A signal processing device according to the present technology includes a multistage-branching-wired-line unit that supplies the same signal to a plurality of target elements via multistage-branched wired lines, and a logic circuit arranged at each of stages of the multistage-branching-wired-line unit, in which the wired lines in at least a certain space between the stages in the multistage-branching-wired-line unit cross each other.

An image sensor, employed in a time-of-flight (TOF) sensing system, includes a pixel array including a plurality of pixels arranged in plural rows and plural columns, each pixel generating an amount of charge in response to an incident light, and first driving circuitry configured to supply a driving control signal to each pixel via the plural columns. The first driving circuitry is configured to supply the driving control signal via one of odd and even columns.

An image sensor, employed in a time-of-flight (TOF) sensing system, includes a pixel array including a plurality of pixels arranged in plural rows and plural columns, each pixel generating an amount of charge in response to an incident light, and first driving circuitry configured to supply a driving control signal to each pixel via the plural columns. The first driving circuitry is configured to supply the driving control signal via one of odd and even columns.

In a solid-state imaging element that measures a distance, a circuit scale is reduced. The solid-state imaging element includes a pulse signal generation section and an up-down counter. The pulse signal generation section is provided with an avalanche photodiode that converts incident light including reflected light of irradiation light radiated during a predetermined light-on period into a photocurrent and multiplies the photocurrent and a quench circuit that generates a pulse signal on the basis of the multiplied photocurrent. The up-down counter performs one of up counting and down counting each time the pulse signal is generated during the light-on period, and performs another of the up counting and the down counting each time the pulse signal is generated during a light-off period that does not correspond to the light-on period.

In a solid-state imaging element that measures a distance, a circuit scale is reduced. The solid-state imaging element includes a pulse signal generation section and an up-down counter. The pulse signal generation section is provided with an avalanche photodiode that converts incident light including reflected light of irradiation light radiated during a predetermined light-on period into a photocurrent and multiplies the photocurrent and a quench circuit that generates a pulse signal on the basis of the multiplied photocurrent. The up-down counter performs one of up counting and down counting each time the pulse signal is generated during the light-on period, and performs another of the up counting and the down counting each time the pulse signal is generated during a light-off period that does not correspond to the light-on period.

There is provided a photodetection circuit capable of improving distance measuring performance.

The photodetection circuit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: an avalanche photodiode; a charging circuit that supplies a voltage to the avalanche photodiode; an input amplifier including a comparison circuit in which a voltage level of an output terminal changes according to a comparison result between a voltage of an input terminal connected to the avalanche photodiode and a reference voltage, and a voltage control circuit that changes a potential of the reference voltage; and a state detecting circuit that sets timing for causing the voltage control circuit to change the potential of the reference voltage on the basis of a detection result of the voltage level.

Disclosed herein is a method of optical pulse emission including three phases. During a first phase, a capacitor is charged from a supply voltage node. During a second phase, a voltage stored on the capacitor is boosted, and then the capacitor is at least partially discharged through a light emitting device. During a third phase, the capacitor is further discharged by bypassing the light emitting device. The third phase may begin prior to an end of the second phase.

A laser-scanner for a LIDAR system scanning in a scanning direction, having a laser-source to emit a plurality of individual light-beams into a plurality of angular-ranges which are situated next to one another transversely to the scanning-direction. A receiver-optics of the laser-scanner is configured to concentrate reflected portions of the emitted-light-beams on exposure-regions of a sensor-plane of the laser-scanner that are situated next to one another transversely to the scanning-direction. A plurality of sensor-pixels of the laser-scanner are situated next to one another in the sensor-plane transversely to the scanning-direction. The sensor pixels are situated at an offset vis-a-vis the exposure-regions transversely to the scanning-direction. A control-electronics of the laser-scanner is configured to actuate the laser-source so that a plurality of light-beams is emitted in a time-staggered manner such that no more than the reflected portion of one of the light-beams impinges upon a sensor-pixel at the same time.

A distance image generating device includes a light emitter that emits light pulses; a light receiver that includes light receiving elements and receives reflected light; a distance calculator that generates a distance image based on an amount of the reflected light; and a light amount adjuster that determines an emission count in accordance with which the light emitter is to emit the light pulses and an exposure count in accordance with which the light receiver is to receive the reflected light based on the distance image and causes the light emitter to emit the light pulses in accordance with the determined emission count and the light receiver to receive the reflected light in accordance with the determined exposure count. The distance calculator calculates the distance based on an amount of the reflected light received at the exposure count by the light receiver.

A distance image generating device includes a light emitter that emits light pulses; a light receiver that includes light receiving elements and receives reflected light; a distance calculator that generates a distance image based on an amount of the reflected light; and a light amount adjuster that determines an emission count in accordance with which the light emitter is to emit the light pulses and an exposure count in accordance with which the light receiver is to receive the reflected light based on the distance image and causes the light emitter to emit the light pulses in accordance with the determined emission count and the light receiver to receive the reflected light in accordance with the determined exposure count. The distance calculator calculates the distance based on an amount of the reflected light received at the exposure count by the light receiver.