US 12,032,065 B2
System and method for histogram binning for depth detection
Chunji Wang, Pasadena, CA (US); and Yibing Michelle Wang, Temple City, CA (US)
Assigned to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Yongin-si (KR)
Filed by SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., Suwon-si (KR)
Filed on Jul. 27, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/940,237.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/037,244, filed on Jun. 10, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0389462 A1, Dec. 16, 2021
Int. Cl. G01S 17/89 (2020.01); G01S 7/481 (2006.01); G01S 7/4863 (2020.01); G01S 7/4865 (2020.01); G01S 17/10 (2020.01); G01S 17/42 (2006.01)
CPC G01S 17/89 (2013.01) [G01S 7/4816 (2013.01); G01S 7/4863 (2013.01); G01S 7/4865 (2013.01); G01S 17/10 (2013.01); G01S 17/42 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A depth detection system comprising:
a light source configured to emit a light pulse toward an object;
an optical sensor configured to detect the light pulse reflecting off the object, the optical sensor comprising a first sensing pixel configured to detect the light pulse for a first event count according to the light pulse reflecting off the object, and a second sensing pixel configured to detect the light pulse for a second event count according to the light pulse reflecting off the object; and
a processing circuit configured to:
determine a first histogram based on the first event count;
determine a second histogram based on the second event count;
determine a first aggregated histogram corresponding to the first sensing pixel based on the first event count and the second event count by binning the second histogram with the first histogram in response to whether a threshold for signal quality corresponding to an allowable range of outer limits of a spread or range of relative time of flights indicated by the second histogram is satisfied; and
determine a first peak of the first aggregated histogram to determine a first time of flight associated with the first sensing pixel.