Sony patents laser sensor that corrects timing errors for better distance measurement
Sony describes a light detection device that uses a laser to measure how far away an object is by timing how long it takes for the light to bounce back. The system includes a control section that checks for timing mismatches between the laser firing and the sensor receiving the light, allowing it to adjust settings to keep distance readings accurate.
In the filing’s own words
The disclosure provides a light detection device and a ranging system capable of suppressing a deterioration in ranging accuracy. The present disclosure provides a light detection device including a laser light source that irradiates a target with laser light on the basis of a light emission timing, a pixel array section including a plurality of pixels each of which is capable of generating a detection signal corresponding to an amount of received light of reflected light from the target, a signal processing section that generates a distance value to the target on the basis of information regarding a difference between the light emission timing and a generation timing of the detection signal, and a control section capable of executing at least one of detection processing of a deviation time between the light emission timing and the generation timing of the detection signal, coordinate deviation detection processing of the plurality of pixels, and setting processing of the light emission timing.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A light detection device comprising: a laser light source that irradiates a target with laser light on a basis of a light emission timing; a pixel array section including a plurality of pixels each of which is capable of generating a detection signal corresponding to an amount of received light of reflected light from the target; a signal processing section that generates a distance value to the target on a basis of information regarding a difference between the light emission timing and a generation timing of the detection signal; and a control section capable of executing at least one of detection processing of a deviation time between the light emission timing and the generation timing of the detection signal, coordinate deviation detection processing of the plurality of pixels, and setting processing of the light emission timing.
Facts
- Company
- Sony (SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION)
- Official title
- LIGHT DETECTION DEVICE AND RANGING SYSTEM
- Publication number
- US20260259326A1
- Application number
- 19159618
- Filed
- Mar 6, 2024
- Published
- Sep 3, 2026
- Inventors
- 1
- Claims
- 17
Classified under
G01S 17/894 Physics & computingG01S 7/4816 Physics & computingG01S 7/4865 Physics & computingG01S 17/931 Physics & computingMore from Sony in Chips & hardware
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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.