A multi-line Lidar is provided. The multi-line Lidar includes: a multi-line ranging laser emission module comprising one or more lasers; a multi-line ranging laser reception module comprising one or more photodetectors and adapted to detect a laser echo generated when a measurement laser emitted by the laser emission module is incident to an obstacle and is diffusedly reflected; a ranging information resolution module in electrical signal connection with the multi-line ranging laser emission module and the multi-line ranging laser reception module, and designed to calculate the distance, in each direction, to the obstacle by means of calculating the time difference between the emission of the measurement laser and the receiving of the laser echo; and a control circuit and an optical system correspondingly configured for the multi-line ranging laser emission module and the multi-line ranging laser reception module.

[Problem] The present disclosure proposes a technology that makes it possible to further reduce the influence of an error arising from a resolution of processing relating to measurement of the distance. [Solving Means] A sensor chip is provided which includes a light reception section configured to receive light projected from a light source and reflected by an imaging target to detect, for each given detection period, a reception light amount of the reflected light within the given period, a measurement section configured to measure a distance to the imaging object based on the reception light amount, and a control section configured to apply at least one of a first delay amount or a second delay amount, whose resolutions relating to control are different from each other, to control of a first timing at which the light reception section is to detect the reception light amount thereby to control a relative time difference between the first timing and a second timing at which the light source is to project light with a resolution finer than the resolutions of the first delay amount and the second delay amount in response to the first delay amount and the second delay amount.

[Problem] The present disclosure proposes a technology that makes it possible to further reduce the influence of an error arising from a resolution of processing relating to measurement of the distance. [Solving Means] A sensor chip is provided which includes a light reception section configured to receive light projected from a light source and reflected by an imaging target to detect, for each given detection period, a reception light amount of the reflected light within the given period, a measurement section configured to measure a distance to the imaging object based on the reception light amount, and a control section configured to apply at least one of a first delay amount or a second delay amount, whose resolutions relating to control are different from each other, to control of a first timing at which the light reception section is to detect the reception light amount thereby to control a relative time difference between the first timing and a second timing at which the light source is to project light with a resolution finer than the resolutions of the first delay amount and the second delay amount in response to the first delay amount and the second delay amount.

To provide a signal generation apparatus that is used in a ToF camera system especially adopting an indirect system and can suppress occurrence of erroneous distance measurement caused by distance measurement of a same target by a plurality of cameras with a simple configuration. There is provided a signal generation apparatus including a first pulse generator configured to generate a pulse to be supplied to a light source that irradiates light upon a distance measurement target, a second pulse generator configured to generate a pulse to be supplied to a pixel that receives the light reflected by the distance measurement target, and a signal generation section configured to generate a pseudo-random signal for inverting a phase of signals to be generated by the first pulse generator and the second pulse generator.

To provide a signal generation apparatus that is used in a ToF camera system especially adopting an indirect system and can suppress occurrence of erroneous distance measurement caused by distance measurement of a same target by a plurality of cameras with a simple configuration. There is provided a signal generation apparatus including a first pulse generator configured to generate a pulse to be supplied to a light source that irradiates light upon a distance measurement target, a second pulse generator configured to generate a pulse to be supplied to a pixel that receives the light reflected by the distance measurement target, and a signal generation section configured to generate a pseudo-random signal for inverting a phase of signals to be generated by the first pulse generator and the second pulse generator.

Systems and methods described herein relate to LIDAR systems and their operation. An example method includes partitioning a plurality of light-emitter devices into a plurality of groups. Each light-emitter device is associated with a given group of the plurality of groups. The method also includes selecting a group from the plurality of groups according to a predetermined group order and selecting one or more light-emitter devices from the plurality of light-emitter devices of the selected group according to a firing order. The method yet further includes, at a predetermined shot dither time, causing the selected light-emitter device to emit at least one light pulse. The predetermined shot dither time is based on a shot dither schedule. The method may additionally include repeating the method to provide a complete scan in which each light-emitter device of the plurality of light-emitter devices has emitted at least one light pulse.

Systems and methods described herein relate to LIDAR systems and their operation. An example method includes partitioning a plurality of light-emitter devices into a plurality of groups. Each light-emitter device is associated with a given group of the plurality of groups. The method also includes selecting a group from the plurality of groups according to a predetermined group order and selecting one or more light-emitter devices from the plurality of light-emitter devices of the selected group according to a firing order. The method yet further includes, at a predetermined shot dither time, causing the selected light-emitter device to emit at least one light pulse. The predetermined shot dither time is based on a shot dither schedule. The method may additionally include repeating the method to provide a complete scan in which each light-emitter device of the plurality of light-emitter devices has emitted at least one light pulse.

A pixel circuit includes a photodiode in semiconductor material to accumulate image charge in response to incident light. A tri-gate charge transfer block coupled includes a single shared channel region the semiconductor material. A transfer gate, shutter gate, and switch gate are disposed proximate to the single shared channel region. The transfer gate transfers image charge accumulated in the photodiode to the single shared channel region in response to a transfer signal. The shutter gate transfers the image charge in the single shared channel region to a floating diffusion in the semiconductor material in response to a shutter signal. The switch gate is configured to couple the single shared channel region to a charge storage structure in the semiconductor material in response to a switch signal.

A pixel circuit includes a photodiode in semiconductor material to accumulate image charge in response to incident light. A tri-gate charge transfer block coupled includes a single shared channel region the semiconductor material. A transfer gate, shutter gate, and switch gate are disposed proximate to the single shared channel region. The transfer gate transfers image charge accumulated in the photodiode to the single shared channel region in response to a transfer signal. The shutter gate transfers the image charge in the single shared channel region to a floating diffusion in the semiconductor material in response to a shutter signal. The switch gate is configured to couple the single shared channel region to a charge storage structure in the semiconductor material in response to a switch signal.

Techniques are described for time-of-fly sensors with hybrid refractive gradient-index optics. Some embodiments are for integration into portable electronic devices with cameras, such as smart phones. For example, a time-of-fly (TOF) imaging subsystem can receive optical information along an optical path at an imaging plane. A hybrid lens can be coupled with the TOF imaging subsystem and disposed in the optical path so that the imaging plane is substantially at a focal plane of the hybrid lens. The hybrid lens can include a less-than-quarter-pitch gradient index (GRIN) lens portion, and a refractive lens portion with a convex optical interface. The portions of the hybrid lens, together, produce a combined focal length that defines the focal plane. The hybrid lens is designed so that the combined focal length is less than a quarter-pitch focal length of the GRIN lens portion and has less spherical aberration than either lens portion.