dToF Sensor Control Circuit for Low-Latency Target Region Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ToF sensors face limitations in simultaneously achieving a large measurement region and high spatial resolution due to the need for increased light collecting area per pixel, and there is a lack of technologies for determining a proper region of interest with low latency.
Innovation Solution
A control circuit for a dToF sensor that includes a memory and processor to count events detected by an event-based vision sensor and determine a measurement target region based on event counts, allowing for high spatial resolution measurement in a specific region.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the light collecting area in each pixel is increased to improve measurement capability, then the measurement region can be enlarged, but the pixel interval cannot be reduced, resulting in limited spatial resolution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by determining a specific measurement target region (region of interest) within the measurement possible region, where high spatial resolution measurement is concentrated. Instead of uniformly distributing measurement resources across the entire sensor area, the system dynamically identifies and focuses measurement on regions containing objects, thereby achieving high spatial resolution in critical areas without requiring increased light collecting area across all pixels.
2Manufacturing precision
If the measurement target region is determined properly to achieve high spatial resolution, then the spatial resolution is substantially increased, but the latency in determining the region of interest increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs preliminary action by using an event-based vision sensor to detect and count events (light intensity changes) in advance, which serves as a preliminary indicator of where objects are located. This event counting process occurs continuously and asynchronously, preparing the system to quickly determine the measurement target region without requiring complex real-time processing when measurement is actually needed, thereby reducing latency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical or sequential scanning methods for region determination with an event-based sensing mechanism. The event-based vision sensor asynchronously detects light intensity changes and generates events immediately when changes occur, eliminating the need for sequential frame-by-frame scanning or mechanical shutter operations, thus achieving low-latency region determination.
3Manufacturing precision
If the pixel interval is reduced to increase spatial resolution, then more pixels can be packed, but the light collecting area per pixel decreases, limiting measurement capability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by applying local quality - concentrating measurement resources and high spatial resolution processing only in the determined measurement target region rather than across the entire sensor array. This allows the system to maintain smaller pixel intervals for potential higher resolution capability while actually achieving high spatial resolution only where needed, without requiring large light collecting areas in all pixels.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a control circuit of a dToF sensor. The control circuit includes a memory for storing a program code, and a processor for executing operation in accordance with the program code. The operation includes counting the number of events detected in a measurement possible region of the dToF sensor by an event-based vision sensor, and determining a measurement target region of the dToF sensor in the measurement possible region according to count of events.