A method for providing a detection-signal for objects to be detected—at least a first and second light-beam including different frequencies being generated with a first optical non-linear 3-wave-process from a light-beam of a light-source including an output-frequency, and the first light-beam including a reference-frequency being detected, and the second light-beam including an object-frequency being emitted and received after reflection on an object, and the light-beam including the output-frequency and the second light-beam including the object-frequency being superposed, and a reference-beam including a reference-frequency being generated with a second optical non-linear 3-wave-process from the two superposed light-beams including the output-frequency and including the object-frequency, and a detection-signal being generated so that the object-distance is determinable due to the aforementioned superposition based on the time-difference between the detection of the first light-beam including the reference-frequency and a detection of a change of the reference-beam including the reference-frequency.

Methods and systems for performing three dimensional LIDAR measurements with an integrated LIDAR measurement device are described herein. In one aspect, a return signal receiver generates a pulse trigger signal that triggers the generation of a pulse of illumination light and data acquisition of a return signal, and also triggers the time of flight calculation by time to digital conversion. In addition, the return signal receiver also estimates the width and peak amplitude of each return pulse, and samples each return pulse waveform individually over a sampling window that includes the peak amplitude of each return pulse waveform. In a further aspect, the time of flight associated with each return pulse is estimated based on a coarse timing estimate and a fine timing estimate. In another aspect, the time of flight is measured from the measured pulse due to internal optical crosstalk and a valid return pulse.

Methods and systems for performing three dimensional LIDAR measurements with an integrated LIDAR measurement device are described herein. In one aspect, a return signal receiver generates a pulse trigger signal that triggers the generation of a pulse of illumination light and data acquisition of a return signal, and also triggers the time of flight calculation by time to digital conversion. In addition, the return signal receiver also estimates the width and peak amplitude of each return pulse, and samples each return pulse waveform individually over a sampling window that includes the peak amplitude of each return pulse waveform. In a further aspect, the time of flight associated with each return pulse is estimated based on a coarse timing estimate and a fine timing estimate. In another aspect, the time of flight is measured from the measured pulse due to internal optical crosstalk and a valid return pulse.

A time-resolving sensor includes a single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD), a logic circuit and differential time-to-charge converter (DTCC) circuit. The SPAD is responsive to a shutter signal to generate an output signal based on detecting an incident photon. The logic circuit generates first and second enable signals. The DTCC includes a capacitor device, first and second switching devices, and an output circuit. The first switching device is responsive to the first enable signal to transfer a charge on the capacitor device to the first floating diffusion. The second switching device is responsive to the second enable signal to transfer a remaining charge on the capacitor device to the second floating diffusion. The output circuit outputs a first voltage that is based on the first charge on the first floating diffusion and a second voltage that is based on the second charge on the second floating diffusion.

A time-resolving sensor includes a single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD), a logic circuit and differential time-to-charge converter (DTCC) circuit. The SPAD is responsive to a shutter signal to generate an output signal based on detecting an incident photon. The logic circuit generates first and second enable signals. The DTCC includes a capacitor device, first and second switching devices, and an output circuit. The first switching device is responsive to the first enable signal to transfer a charge on the capacitor device to the first floating diffusion. The second switching device is responsive to the second enable signal to transfer a remaining charge on the capacitor device to the second floating diffusion. The output circuit outputs a first voltage that is based on the first charge on the first floating diffusion and a second voltage that is based on the second charge on the second floating diffusion.

A photodetector includes a plurality of channels each having a plurality of SPAD units, each SPAD unit having an avalanche photodiode. The photodetector is capable of selecting outputting or non-outputting of the channels. The SPAD unit includes: an active quenching circuit which performs active quenching of the avalanche photodiode; and a control circuit which brings the active quenching circuit which corresponds to the channel where non-outputting is selected into an operable state.

A photodetector includes a plurality of channels each having a plurality of SPAD units, each SPAD unit having an avalanche photodiode. The photodetector is capable of selecting outputting or non-outputting of the channels. The SPAD unit includes: an active quenching circuit which performs active quenching of the avalanche photodiode; and a control circuit which brings the active quenching circuit which corresponds to the channel where non-outputting is selected into an operable state.

The present disclosure generally pertains to time-of-flight imaging circuitry configured to: control a set of readout channels for an imaging element for obtaining a set of events representing a set of light pulses captured in the imaging element, wherein the controlling includes: a first detection of the set of events in a first readout channel of the set of readout channels; and a second detection in a second readout channel, wherein the second detection starts a predetermined time after a start of the first detection for detecting a subset of the events.

A sensing system comprising an emitter configured to emit electromagnetic radiation, a detector configured to detect electromagnetic radiation and an electronic component configured to interact with a circuitry of the sensing system. The electronic component is located at least partially between the emitter and the detector. The electronic component reduces an amount of electromagnetic radiation propagating from the emitter to the detector. The electronic component advantageously reduces the unwanted detection of electromagnetic radiation that would otherwise propagate directly from the emitter to the detector without leaving the sensing system, thereby reducing a measurement noise and improving an accuracy of the sensing system. The sensing system may form part of a time-of-flight sensing system or a proximity sensing system. The sensing system may form part of an electronic device such as a mobile phone.

A sensing system comprising an emitter configured to emit electromagnetic radiation, a detector configured to detect electromagnetic radiation and an electronic component configured to interact with a circuitry of the sensing system. The electronic component is located at least partially between the emitter and the detector. The electronic component reduces an amount of electromagnetic radiation propagating from the emitter to the detector. The electronic component advantageously reduces the unwanted detection of electromagnetic radiation that would otherwise propagate directly from the emitter to the detector without leaving the sensing system, thereby reducing a measurement noise and improving an accuracy of the sensing system. The sensing system may form part of a time-of-flight sensing system or a proximity sensing system. The sensing system may form part of an electronic device such as a mobile phone.