Time-of-Flight Ranging Device Using Averaged Intense Pulsed Light Signals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Time-of-Flight (ToF) ranging technologies face challenges in achieving high accuracy for distance measurement, particularly with Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) methods, which require improvements to enhance precision and reliability.
Innovation Solution
A ToF ranging device and method utilizing a signal processor, light emitter, and light sensor that sequentially emit and receive Intense Pulsed Lights (IPLs), generating pixel voltage signals, comparing them to count signals, and calculating an average value to determine distance, thereby achieving high-precision and high-accuracy ranging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single-point measurement is used in ToF ranging, then the device complexity is low, but the measurement precision is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the measurement process into multiple discrete steps by sequentially emitting multiple IPLs with different phases or frequencies. Each IPL generates a separate measurement sample, and the final distance is obtained by processing multiple samples. This segmentation transforms a single complex measurement into multiple simpler measurements that can be averaged to improve precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic emission of IPLs in a sequential manner, where multiple IPLs are emitted at regular intervals with different characteristics (phase, frequency). This periodic action allows the system to collect multiple measurement samples over time, which are then processed to achieve higher ranging accuracy while managing device complexity through systematic repetition.
2Measurement precision
If multiple IPLs are emitted sequentially, then the measurement precision is improved, but the loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic emission of multiple IPLs in rapid succession, where each IPL is emitted at a defined interval. This periodic structure allows the system to efficiently collect multiple measurement samples without excessive time delay, as the intervals are optimized to balance sampling adequacy with time efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains continuous operation by sequentially emitting IPLs without significant idle time between measurements. The system continuously processes each emitted IPL and its reflected signal, ensuring that the useful measurement action continues throughout the multi-IPL sequence, thereby minimizing overall measurement time while still achieving improved precision through multiple samples.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a high-precision and high-accuracy distance measurement by averaging multiple sensing results, enhancing the accuracy of ToF ranging compared to single-point measurements.
Implementation Method 1
Time-of-Flight (ToF) ranging device and ToF ranging method
Implementation Method 2
The light sensor is configured to sequentially receive the plurality of IPLs reflected by the sensing target to correspondingly output a plurality of pixel voltage signals
Data Source
AI summary
A Time-of-Flight (ToF) ranging device and a ToF ranging method are provided. The ToF ranging device includes a signal processor, a light emitter, and a light sensor. The light emitter sequentially emits a plurality of intense pulsed lights to a sensing target. The light sensor sequentially receives the plurality of intense pulsed lights reflected by the sensing target to correspondingly output a plurality of pixel voltage signals. The signal processor generates a plurality of read-out voltage signals according to the plurality of pixel voltage signals. The signal processor compares the plurality of read-out voltage signals with a plurality of count signals to obtain a plurality of count values. The signal processor calculates an average value of the plurality of count values and determines a distance between the ToF ranging device and the sensing target according to the average value.