US 12,405,383 B2
Ranging device
Akihiro Takamura, Tokyo (JP)
Assigned to CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Jul. 6, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/348,107.
Claims priority of application No. 2022-112260 (JP), filed on Jul. 13, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0022831 A1, Jan. 18, 2024
Int. Cl. G01S 17/931 (2020.01); G01S 7/4863 (2020.01); G01S 7/487 (2006.01); G01S 17/10 (2020.01); G01S 17/14 (2020.01); G01S 17/32 (2020.01); G01S 17/42 (2006.01); G01S 17/894 (2020.01); G06T 7/70 (2017.01); G06V 10/141 (2022.01); H04N 25/46 (2023.01)
CPC G01S 17/931 (2020.01) [G01S 7/4863 (2013.01); G01S 7/4873 (2013.01); G01S 17/10 (2013.01); G01S 17/14 (2020.01); G01S 17/32 (2013.01); G01S 17/42 (2013.01); G01S 17/894 (2020.01); G06T 7/70 (2017.01); G06V 10/141 (2022.01); H04N 25/46 (2023.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A ranging device comprising:
a time counting unit configured to perform time counting;
a plurality of light receiving units each configured to generate a signal including a pulse based on incident light and perform an operation of counting the pulse;
a plurality of frequency distribution generation units arranged corresponding to the plurality of light receiving units and each configured to hold a frequency distribution including a light reception count value of the pulse acquired at predetermined time intervals in the time counting;
a binning processing unit configured to perform binning processing for one or more frequency distributions held in one or more frequency distribution generation units of the plurality of frequency distribution generation units;
a determination unit configured to determine whether a component of reflected light from an object is included in the frequency distribution subjected to the binning processing;
a binning setting unit configured to change the number of the frequency distribution generation units to be subjected to the binning processing performed by the binning processing unit in accordance with a result of the determination by the determination unit; and
a distance calculation unit configured to calculate a distance to the object based on a time interval corresponding to a reception time of the reflected light when the determination unit determines that a component of the reflected light is included in the frequency distribution subjected to the binning processing.