A range imaging device includes a light source unit that emits light pulses to a measurement space; a light-receiving unit including a photoelectric conversion element that generates charge according to light incident from the space, a pixel circuit including charge storage units in which the charge is integrated in a frame cycle, and a pixel drive circuit that performs switching operation of transfer transistors to distribute the charge to the storage units for integration at integration timing synchronizing with emission of the pulses; and a distance calculation unit that calculates a distance between object in the space and the light-receiving unit based on charge determined by a first charge integrated in each storage unit. The calculation unit calculates the distance by subtracting a second charge from each first charge, the second charge being noise charge as an integrated charge other than the charge distributed and integrated by the switching operation.

A range imaging device includes a light source unit that emits light pulses to a measurement space; a light-receiving unit including a photoelectric conversion element that generates charge according to light incident from the space, a pixel circuit including charge storage units in which the charge is integrated in a frame cycle, and a pixel drive circuit that performs switching operation of transfer transistors to distribute the charge to the storage units for integration at integration timing synchronizing with emission of the pulses; and a distance calculation unit that calculates a distance between object in the space and the light-receiving unit based on charge determined by a first charge integrated in each storage unit. The calculation unit calculates the distance by subtracting a second charge from each first charge, the second charge being noise charge as an integrated charge other than the charge distributed and integrated by the switching operation.

A time-of-flight (ToF) sensor includes a photodetector array and a processing circuit. The photodetector array includes a plurality of photodetectors wherein each photodetector of the photodetector array includes a silicon-based, light-sensitive diode. Each silicon-based, light-sensitive diode includes a photosensitive layer comprising a plurality of quantum dot particles sensitive to a near infrared (NIR) region of an electromagnetic spectrum, wherein the plurality of quantum dot particles converts optical energy into electrical energy to generate an electrical current in response to receiving NIR light having a wavelength in the NIR region. The processing circuit is configured to receive the electrical current and calculate a time-of-flight of the received NIR light based on the electrical current.

A time-of-flight (ToF) sensor includes a photodetector array and a processing circuit. The photodetector array includes a plurality of photodetectors wherein each photodetector of the photodetector array includes a silicon-based, light-sensitive diode. Each silicon-based, light-sensitive diode includes a photosensitive layer comprising a plurality of quantum dot particles sensitive to a near infrared (NIR) region of an electromagnetic spectrum, wherein the plurality of quantum dot particles converts optical energy into electrical energy to generate an electrical current in response to receiving NIR light having a wavelength in the NIR region. The processing circuit is configured to receive the electrical current and calculate a time-of-flight of the received NIR light based on the electrical current.

Infrared (IR) photodetecting systems and methods. A system may comprise at least one photosite having a Ge photosensitive area (GPSA) that includes an absorber doped area having a first polarity and a Si layer comprising a first doped area (FDA), a storage well (SW), a floating diffusion (FD) and a transfer gate (TG); a controllable power source (CPS); and a controller, operable to control the CPS and the TG, to concurrently provide at a first time controlled voltages to the GPSA, FDA and FD, thereby forcing charge carriers of a given polarity (CCGP) from the GPSA toward the SW and to provide at another time other voltages to the GPSA, FDA and FD, thereby diminishing the forcing of the CCGP toward the SW and ceasing collection of signals by the SW, and to intermittently transfer the CCGP from the SW via the TG to the FD, where the CCSP are read via an electrode coupled to the FD.

Infrared (IR) photodetecting systems and methods. A system may comprise at least one photosite having a Ge photosensitive area (GPSA) that includes an absorber doped area having a first polarity and a Si layer comprising a first doped area (FDA), a storage well (SW), a floating diffusion (FD) and a transfer gate (TG); a controllable power source (CPS); and a controller, operable to control the CPS and the TG, to concurrently provide at a first time controlled voltages to the GPSA, FDA and FD, thereby forcing charge carriers of a given polarity (CCGP) from the GPSA toward the SW and to provide at another time other voltages to the GPSA, FDA and FD, thereby diminishing the forcing of the CCGP toward the SW and ceasing collection of signals by the SW, and to intermittently transfer the CCGP from the SW via the TG to the FD, where the CCSP are read via an electrode coupled to the FD.

A compact perception device for an autonomous driving system is disclosed. The compact perception device includes a lens configured to collect both visible light and near infrared (NIR) light to obtain collected light including collected visible light and collected NIR light. The device further includes a first optical reflector optically coupled to the lens. The first optical reflector is configured to reflect one of the collected visible light or the collected NIR light, and pass the collected light that is not reflected by the first optical reflector. The device further includes an image sensor configured to detect the collected visible light directed by the first optical reflector to form image data; and a depth sensor configured to detect the collected NIR light directed by the first optical reflector to form depth data.

A compact perception device for an autonomous driving system is disclosed. The compact perception device includes a lens configured to collect both visible light and near infrared (NIR) light to obtain collected light including collected visible light and collected NIR light. The device further includes a first optical reflector optically coupled to the lens. The first optical reflector is configured to reflect one of the collected visible light or the collected NIR light, and pass the collected light that is not reflected by the first optical reflector. The device further includes an image sensor configured to detect the collected visible light directed by the first optical reflector to form image data; and a depth sensor configured to detect the collected NIR light directed by the first optical reflector to form depth data.

A generator of phases of a detector integrates at least one elementary machine for interpreting a microcode stored in a register. Each elementary machine includes at least one control input having a logic level change detector. Each elementary machine also includes at least one phase output having a controlled switch, enabling to define the logic level of the phase output, and a controlled inverter enabling to toggle the logic level of the phase output. Further, each elementary machine includes at least one clock signal associated with a counter, and a unit for loading the instructions and the arguments stored in the register, the instructions being coded over 3 bits.

A generator of phases of a detector integrates at least one elementary machine for interpreting a microcode stored in a register. Each elementary machine includes at least one control input having a logic level change detector. Each elementary machine also includes at least one phase output having a controlled switch, enabling to define the logic level of the phase output, and a controlled inverter enabling to toggle the logic level of the phase output. Further, each elementary machine includes at least one clock signal associated with a counter, and a unit for loading the instructions and the arguments stored in the register, the instructions being coded over 3 bits.