A solid-state image sensor including a photoelectric conversion region partitioned by trenches, a first semiconductor region surrounding the photoelectric conversion region, a first contact in contact with the first semiconductor region at a bottom portion of the trench, a first electrode in contact with the first contact in the first trench, a second semiconductor region in contact with the first semiconductor region having the same conductive type as the first semiconductor region, a third semiconductor region in contact with the second semiconductor region, between the second semiconductor region and a first surface, and having a second conductive type, a second contact on the first surface in contact with the third semiconductor region, and a second electrode in contact with the second contact, and a second surface at which the first contact and the first electrode are in contact with each other is inclined with respect to the first surface.

Various technologies described herein pertain to a fused camera and lidar system for an autonomous vehicle. The fused camera and lidar system includes a fused receiver. The fused receiver includes optics configured to receive a received electromagnetic signal from an environment nearby the fused camera and lidar system. The fused receiver further includes a beam splitter configured to split the received electromagnetic signal into a first split electromagnetic signal (including wavelengths in a visible spectrum) and a second split electromagnetic signal (including wavelengths in an infrared spectrum). The fused receiver also includes a camera pipeline and a lidar pipeline. The camera pipeline can generate image data based on the first split electromagnetic signal, and the lidar pipeline can generate lidar data based on the second split electromagnetic signal.

Various technologies described herein pertain to a fused camera and lidar system for an autonomous vehicle. The fused camera and lidar system includes a fused receiver. The fused receiver includes optics configured to receive a received electromagnetic signal from an environment nearby the fused camera and lidar system. The fused receiver further includes a beam splitter configured to split the received electromagnetic signal into a first split electromagnetic signal (including wavelengths in a visible spectrum) and a second split electromagnetic signal (including wavelengths in an infrared spectrum). The fused receiver also includes a camera pipeline and a lidar pipeline. The camera pipeline can generate image data based on the first split electromagnetic signal, and the lidar pipeline can generate lidar data based on the second split electromagnetic signal.

A distance measuring device includes a light emission portion configured to emit light; a light receiving portion configured to receive measurement light that is emitted by the light emission portion and reflected by the measurement object, the light receiving portion comprising a plurality of pixels configured to output light reception signals that depend on the received measurement light; a plurality of determination portions configured to receive the light reception signals and to determine characteristic values from the received light reception signals, and an evaluation portion that is connected to the plurality of determination portions, the evaluation portion being configured to calculate a distance from the characteristic values determined by the determination portions. Each of the plurality of determination portions is configured to receive the light reception signals only from a plurality of non-adjacent pixels.

A distance measuring device includes a light emission portion configured to emit light; a light receiving portion configured to receive measurement light that is emitted by the light emission portion and reflected by the measurement object, the light receiving portion comprising a plurality of pixels configured to output light reception signals that depend on the received measurement light; a plurality of determination portions configured to receive the light reception signals and to determine characteristic values from the received light reception signals, and an evaluation portion that is connected to the plurality of determination portions, the evaluation portion being configured to calculate a distance from the characteristic values determined by the determination portions. Each of the plurality of determination portions is configured to receive the light reception signals only from a plurality of non-adjacent pixels.

A three-dimensional image element and an optical radar device that have low cost and are capable of detecting a distance to a measurement object at a close distance before a final result of counting the number of pulses is acquired are realized. A pixel storage element has a plurality of binary counters that integrate the number of electrical pulses at mutually different timings and the reading of data by a signal processing circuit and the integration are able to be performed in parallel.

A light receiving device includes a light receiver including pixels and a light receiving area. The pixels are arranged in an array in a first direction and in a second direction intersecting with the first direction and each of the pixels has one light receiving element or more. The light receiving area has continuous pixels out of the pixels, outputs signals based on intensities of light received in the continuous pixels, and is changed in position in the light receiver according to a signal indicating a position in the first direction and a position in the second direction.

A light receiving device includes a light receiver including pixels and a light receiving area. The pixels are arranged in an array in a first direction and in a second direction intersecting with the first direction and each of the pixels has one light receiving element or more. The light receiving area has continuous pixels out of the pixels, outputs signals based on intensities of light received in the continuous pixels, and is changed in position in the light receiver according to a signal indicating a position in the first direction and a position in the second direction.

The present invention relates to a photodetector array for capturing image data, comprising: photodetector cells arranged on a substrate, each including a single-photon avalanche diode, wherein the active areas of the photodetector cells are neighbored along a hexagonal grid; microlenses, having a hexagonal or circular shape, each arranged on one photodetector cell to focus light onto the photodiode.

The present invention relates to a photodetector array for capturing image data, comprising: photodetector cells arranged on a substrate, each including a single-photon avalanche diode, wherein the active areas of the photodetector cells are neighbored along a hexagonal grid; microlenses, having a hexagonal or circular shape, each arranged on one photodetector cell to focus light onto the photodiode.