US 12,013,494 B2
Apparatus for and method of range sensor based on direct time-of-flight and triangulation
Yibing Michelle Wang, Temple City, CA (US)
Assigned to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, (KR)
Filed by Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Gyeonggi-do (KR)
Filed on Dec. 4, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/111,888.
Application 17/111,888 is a continuation of application No. 14/992,671, filed on Jan. 11, 2016, granted, now 10,942,261.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/244,458, filed on Oct. 21, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2021/0088633 A1, Mar. 25, 2021
Int. Cl. G01S 7/4861 (2020.01); G01S 7/487 (2006.01); G01S 17/08 (2006.01); G01S 17/10 (2020.01); G06F 1/04 (2006.01); H03K 3/012 (2006.01); H03K 3/037 (2006.01); H03K 3/356 (2006.01); H03K 17/30 (2006.01); H03K 19/00 (2006.01)
CPC G01S 7/4861 (2013.01) [G01S 7/4876 (2013.01); G01S 17/08 (2013.01); G01S 17/10 (2013.01); G06F 1/04 (2013.01); H03K 3/012 (2013.01); H03K 3/0372 (2013.01); H03K 3/356052 (2013.01); H03K 17/30 (2013.01); H03K 19/0016 (2013.01); H03K 3/356147 (2013.01); H03K 19/0013 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A range sensor, comprising:
a light source configured to project light;
an image sensor including a two-dimensional (2D) pixel array;
collection optics; and
a controller connected to the light source, the image sensor, and the collection optics, and configured to:
determine a range of a distant object based on a direct time-of-flight of the light from the light source to the distant object and from the distant object to a first area including one or more pixels included in an infinity row of the 2D pixel array, and
determine a range of a near object based on a triangulation of the near object using the light and a second area including one or more pixels not included in the infinity row of the 2D pixel array.