公开(公告)号：US20220390575A1

公开(公告)日：2022-12-08

申请号：US17828236

申请日：2022-05-31

Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG

Inventor： Armin Josef SCHOENLIEB ,  Hannes PLANK

IPC: G01S7/4861 ,  G01S17/89 ,  G01S7/4865

Abstract: A method for determining an intensity value representing an intensity of light reflected from an object in a scene is provided. The method includes performing a Time-of-Flight (ToF) measurement of the scene using a ToF sensor. A light-intensity-independent correlation function of a photo-sensitive pixel of the ToF sensor exhibits a plateau in a target measure-ment range for the ToF measurement. The object is located within the target measurement range. The method further includes determining the intensity value based on an output of the photo-sensitive pixel for the ToF measurement.

公开(公告)号：US20230082977A1

公开(公告)日：2023-03-16

申请号：US17823645

申请日：2022-08-31

Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG

Inventor： Hannes PLANK

IPC: G01S7/4865 ,  G01S17/26 ,  G01S17/89 ,  G01S7/487

Abstract: A method for Time-of-Flight (ToF) sensing of a scene is provided. The method includes performing, by a ToF sensor including at least one photo-sensitive sensor pixel, a plurality of first ToF measurements using a first modulation frequency in order to obtain first measurement values. A respective correlation function of each of the plurality of first ToF measurements is periodic and exhibits an increasing amplitude over distance within a measurement range of the ToF sensor. The method further includes determining a distance to an object in the scene based on the first measurement values. Performing the plurality of first ToF measurements includes for at least one of the plurality of first ToF measurements controlling the photo-sensitive sensor pixel to selectively store, in at least two charge storages of the photo-sensitive sensor pixel, part of charge carriers generated in the photo-sensitive sensor pixel during the at least one of the plurality of first ToF measurements by incident light. In addition, performing the plurality of first ToF measurements includes for the at least one of the plurality of first ToF measurements controlling the photo-sensitive sensor pixel to selectively prevent another part of the charge carriers generated during the at least one of the plurality of first ToF measurements from reaching the at least two charge storages.

公开(公告)号：US20230143446A1

公开(公告)日：2023-05-11

申请号：US18053580

申请日：2022-11-08

Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG

Inventor： Armin Josef SCHÖNLIEB-STALZER ,  Sebastian HANDEL ,  Hannes PLANK

IPC: G06V10/60 ,  G06T7/13 ,  G06V10/141 ,  G06V10/74 ,  G06V10/764 ,  G02B5/30

CPC classification number: G06V10/60 ,  G02B5/3025 ,  G06T7/13 ,  G06V10/141 ,  G06V10/761 ,  G06V10/764 ,  G06T2207/30252

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a specular surface in a scene is provided. The apparatus includes an illumination device configured to emit polarized light towards the scene. The apparatus further includes an imaging system configured to capture a first image of the scene based on light emanating from the scene. The light emanating from the scene includes one or more reflection of the emitted polarized light. The imaging system is further configured to capture a second image of the scene based on filtered light. The apparatus further includes a polarization filter configured to generate the filtered light by filtering the light emanating from the scene. The apparatus further includes processing circuitry configured to determine presence of the specular surface in the scene based on a comparison of the first image and the second image.

公开(公告)号：US20230071101A1

公开(公告)日：2023-03-09

申请号：US17822314

申请日：2022-08-25

Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG

Inventor： Armin Josef SCHOENLIEB ,  Caterina NAHLER ,  Hannes PLANK

IPC: G06V10/60 ,  G06V10/141 ,  G01S17/894

Abstract: An apparatus for sensing a scene is provided. The apparatus includes an illumination element configured to illuminate the scene with modulated light. Additionally, the apparatus includes an optical sensor configured to receive reflected light from the scene. The optical sensor includes at least one photo-sensitive sensor pixel configured to store charge carriers generated in the photo-sensitive sensor pixel by the reflected light in at least one charge storage of the photo-sensitive sensor pixel during a measurement. The at least one photo-sensitive sensor pixel is further configured to selectively prevent the charge carriers from reaching the at least one charge storage during the measurement to strictly monotonically increase a sensitivity of the at least one photo-sensitive sensor pixel over distance for reflected light originating within a measurement range of the optical sensor.

公开(公告)号：US20230082039A1

公开(公告)日：2023-03-16

申请号：US17823665

申请日：2022-08-31

Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG

Inventor： Wolfgang SCHICKBICHLER ,  Robert LOBNIK ,  Hannes PLANK

IPC: G01S7/4865 ,  G01S7/481 ,  G01S17/10

Abstract: A Time-of-Flight (ToF) sensor includes a plurality of photo-sensitive sensor pixels each including at least two charge storages and a drain terminal. Further, the ToF sensor includes a common charge storage coupled to drain terminals of the plurality of photo-sensitive sensor pixels. For a TOF measurement, the plurality of photo-sensitive sensor pixels are configured to, via the drain terminals, drain part of charge carriers generated during the ToF measurement by incident light caused by one or more objects outside a target measurement range of the ToF sensor. Further, for the ToF measurement, the plurality of photo-sensitive sensor pixels are configured to selectively store another part of the charge carriers in the at least two charge storages of each of the plurality of photo-sensitive sensor pixels. The common charge storage accumulates electrical energy conveyed by currents output by the drain terminals and outputs first data indicative of the accumulated electrical energy.

公开(公告)号：US20180259628A1

公开(公告)日：2018-09-13

申请号：US15909163

申请日：2018-03-01

Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG

Inventor： Hannes PLANK ,  Norbert DRUML ,  Armin SCHOENLIEB

IPC: G01S7/486 ,  G01S17/89

CPC classification number: G01S7/4865 ,  G01S7/4863 ,  G01S7/497 ,  G01S17/36 ,  G01S17/89

Abstract: A time of flight imaging apparatus includes a plurality of sensor pixels configured to receive an external light signal modulated with an external modulation frequency. The time of flight imaging apparatus further includes pixel circuitry configured to generate a sensor pixels output signal based on the external light signal and a reference signal having a reference frequency. The sensor pixels output signal has a frequency depending on a difference between the external modulation frequency and the reference frequency. The time of flight imaging apparatus further includes synchronization circuitry configured to adjust the reference frequency of the reference signal based on the sensor pixels output signal.