Time-of-Flight Sensor Sequencer for Fast Frame Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Time-of-flight systems face challenges in synchronizing control and data paths between the host and the time-of-flight image sensor, limiting the ability to change frame content or operation modes quickly due to slower control path communication speeds and inadequate electronic control.
Innovation Solution
A time-of-flight sensor with a sequencer circuitry and register circuitry that dynamically selects sets of registers to generate different types of frames in a defined sequence, allowing for independent operation modes without requiring additional interaction with the host, enabling faster frame switching and diagnostic data collection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the host controls the time-of-flight image sensor to change operation modes or frame content, then the sensor can be configured for different functions, but the control path synchronization requirement slows down the switching speed and reduces operational flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor is divided into autonomous functional blocks (light sensing circuitry, logic circuitry, sequencer circuitry, register circuitry) that can operate independently. The sequencer circuitry can be configured to generate different frame types (first type frames for time-of-flight data, second type frames for enhanced sensor data) without requiring host intervention for each frame, enabling fast switching between operational modes while maintaining adaptability.
2Reliability
If the control path and data path are synchronized, then communication between host and sensor is reliable, but the slower control path communication speed limits the ability to quickly change frame content
Solution Approach 1:
The sequencer circuitry is pre-configured with multiple sequences of operation steps that define different frame types. The register circuitry stores configuration data for various operational modes in advance. When a mode change is needed, the pre-configured sequences can be activated immediately without requiring real-time configuration transfers over the slow control path, thus reducing configuration change time while maintaining reliable synchronized communication when needed.
3Adaptability or versatility
If electronic control is used to switch between operation modes, then the sensor can be dynamically reconfigured, but the control speed is insufficient for rapid frame switching requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor performs self-configuration through its internal sequencer and register circuitry. The sequencer circuitry autonomously selects and executes appropriate sequences of operation steps based on the configured frame type, and the register circuitry automatically provides the necessary configuration data. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for slow external electronic control for each frame switching operation, enabling rapid frame generation while maintaining dynamic reconfiguration capability through initial setup.
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
This solution allows for adaptive frame generation and enhanced sensor data collection, improving depth measurement accuracy and reducing the need for host interaction, while enabling diagnostic modes and interference detection in time-of-flight systems.
Implementation Method 1
a light sensing circuitry for detecting light and outputting light sensing signals
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure pertains to a time-of-flight system, having: an illumination source, a time-of-flight camera having a time-of-flight sensor, including: a light sensing circuitry for detecting light and outputting light sensing signals; and a logic circuitry for processing the light sensing signals from the light sensing circuitry, wherein the logic circuitry includes a sequencer circuitry and a register circuitry, wherein the register circuitry includes multiple registers for storing data which are derived on the basis of the light sensing signals and wherein the sequencer circuitry is adapted to select at least a first set of registers of the register circuitry and a second set of registers of the register circuitry for dynamically providing a first type of frames based on the selected first set of registers and a second type of frames based on the selected second set of registers, wherein first type frames and second type frames are generated in a defined sequence of frames, and a host circuitry connected via a bus to the time-of-flight camera, wherein the host circuitry is configured to configure the sequencer circuitry.