US 11,681,025 B2
Simultaneous data transmission and depth image recording with time-of-flight cameras
Hannes Plank, Graz (AT); and Armin Schoenlieb, Seiersberg-Pirka (AT)
Assigned to Infineon Technologies AG, Neubiberg (DE)
Filed by Infineon Technologies AG, Neubiberg (DE)
Filed on Mar. 21, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/360,350.
Prior Publication US 2020/0300986 A1, Sep. 24, 2020
Int. Cl. G01S 7/00 (2006.01); G01S 7/4865 (2020.01); G01S 7/4863 (2020.01); G01S 7/497 (2006.01)
CPC G01S 7/4865 (2013.01) [G01S 7/4863 (2013.01); G01S 7/497 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method, by a time-of-flight (ToF) measurement device, for communicating data via ToF measurement pulses, the method comprising:
emitting a series of light pulses formed by amplitude-modulating light with a modulating signal, wherein emitting the series of light pulses comprises superimposing an analog information signal on the series of light pulses by emitting the series of light pulses in groups of N pulses, the N pulses in each group of emitted pulses being emitted at regular intervals, and selectively varying time intervals between successive groups of emitted pulses in response to the analog information signal, such that the resulting varying time intervals between successive groups of emitted pulses are indicative of values of the analog information signal; and
controlling one or more pixels configured to demodulate received light using a pulsed reference signal derived from the modulating signal, to generate respective pixel signal values, each of one or more of the pixel signal values being indicative of a time-of-flight from the ToF measurement device to an object and back to the ToF measurement device, wherein said controlling comprises varying time intervals between successive groups of reference signal pulses in correspondence to said varying of time intervals between the successive groups of emitted pulses.