Control device and operating method thereof

Abstract

The invention discloses a control device and an operation method thereof. The control device is suitable for a light sensor. The control device comprises a storage unit and a control unit. The storage unit records the count value of the photon triggering times of the corresponding light sensor. The control unit is coupled to the storage unit. The control unit reads the count value, obtains a modulation proportion corresponding to the count range according to the count range corresponding to the count value, generates a control signal corresponding to the modulation proportion according to the modulation proportion, and transmits the control signal to the light sensor to control the operation of the light sensor.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a control device, and more particularly to a control device suitable for a photosensor and an operation method thereof. Background Art

[0002] Generally, a photosensor (such as a single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) sensor) can be used to sense the distance of an object. When light irradiates into the photosensor and triggers the photosensor, an avalanche effect occurs in the sensor, causing the output signal of the photosensor to flip, and the photosensor counts the number of times the corresponding signal flips to generate a corresponding count value. However, due to the uncontrollability of ambient light, the photosensor will encounter high-frequency avalanche breakdowns, resulting in an increase in the power consumption and storage requirements of the photosensor, thereby reducing the convenience of use.

[0003] Therefore, how to effectively reduce the power consumption and storage requirements of the photosensor is an important issue at present. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention provides a control device and an operation method thereof, so as to effectively reduce the power consumption and storage requirements of the photosensor and increase the convenience of use.

[0005] The present invention provides a control device suitable for a photosensor. The control device includes a storage unit and a control unit. The storage unit records a count value corresponding to the number of photon triggers of the photosensor. The control unit is coupled to the storage unit. The control unit reads the count value, obtains a modulation ratio corresponding to the count range according to the count range corresponding to the count value, generates a control signal corresponding to the modulation ratio according to the modulation ratio, and transmits the control signal to the photosensor to control the operation of the photosensor.

[0006] The present invention provides an operation method of a control device suitable for a photosensor. The operation method of the control device includes the following steps. Record a count value corresponding to the number of photon triggers of the photosensor through the storage unit. Read the count value through the control unit. Obtain a modulation ratio corresponding to the count range according to the count range corresponding to the count value through the control unit, and generate a control signal corresponding to the modulation ratio according to the modulation ratio. Transmit the control signal to the photosensor to control the operation of the photosensor.

[0007] The control device and its operation method disclosed by the present invention read, through a control unit, a count value corresponding to the number of photon triggers of a photosensor from a storage unit, obtain a modulation ratio corresponding to the count range according to the count range corresponding to the count value, generate a control signal corresponding to the modulation ratio according to the modulation ratio, and transmit the control signal to the photosensor to control the operation of the photosensor. In this way, the power consumption and storage requirements of the photosensor can be effectively reduced, and the convenience in use can be increased. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] Figure 1 FIG. is a schematic diagram of a control device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0009] Figure 2 FIG. is a schematic diagram of a control unit according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0010] Figure 3 FIG. is a flowchart of an operation method of a control device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0011] Figure 4 is Figure 3 a detailed flowchart of step S306 of

[0012] Figure 5 FIG. is a flowchart of an operation method of a control device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0013]

REFERENCE SIGNS

[0014] 100: Control device

[0015] 110: Storage unit

[0016] 120: Control unit

[0017] 130: Photosensor

[0018] 210: Confirmation unit

[0019] 220: Selection unit

[0020] S302~S308, S402~S416, S502~S504: Steps DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0021] In the following listed embodiments, the same reference numerals will be used to represent the same or similar elements or components.

[0022] Figure 1Schematic diagram of a control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The control device 100 of this embodiment is applicable to a photosensor. In this embodiment, the photosensor 130 is, for example, a single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) sensor. When the photosensor 130 (SPAD sensor) operates and light irradiates into the photosensor 130 (SPAD sensor) causing the photosensor 130 (SPAD sensor) to be triggered, an avalanche effect will occur in the photosensor 130 (SPAD sensor) for photon conversion to generate a small amount of electrons, and the above avalanche effect will cause the output signal of the photosensor 130 (SPAD sensor) to flip, and the photosensor 130 can count according to the number of times of the above signal flip (i.e., the number of photon triggers) to generate a count value corresponding to the number of photon triggers.

[0023] Please refer to Figure 1 , the control device 100 may include a storage unit 110 and a control unit 120. The storage unit 110 can record the count value corresponding to the number of photon triggers of the photosensor 130. In some embodiments, the storage unit 110 is, for example, a static random access memory (SRAM), but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto.

[0024] The control unit 120 can be coupled to the storage unit 110. The control unit 120 is, for example, a microcontrol unit (MCU), a microprocessor, or other suitable controllers, but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto.

[0025] The control unit 120 can read the count value from the storage unit 110. Then, the control unit 120 can obtain the modulation ratio corresponding to the count range according to the count range corresponding to the count value. Further, after the control unit 120 reads the count value, the control unit 120 can look up in a lookup table according to the count value to obtain the count range corresponding to this count value, and according to this count range, obtain the modulation ratio corresponding to this count range. In this embodiment, the duty cycle of the modulation ratio, for example, decreases as the count range increases. That is to say, when the count range increases, the duty cycle of the modulation ratio decreases. When the count range decreases, the duty cycle of the modulation ratio increases. In addition, the duty cycle of the modulation ratio is (the conduction time of the photosensor 130 / frame time).

[0026] For example, when the counting range is, for example, a first range (e.g., 0 to 2047), the duty cycle of the modulation ratio is, for example, "1 / 1". When the counting range is, for example, a second range (e.g., 2047 to 34815), the duty cycle of the modulation ratio is, for example, "1 / 32". The corresponding relationships between the remaining counting ranges and the duty ratios of the modulation ratios can be analogized.

[0027] After that, the control unit 120 can generate a control signal corresponding to the modulation ratio (e.g., "1 / 1" or "1 / 32") according to the above modulation ratio (e.g., "1 / 1" or "1 / 32"). In addition, the above control signal can be a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal. Then, the control unit 120 can transmit the control signal to the optical sensor 130 to control the operation of the optical sensor 130. In this way, the power consumption of the optical sensor 130 and the storage requirements of the storage unit 110 can be effectively reduced. For example, assuming that the counting range of the optical sensor 130 is, for example, 1,000,000, the storage and calculation requirements may be 20 bits. However, through the operation of the control unit 120 of the present invention, only 12 bits of storage and calculation requirements are needed, and the power consumption of the optical sensor 130 can be reduced to 1 / 250 of the original.

[0028] In some embodiments, after the control unit 120 reads the count value, the control unit 120 can confirm whether the counting range corresponding to the count value is the first range. When the control unit 120 confirms that the counting range is the first range, the control unit 120 obtains a first modulation ratio corresponding to the first range and generates a control signal corresponding to the first modulation ratio according to the first modulation ratio. In this embodiment, the first range is, for example, 0 to 2047, where "0" is the lower limit value of the first range and "2047" is the upper limit value of the first range, but the implementation of the present invention is not limited thereto. In addition, the first modulation ratio is, for example, "1 / 1", where the numerator "1" is the conduction time of the optical sensor 130 and the denominator "1" is the frame time, but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto.

[0029] When the control unit 120 confirms that the counting range is not the first range, the control unit 120 confirms whether the counting range corresponding to the count value can be confirmed as the second range. When the control unit 120 confirms that the counting range is the second range, the control unit 120 obtains a second modulation ratio corresponding to the second range, and generates a control signal corresponding to the second modulation ratio according to the second modulation ratio. In this embodiment, the second range may be different from the first range. Further, the second range may be greater than the first range, and the second range is, for example, 2047 to 34815, where "2047" is the lower limit value of the second range, and "34815" is the upper limit value of the second range, but the implementation of the present invention is not limited thereto. In addition, the second modulation ratio is different from the first modulation ratio. Further, the second modulation ratio is, for example, "1 / 32", where the numerator "1" is the conduction time of the photosensor 130, and the denominator "32" is the frame time, but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto.

[0030] When the control unit 120 confirms that the counting range is not the second range, the control unit 120 can confirm whether the counting range corresponding to the count value is the third range. When the control unit 120 confirms that the counting range is the third range, the control unit 120 can obtain a third modulation ratio corresponding to the third range, and generate a control signal corresponding to the third modulation ratio according to the third modulation ratio. In this embodiment, the third range may be different from the second range. Further, the third range may be greater than the second range, and the third range is, for example, 34815 to 452607, where "34815" is the lower limit value of the third range, and "452607" is the upper limit value of the third range, but the implementation of the present invention is not limited thereto. In addition, the third modulation ratio is different from the second modulation ratio. Further, the third modulation ratio is, for example, "1 / 544", where the numerator "1" is the conduction time of the photosensor 130, and the denominator "544" is the frame time, but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto.

[0031] When the control unit 120 confirms that the counting range is not the third range, the control unit 120 may confirm whether the counting range corresponding to the count value is the fourth range. When the control unit 120 confirms that the counting range is the fourth range, the control unit 120 may obtain the fourth modulation ratio corresponding to the fourth range, and generate a control signal corresponding to the fourth modulation ratio according to the fourth modulation ratio. In this embodiment, the fourth range may be different from the third range. Further, the fourth range may be greater than the third range, and the third range is, for example, 452607 to 1048575, where "452607" is the lower limit value of the fourth range and "1048575" is the upper limit value of the fourth range, but the implementation of the present invention is not limited thereto. In addition, the fourth modulation ratio is different from the third modulation ratio. Further, the fourth modulation ratio is, for example, "1 / 7072", where the numerator "1" is the conduction time of the photosensor 130 and the denominator "7072" is the frame time, but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto.

[0032] In some embodiments, the control unit 120 also reads the current data corresponding to the photosensor 130 from the storage unit 110. The control unit 120 may generate restored data according to the current data, the lower limit value of the counting range, the data compression ratio, and the modulation ratio of the control signal.

[0033] In this embodiment, the restored data may be represented by Equation (1):

[0034] cnt’=(cnt-CR)*R+LI (1),

[0035] where cnt’ is the restored data, cnt is the current data, LI is the lower limit value of the counting range, CR is the data compression ratio, and R is the frame time of the modulation ratio of the control signal.

[0036] In some embodiments, when the counting range corresponding to the count value of the current data is the first range, since the first modulation ratio is "1 / 1", the data compression ratio is "0", and the lower limit value of the first range is "0", the restored data is the same as the current data, and the restored data may be represented by Equation (2):

[0037] cnt1’=(cnt1-0)*1+0=cnt1 (2),

[0038] where cnt1’ is the restored data and cnt1 is the current data.

[0039] In some embodiments, when the counting range corresponding to the count value of the current data is the second range, the restored data may be represented by Equation (3):

[0040] cnt2’=(cnt2-CR2)*R2+LI2 (3),

[0041] Among them, cnt2’ is the restored data, cnt2 is the current data, LI2 is the lower limit value of the second range (for example, 2047), CR2 is the data compression ratio corresponding to the second range (for example, 2047), and R2 is the frame time of the second modulation ratio of the control signal (for example, 32).

[0042] In this embodiment, when the counting range corresponding to the count value of the current data is the third range, the restored data can be represented by Equation (4):

[0043] cnt3’ = (cnt3 - CR3) * R3 + LI3 (4),

[0044] Among them, cnt3’ is the restored data, cnt3 is the current data, LI3 is the lower limit value of the third range (for example, 34815), CR2 is the data compression ratio corresponding to the third range (for example, 3071), and R2 is the frame time of the third modulation ratio of the control signal (for example, 544).

[0045] In this embodiment, when the counting range corresponding to the count value of the current data is the fourth range, the restored data can be represented by Equation (5):

[0046] cnt4’ = (cnt4 - CR4) * R4 + LI4 (4),

[0047] Among them, cnt4’ is the restored data, cnt4 is the current data, LI4 is the lower limit value of the fourth range (for example, 452607), CR4 is the data compression ratio corresponding to the fourth range (for example, 3839), and R4 is the frame time of the fourth modulation ratio of the control signal (for example, 7072).

[0048] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of a control unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. Please refer to Figure 2 , the control unit 120 includes an authentication unit 210 and a selection unit 220.

[0049] The authentication unit 210 can be coupled to the storage unit 110. The authentication unit 210 can read the count value and confirm whether the counting range corresponding to the count value is the first range. When the authentication unit 210 confirms that the counting range is the first range, the authentication unit 210 can generate a first selection signal corresponding to the first range.

[0050] When the confirmation unit 210 confirms that the counting range is not the first range, the confirmation unit 210 may confirm whether the counting range corresponding to the count value is the second range. When the confirmation unit 210 confirms that the counting range is the second range, the confirmation unit 210 generates a second selection signal corresponding to the second range. When the confirmation unit 210 confirms that the counting range is not the second range, the confirmation unit 210 confirms whether the counting range corresponding to the count value is the third range.

[0051] When the confirmation unit 210 confirms that the counting range is the third range, the confirmation unit 210 may generate a third selection signal corresponding to the third range. When the confirmation unit 210 confirms that the counting range is not the third range, the confirmation unit 210 may confirm whether the counting range corresponding to the count value is the fourth range. When the confirmation unit 210 confirms that the counting range is the fourth range, the confirmation unit 210 generates a fourth selection signal corresponding to the fourth range.

[0052] The selection unit 220 may be coupled to the confirmation unit 210. The selection unit 220 may receive a control signal of a first modulation ratio, a control signal of a second modulation ratio, a control signal of a third modulation ratio, and generate a control signal of a fourth modulation ratio. When the selection unit 220 receives the first selection signal, the selection unit 220 may select and generate a control signal of the first modulation ratio. When the selection unit 220 receives the second selection signal, the selection unit 220 may select and generate a control signal of the second modulation ratio. When the selection unit 220 receives the third selection signal, the selection unit 220 may select and generate a control signal of the third modulation ratio. When the selection unit 220 receives the fourth selection signal, the selection unit 220 may select and generate a control signal of the fourth modulation ratio. In this embodiment, the selection unit 220 may be a multiplexer (MUX), but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto.

[0053] Figure 3 It is a flowchart of an operation method of a control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The operation method of the control device in this embodiment is applicable to a photosensor. In step S302, the storage unit records the count value corresponding to the number of photon triggers of the photosensor. In step S304, the control unit reads the count value.

[0054] In step S306, the control unit obtains a modulation ratio corresponding to the counting range according to the counting range corresponding to the count value, and generates a control signal corresponding to the modulation ratio according to the modulation ratio. In step S308, the control signal is transmitted to the photosensor to control the operation of the photosensor. In some embodiments, the duty cycle of the above modulation ratio decreases as the counting range increases.

[0055] Figure 4 is Figure 3Detailed flowchart of step S306. In step S402, it is confirmed whether the counting range corresponding to the count value is the first range. When it is confirmed that the counting range is the first range, step S404 is entered, the first modulation ratio corresponding to the first range is obtained, and a control signal corresponding to the first modulation ratio is generated according to the first modulation ratio. When it is confirmed that the counting range is not the first range, step S406 is entered to confirm whether the counting range corresponding to the count value is the second range.

[0056] When it is confirmed that the counting range is the second range, step S408 is entered, the second modulation ratio corresponding to the second range is obtained, and a control signal corresponding to the second modulation ratio is generated according to the second modulation ratio. When it is confirmed that the counting range is not the second range, step S410 is entered to confirm whether the counting range corresponding to the count value is the third range. When it is confirmed that the counting range is the third range, step S412 is entered, the third modulation ratio corresponding to the third range is obtained, and a control signal corresponding to the third modulation ratio is generated according to the third modulation ratio.

[0057] When it is confirmed that the counting range is not the third range, step S414 is entered to confirm whether the counting range corresponding to the count value is the fourth range. When it is confirmed that the counting range is the fourth range, step S416 is entered, the fourth modulation ratio corresponding to the fourth range is obtained, and a control signal corresponding to the fourth modulation ratio is generated according to the fourth modulation ratio. When it is confirmed that the counting range is not the fourth range, this operation process ends. In this embodiment, the first range, the second range, the third range, and the fourth range are different, and the first modulation ratio, the second modulation ratio, the third modulation ratio, and the fourth modulation ratio are different.

[0058] Figure 5 Flowchart of a data processing method according to another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, steps S302 to S308 are the same as or similar to Figure 3 steps S302 to S308 of Figure 3 and the description of the embodiment of

[0059] In summary, for the control device and its operation method disclosed by the present invention, the control unit reads the count value corresponding to the number of photon triggers of the optical sensor from the storage unit, obtains the modulation ratio corresponding to the count range according to the count range corresponding to the count value, generates a control signal corresponding to the modulation ratio according to the modulation ratio, and transmits the control signal to the optical sensor to control the operation of the optical sensor. In addition, the present embodiment can also read the current data corresponding to the optical sensor from the storage unit, and generate restored data according to the current data, the lower limit value of the count range, the data compression ratio, and the modulation ratio of the control signal. In this way, the power consumption and storage requirements of the optical sensor can be effectively reduced, and the convenience in use can be increased.

[0060] Although the present invention is disclosed as above with embodiments, it is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Any person with ordinary knowledge in the technical field can make some changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention shall be subject to the scope defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A control device, applicable to a photosensor, characterized in that, the control device includes: a storage unit that records a count value corresponding to the number of photon triggers of the photosensor; and a control unit coupled to the storage unit, the control unit reads the count value, obtains a modulation ratio corresponding to the count range according to the count range corresponding to the count value, and generates a control signal corresponding to the modulation ratio according to the modulation ratio, and transmits the control signal to the photosensor to control the operation of the photosensor.

2. The control device according to claim 1, characterized in that, the duty cycle of the modulation ratio decreases as the count range increases.

3. The control device according to claim 1, characterized in that, the control unit confirms whether the count range corresponding to the count value is a first range; when the control unit confirms that the count range is the first range, the control unit obtains a first modulation ratio corresponding to the first range, and generates the control signal corresponding to the first modulation ratio according to the first modulation ratio; when the control unit confirms that the count range is not the first range, the control unit confirms whether the count range corresponding to the count value is a second range; when the control unit confirms that the count range is the second range, the control unit obtains a second modulation ratio corresponding to the second range, and generates the control signal corresponding to the second modulation ratio according to the second modulation ratio; when the control unit confirms that the count range is not the second range, the control unit confirms whether the count range corresponding to the count value is a third range; when the control unit confirms that the count range is the third range, the control unit obtains a third modulation ratio corresponding to the third range, and generates the control signal corresponding to the third modulation ratio according to the third modulation ratio; when the control unit confirms that the count range is not the third range, the control unit confirms whether the count range corresponding to the count value is a fourth range; and when the control unit confirms that the count range is the fourth range, the control unit obtains a fourth modulation ratio corresponding to the fourth range, and generates the control signal corresponding to the fourth modulation ratio according to the fourth modulation ratio.

4. The control device according to claim 3, characterized in that, the first range, the second range, the third range and the fourth range are different, and the first modulation ratio, the second modulation ratio, the third modulation ratio and the fourth modulation ratio are different.

5. The control device according to claim 3, characterized in that, the control unit includes: A confirmation unit reads the count value and confirms whether the count range corresponding to the count value is the first range; when the confirmation unit confirms that the count range is the first range, the confirmation unit generates a first selection signal corresponding to the first range; when the confirmation unit confirms that the count range is not the first range, the confirmation unit confirms whether the count range corresponding to the count value is a second range; when the confirmation unit confirms that the count range is the second range, the confirmation unit generates a second selection signal corresponding to the second range; when the confirmation unit confirms that the count range is not the second range, the confirmation unit confirms whether the count range corresponding to the count value is a third range; when the confirmation unit confirms that the count range is the third range, the confirmation unit generates a third selection signal corresponding to the third range; when the confirmation unit confirms that the count range is not the third range, the confirmation unit confirms whether the count range corresponding to the count value is a fourth range; when the confirmation unit confirms that the count range is the fourth range, the confirmation unit generates a fourth selection signal corresponding to the fourth range; and A selection unit is coupled to the confirmation unit. The selection unit receives the first selection signal to generate the control signal with the first modulation ratio, the selection unit receives the second selection signal to generate the control signal with the second modulation ratio, the selection unit receives the third selection signal to generate the control signal with the third modulation ratio, and the selection unit receives the fourth selection signal to generate the control signal with the fourth modulation ratio.

6. The control device according to claim 1,[[]] wherein,[[]] The control unit further reads a current data corresponding to the photosensor from the storage unit, and generates a restored data according to the current data, a lower limit of the count range, a data compression ratio, and a frame time of the modulation ratio of the control signal.

7. An operation method of a control device, applicable to a photosensor,[[]] wherein,[[]] The operation method of the control device includes:[[]] Recording a count value of the photon trigger times corresponding to the photosensor through a storage unit; Reading the count value through a control unit; Obtaining a modulation ratio corresponding to the count range according to the count range corresponding to the count value through the control unit, and generating a control signal corresponding to the modulation ratio according to the modulation ratio; and Transmitting the control signal to the photosensor to control the operation of the photosensor.

8. The operation method of the control device according to claim 7,[[]] wherein,[[]] A duty cycle of the modulation ratio decreases as the count range increases.

9. The operation method of the control device according to claim 7,[[]] wherein,[[]] The steps of obtaining the modulation ratio corresponding to the count range according to the count range corresponding to the count value and generating the control signal corresponding to the modulation ratio according to the modulation ratio include:[[]] Confirming whether the count range corresponding to the count value is a first range; When it is confirmed that the counting range is the first range, obtain a first modulation ratio corresponding to the first range, and generate the control signal corresponding to the first modulation ratio according to the first modulation ratio; When it is confirmed that the counting range is not the first range, confirm whether the counting range corresponding to the count value is a second range; When it is confirmed that the counting range is the second range, obtain a second modulation ratio corresponding to the second range, and generate the control signal corresponding to the second modulation ratio according to the second modulation ratio; When it is confirmed that the counting range is not the second range, confirm whether the counting range corresponding to the count value is a third range; When it is confirmed that the counting range is the third range, obtain a third modulation ratio corresponding to the third range, and generate the control signal corresponding to the third modulation ratio according to the third modulation ratio; When it is confirmed that the counting range is not the third range, confirm whether the counting range corresponding to the count value is a fourth range; and When it is confirmed that the counting range is the fourth range, obtain a fourth modulation ratio corresponding to the fourth range, and generate the control signal corresponding to the fourth modulation ratio according to the fourth modulation ratio.

10. The operation method of the control device according to claim 9, characterized in that, the first range, the second range, the third range and the fourth range are different, and the first modulation ratio, the second modulation ratio, the third modulation ratio and the fourth modulation ratio are different.

11. The operation method of the control device according to claim 7, characterized in that, further comprising: reading a current data corresponding to the optical sensor from the storage unit; and generating a restored data according to the current data, a lower limit value of the counting range, a data compression ratio and a frame time of the modulation ratio of the control signal.

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