Distance detection device and method including dynamically adjusted frame rate

Abstract

A device including an emitter that transmits light in a series of frames, wherein each frame in the series includes at least one pulse. The device includes a receiver that receives, for each frame in the series, the at least one pulse reflected from a target, and generates, in response to receiving the at least one pulse in a current frame, an output for calculating a distance between the target and the device for the current frame. The device includes circuitry that calculates, for each frame in the series, the distance between the target and the device based on the receiver output. The circuitry dynamically controls a frame rate for each frame in the series based on the distance calculated in a frame immediately preceding the current frame, and controls the emitter such that the at least one pulse is emitted in the current frame at the calculated frame rate.

Description

BACKGROUND[0001]1. Technical Field[0002]The present disclosure relates to time-of-flight (TOF) distance measurement devices and methods.[0003]2. Description of Related Art[0004]The “background” description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventor, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description which may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.[0005]As one type of distance detection technology, there exists a TOF system including a three-dimensional distance sensor that measures the flight time of light emitted from a light-emitting device and reflected from a target to a light-receiving device. The distance of the target relative to the emitter / receiver may be calculated based on the time of flight and known properties related to the speed of li...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent text is discussing the importance of the quantity of light emitted from a device in determining its distance to an object usingTOF techniques. The text emphasizes that in some applications, such as mobile terminals, reducing the size and power consumption of the device is more important than optimizing the number and size of the light-emitting elements. This can result in poor accuracy at long ranges. The technical effect of the patent is to improve the accuracy of distance detection in mobile terminals while reducing the size and power consumption of the device.

Problems solved by technology

However, in implementations such as mobile terminals (e.g., smartphones, tablets, etc.) in which size reduction and power efficiency are important practical and operational concerns, the aforementioned optimization of light-emitting elements can prove difficult.

As a result, distance detection accuracy can worsen at long ranges in such implementations.

Images