in a two-dimensional arrangement and a linear photodetector array comprising a plurality of photodetectors each having a fixed conversion efficiency; an optical system provided with a visible radiation absorbing or visible radiation separating means for separating light radiation having wavelengths other than those of visible radiation from the light reflected from the object so that light radiation having wavelengths other than those of visible radiation falls on the photodetector unit; a control signal supply means for supplying a control signal for controlling the photosensitivity of each photodetector of the two-dimensional photodetector array of the photodetector unit; a first signal detecting means for detecting the output signals of the photodetectors on each line or row of the two-dimensional photodetector array of the photodetector unit; a second signal detecting means for detecting the output signals of the photodetectors of the linear photodetector array of the photodetector unit; a control means for controlling the adjustment of the time when the light-emitting unit emits a pulse of light, the time when the control signal supply means supplies a control signal to each photodetector, the time when the first signal detecting means detects the output signals of the photodetectors on each line or row of the two-dimensional photodetector array, and the time when the second signal detecting means detects the output signals of the photodetectors of the linear photodetector array.
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37. An object detector comprising:
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a photodetector unit having a two-dimensional photodetector array comprising a plurality of photodetectors each having photosensitivity variable in a positive range through a negative range and arranged in a two-dimensional arrangement, and lenses formed on the two-dimensional photodetector array; a control voltage circuit that applies a control voltage to the photodetectors on each line of the two-dimensional photodetector array of the photodetector unit; a signal detecting circuit that detects the output signals of the photodetectors on each line of the two-dimensional photodetector array of the photodetector unit; a light-emitting unit that emits light having a predetermined wavelength toward an object; and an optical scanning unit that collimates the light emitted by the light-emitting unit in a light beam and scans a scanning range with the light beam. - View Dependent Claims (38)
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39. An object detecting procedure that uses an object detector having a photodetector unit having a two-dimensional photodetector array comprising a plurality of photodetectors each having photosensitivity variable in a positive range through a negative range and arranged in a two-dimensional arrangement, said object detecting procedure comprising steps of:
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setting each photodetector of the photodetector unit for a photosensitivity; receiving the light reflected from an object by the photodetector unit comprising the photodetectors each having a set photosensitivity; and producing image information about the object on the basis of output signals of the photodetector unit.
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40. An object detecting procedure that uses an object detector having a photodetector unit having a two-dimensional photodetector array comprising a plurality of photodetectors each having photosensitivity variable in a positive range through a negative range and arranged in a two-dimensional arrangement, said object detecting procedure comprising steps of:
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setting each photodetector of the photodetector unit for a photosensitivity; setting a spatial window on the photodetector unit comprising the photodetectors respectively having set photosensitivities so as to contain an image of a desired object; receiving the light reflected from the object by the photodetector unit comprising the photodetectors respectively having the set photosensitivities; and detecting output signals of the photodetectors of the photodetector unit within the set spatial window to obtain image information about the object.
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41. An object detecting procedure for determining the distance to an object and forming an image of the object by using an object detector having a light-emitting unit that emits a near-infrared pulse, and a photodetector unit having a two-dimensional photodetector array comprising a plurality of photodetectors each having photosensitivity variable in a positive range through a negative range and arranged in a two-dimensional arrangement, said object detecting procedure comprising steps of:
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emitting a near-infrared pulse by the light-emitting unit; receiving the reflected near-infrared pulse reflected from the object by the photodetector unit; and determining the coordinates of the object and the time interval between the emission of the near-infrared pulse and the reception of the reflected near-infrared pulse on basis of the output signals of the photodetector unit.
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42. An object detecting procedure for determining the distance to an object and forming an image of the object by using an object detector having a light-emitting unit that emits a near-infrared pulse, and a photodetector unit having a two-dimensional photodetector array comprising a plurality of photodetectors each having photosensitivity variable in a positive range through a negative range and arranged in a two-dimensional arrangement, said object detecting means comprising steps of:
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emitting a near-infrared pulse by the light-emitting unit; receiving the reflected near-infrared pulse reflected from an object by the photodetector unit; determining the coordinates of the object and the time interval between the emission of the near-infrared pulse and the reception of the reflected near-infrared pulse on the basis of output signals of the photodetector unit; setting a spatial window on the photodetector unit so as to contain the image of the object; and obtaining optical image information from the output signals of the photodetectors of the photodetector unit within the spatial window. - View Dependent Claims (45, 49, 50, 55, 56, 57)
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43. An object detecting procedure for determining the distance to an object and forming an image of the object by using an object detector having a light-emitting unit that emits a near-infrared pulse, and a photodetector unit having a two-dimensional photodetector array comprising a plurality of photodetectors each having photosensitivity variable in a positive range through a negative range and arranged in a two-dimensional arrangement, said object detecting procedure comprising steps of:
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emitting a near-infrared pulse by the light-emitting unit; receiving the reflected near-infrared pulse reflected from an object by the photodetector unit; determining the coordinates of the object and the time interval between the emission of the near-infrared pulse and the reception of the reflected near-infrared pulse on the basis of output signals of the photodetector unit; setting a spatial window on the photodetector unit, on the basis of coordinates of the object so as to contain an image of the object; obtaining optical image information from the output signals of the photodetectors of the photodetector unit within the spatial window; and processing the optical image information.
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44. An object detecting procedure for determining the distance to an object and forming an image of the object by using an object detector having a light-emitting unit that emits a near-infrared pulse, and a photodetector unit having a two-dimensional photodetector array comprising a plurality of photodetectors each having photosensitivity variable in a positive range through a negative range and arranged in a two-dimensional arrangement, said object detecting procedure comprising steps of:
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emitting a near-infrared pulse by the light-emitting unit; receiving the reflected near-infrared pulse reflected from an object by the photodetector unit; determining coordinates of the object and the time interval between the emission of the near-infrared pulse and the reception of the reflected near-infrared pulse on the basis of output signals of the photodetector unit; setting a spatial window on the photodetector unit, on the basis of the coordinates of the object so as to contain an image of the object; obtaining optical image information from the output signals of the photodetectors of the photodetector unit within the spatial window; and determining a projection of the image of the object on the basis of the optical image information.
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46. An object detecting procedure for determining the distance to an object and forming an image of the object by using an object detector having a light-emitting unit that emits a near-infrared pulse, and a photodetector unit having a two-dimensional photodetector array comprising a plurality of photodetectors each having photosensitivity variable in a positive range through a negative range and arranged in a two-dimensional arrangement, said object detecting procedure comprising steps of:
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emitting a near-infrared pulse by the light-emitting unit; receiving the reflected near-infrared pulse reflected from the object by the photodetector unit; forming a spatial window on the photodetector unit so as to contain an image of the object; and obtaining optical image information from output signals of the photodetectors of the photodetector unit within the spatial window.
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47. An object detecting procedure for determining the distance to an object and forming an image of the object by using an object detector having a light-emitting unit that emits a near-infrared pulse, and a photodetector unit having a two-dimensional photodetector array comprising a plurality of photodetectors each having photosensitivity variable in a positive range through a negative range and arranged in a two-dimensional arrangement, said object detecting procedure comprising steps of:
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emitting a near-infrared pulse by the light-emitting unit; receiving the reflected near-infrared pulse reflected from the object by the photodetector unit; determining coordinates of the object and a time interval between the emission of the near-infrared pulse and the reception of the reflected near-infrared pulse on the basis of output signals of the photodetector unit; setting a spatial window on the photodetector unit on the basis of the coordinates of the object so as to contain the image of the object; obtaining optical image information from the output signals of the photodetectors of the photodetector unit within the spatial window; and processing the optical image information.
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48. An object detecting procedure for determining the distance to an object and forming an image of the object by using an object detector having a light-emitting unit that emits a near-infrared pulse, and a photodetector unit having a two-dimensional photodetector array comprising a plurality of photodetectors each having photosensitivity variable in a positive range through a negative range and arranged in a two-dimensional arrangement, said object detecting procedure comprising steps of:
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emitting a near-infrared pulse by the light-emitting unit; receiving the reflected near-infrared pulse reflected from the object by the photodetector unit; determining coordinates of the object and a time interval between the emission of the near-infrared pulse and the reception of the reflected near-infrared pulse on the basis of output signals of the photodetector unit; setting a time window on the photodetector unit on the basis of the coordinates of the object so as to contain an image of the object; obtaining optical image information from the output signals of the photodetectors of the photodetector unit within the spatial window; and determining a projection of the image of the object on the basis of the optical image information.
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51. An object detecting procedure for determining the distance to an object and forming an image of the object by using an object detector having a light-emitting unit that emits a near-infrared pulse, and a photodetector unit having a two-dimensional photodetector array comprising a plurality of photodetectors each having photosensitivity variable in a positive range through a negative range and arranged in a two-dimensional arrangement, and a linear photodetector array comprising a plurality of photodetectors each having a fixed conversion efficiency, said object detecting procedure comprising steps of:
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emitting a near-infrared pulse by the light-emitting unit; receiving a reflected near-infrared pulse by the linear photodetector array of the photodetector unit; determining coordinates of the object and the time interval between the emission of the near-infrared pulse and the reception of the reflected near-infrared pulse on the basis of the output signals of the linear photodetector array; setting a time window on the two-dimensional photodetector array of the photodetector unit on the basis of the coordinates of the object so as to contain the image of the object; receiving the light reflected from the object by the two-dimensional photodetector array of the photodetector unit; and obtaining optical image information from output signals of the photodetectors of the two-dimensional photodetector array within the time window.
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52. An object detecting procedure for determining the distance to an object and forming an image of the object by using an object detector having a light-emitting unit that emits a near-infrared pulse, and a photodetector unit having a two-dimensional photodetector array comprising a plurality of photodetectors each having photosensitivity variable in a positive range through a negative range and arranged in a two-dimensional arrangement, and a linear photodetector array comprising a plurality of photodetectors each having a fixed conversion efficiency, said object detecting procedure comprising steps of:
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emitting a near-infrared pulse by the light-emitting unit; receiving the reflected near-infrared pulse reflected from an object by the linear photodetector array; determining coordinates of the object and a time interval between the emission of the near-infrared pulse and the reception of the near-infrared pulse on the basis of output signals of the linear photodetector array; setting a time window on the two-dimensional photodetector array of the photodetector unit on the basis of the coordinates of the object so as to contain the image of the object; receiving the light reflected from the object by the two-dimensional photodetector array; obtaining optical image information from the output signals of the photodetectors of the two-dimensional photodetector array within the time window; and processing the optical image information by a predetermined method. - View Dependent Claims (54)
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53. An object detecting procedure for determining the distance to an object and forming an image of the object by using an object detector having a light-emitting unit that emits a near-infrared pulse, and a photodetector unit having a two-dimensional photodetector array comprising a plurality of photodetectors each having photosensitivity variable in a positive range through a negative range and arranged in a two-dimensional arrangement, and a linear photodetector array comprising a plurality of photodetectors each having a fixed conversion efficiency, said object detecting procedure comprising steps of:
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emitting a near-infrared pulse by the light-emitting unit; receiving the reflected near-infrared pulse reflected from the object by the linear photodetector array of the photodetector unit; determining the coordinates of the object and a time interval between the emission of the near-infrared pulse and the reception of the reflected near-infrared pulse on the basis of output signals of the linear photodetector array; setting a time window on the two-dimensional photodetector array of the photodetector unit on the basis of the coordinates of the object so as to contain the image of the object; receiving the light reflected from the object by the two-dimensional photodetector array; obtaining optical image information from the output signals of the photodetectors of the two-dimensional photodetector array within the time window; and forming a projection of the image of the object on the basis of the optical image information.
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Specification