US 11,988,777 B2
Time-resolving image sensor for range measurement and 2D greyscale imaging
Yibing Michelle Wang, Burbank, CA (US); Lilong Shi, Pasadena, CA (US); and Ilia Ovsiannikov, Studio City, CA (US)
Assigned to SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., (KR)
Filed by Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Suwon-si (KR)
Filed on Jan. 24, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/583,190.
Application 17/583,190 is a continuation of application No. 16/140,529, filed on Sep. 24, 2018, granted, now 11,294,039.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/702,891, filed on Jul. 24, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0146683 A1, May 12, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G01S 7/4863 (2020.01); G01N 21/55 (2014.01); G01S 7/481 (2006.01); G01S 7/4865 (2020.01); G01S 17/89 (2020.01); G01S 17/894 (2020.01); G04F 10/00 (2006.01); H04N 23/56 (2023.01); H04N 23/80 (2023.01)
CPC G01S 7/4863 (2013.01) [G01N 21/55 (2013.01); G01S 7/4816 (2013.01); G01S 7/4865 (2013.01); G01S 17/89 (2013.01); G01S 17/894 (2020.01); G04F 10/005 (2013.01); H04N 23/56 (2023.01); H04N 23/80 (2023.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image sensor, comprising:
a time-resolving sensor comprising at least one pixel, the time-resolving sensor outputting a first signal and a second signal based on detecting by the at least one pixel one or more photons that have been reflected off a surface of an object, a first ratio of a magnitude of the first signal to a sum of the magnitude of the first signal and a magnitude of the second signal being proportional to a time of flight of the one or more detected photons, and a second ratio of the magnitude of the second signal to the sum of the magnitude of the first signal and the magnitude of the second signal being proportional to the time of flight of the one or more detected photons; and
a processor configured to determine a surface reflectance of the object where the one or more photons detected by the at least one pixel has been reflected based on the first signal and the second signal.