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System architecture design for time-of-flight system having reduced differential pixel size, and time-of-flight systems so designed

  • US 9,052,382 B2
  • Filed: 10/18/2013
  • Issued: 06/09/2015
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2008
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for determining depth information associated with an object, comprising:

  • detecting light reflected from the object during a first operating regime using a pixel array, the pixel array includes one or more photodetectors in electrical communication with an integration capacitor, the integration capacitor is associated with a first direction of integration during the first operation regime;

    sampling a first set of intermediate values associated with the integration capacitor and transferring the first set of intermediate values to digital circuitry located outside the pixel array during the first operating regime;

    detecting light reflected from the object during a second operating regime subsequent to the first operating regime using the pixel array, the integration capacitor is associated with a second direction of integration different from the first direction of integration during the second operation regime;

    sampling a second set of intermediate values associated with the integration capacitor and transferring the second set of intermediate values to the digital circuitry located outside the pixel array during the second operating regime;

    determining the depth information associated the object based on the first set of intermediate values and the second set of intermediate values using the digital circuitry located outside the pixel array, the integration capacitor is not reset during or between the first operating regime and the second operating regime; and

    outputting the depth information associated the object from the digital circuitry.

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