Time-of-Flight Sensor Control for Adaptive Modulation and Lower Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Time-of-flight sensors face challenges with high power consumption and increased storage requirements due to uncontrollable ambient light, leading to high-frequency avalanche breakdown.
Innovation Solution
A control device and operation method that include a storage unit to record count data and a control unit to read the data, obtain modulation ratios, generate control signals, and transmit them to the time-of-flight sensor, thereby controlling its operation and reducing power consumption and storage needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the time-of-flight sensor operates continuously to capture photon triggers, then the measurement precision is improved, but the power consumption increases due to high-frequency avalanche breakdown
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by controlling the time-of-flight sensor to operate in periodic intervals rather than continuously. The control unit generates control signals that enable the sensor to alternately enter working states and standby states, with the working duration adjusted based on count data from previous measurements. This periodic operation reduces the frequency of avalanche breakdown events, thereby lowering power consumption while maintaining measurement precision through selective active periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the sensor's operating parameters adaptive rather than fixed. The control unit dynamically adjusts the working duration and control signals based on real-time count data feedback. When ambient light conditions change or photon trigger rates vary, the system automatically modifies its operation frequency and duration, optimizing the balance between measurement precision and power consumption under different environmental conditions.
2Reliability
If the time-of-flight sensor operates continuously to ensure reliable detection, then the reliability is improved, but the storage requirements increase to handle high-frequency count data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces storage requirements by implementing periodic data recording instead of continuous storage. The control unit determines when to store count data based on periodic intervals or trigger conditions, rather than storing every single count event. This approach maintains detection reliability by ensuring data is captured at representative intervals while significantly reducing the volume of data that needs to be stored in memory.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies discarding and recovering by selectively discarding redundant count data that does not contribute to measurement reliability. The control unit evaluates count data and determines which data points to retain for storage and which to discard, based on criteria such as data validity, measurement quality, and storage capacity. This selective retention maintains reliable detection results while optimizing storage resource utilization.
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 effectively decreases the power consumption and storage requirements of time-of-flight sensors, enhancing their convenience and usability by optimizing their operation based on count data and modulation ratios.
Implementation Method 1
When the light irradiates into the time-of-flight sensor to cause the time-of-flight sensor to be triggered, the time-of-flight sensor may generate an avalanche effect to cause the output signal of the time-of-flight sensor to toggle
Data Source
AI summary
A control device suitable for use in a time-of-flight sensor is provided. The control device includes a storage unit and a control unit. The storage unit records the count data corresponding to the photon trigger number of the time-of-flight sensor. The control unit is coupled to the storage unit. The control unit reads the count data, obtains the modulation ratio corresponding to the counting range according to the count data, generates a control signal corresponding to the modulation ratio of each counting range, and transmits the control signal to the time-of-flight sensor, so as to control the operation of the time-of-flight sensor.