Sony patents camera tech that adjusts timing based on light changes
Sony has been granted a patent for a circuit that improves how time-of-flight cameras measure distance. The system uses sensors that detect sudden changes in light intensity to determine the exact timing for processing signals, rather than using fixed intervals.
In the filing’s own words
The present disclosure generally pertains to time-of-flight demodulation circuitry configured to: determine a light event pattern with an event-based light detection element of a plurality of event-based light detection elements; and determine, for a demodulation element of a plurality of demodulation elements, a timing for a demodulation signal to be applied to the demodulation element based on the light event pattern, wherein the demodulation element is associated with the event-based light detection element.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. Time-of-flight demodulation circuitry configured to: determine a light event pattern from a plurality of light events detected by an event-based light detection element of a plurality of event-based light detection elements, each light event of the plurality of light events corresponding to a detected change of light intensity at the event-based light detection element; and determine, for a demodulation element of a plurality of demodulation elements that is associated with the event-based light detection element, a timing for a demodulation signal to be applied to the demodulation element based on the light event pattern, such that the demodulation signal is applied relative to the plurality of light events.
Facts
- Company
- Sony (Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation)
- Official title
- Time-of-flight demodulation circuitry, time-of-flight demodulation method, time-of-flight imaging apparatus, time-of-flight imaging apparatus control method
- Patent number
- US12768959B2
- Application number
- 18270733
- Filed
- Jan 5, 2022
- Granted
- Oct 20, 2026
- Inventors
- 5
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
G01S 7/4865 Physics & computingG01S 7/4816 Physics & computingG01S 7/484 Physics & computingG01S 17/894 Physics & computingMore from Sony in Cameras & imaging
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.