US 12,248,066 B2
Light detection device, lidar device including the same, and method of measuring distance
Tatsuhiro Otsuka, Suwon-si (KR); Jungwoo Kim, Hwaseong-si (KR); and Yongchul Cho, Suwon-si (KR)
Assigned to SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., Suwon-si (KR)
Filed by SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., Suwon-si (KR)
Filed on Apr. 21, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/236,619.
Claims priority of application No. 10-2020-0152286 (KR), filed on Nov. 13, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0155442 A1, May 19, 2022
Int. Cl. G01S 17/08 (2006.01); G01S 7/481 (2006.01); H03F 3/45 (2006.01)
CPC G01S 17/08 (2013.01) [G01S 7/4816 (2013.01); H03F 3/45475 (2013.01)] 24 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A light detection device comprising:
a light receiver comprising a plurality of light detectors configured to receive light emitted from a light emitter toward an object and reflected by the object; and
a signal processor configured to process an electrical signal according to the light received by the light receiver,
wherein the light receiver comprises at least one light receiving area, each of the at least one light receiving area comprising a plurality of sub-light receiving areas,
the plurality of light detectors are provided in the plurality of sub-light receiving areas, respectively, and
the signal processor comprises:
a plurality of transimpedance amplifiers (TIAs) that have a one-on-one correspondence with the plurality of light detectors, and
at least one signal summer that has a one-on-one correspondence with the at least one light receiving area comprising the plurality of sub-light receiving areas, wherein the at least one signal summer is configured to sum a plurality of analog signals received through the plurality of TIAs.