Jitter reduction techniques for high-range precision time-of-flight range imagers

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19H02194
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 21060:Electron device and electronic equipment-related
• Research Institution: Shizuoka University
• Principal Investigator: Keita Yasutomi 静岡大学, 電子工学研究所, 准教授 (50621661)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 飯久保 正弘 東北大学, 歯学研究科, 教授 (80302157)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: Time-of-Flight / イメージセンサ / 3次元計測

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, for achieving the extremely high range precision using time-of-flight (TOF) range imagers, we have proposed and demonstrated jitter reduction techniques to reduce column-driver jitters, which is the dominant factor in range precision.
The first technique, DRPS, uses an additional light source to generate a column-parallel reference. It has demonstrated a range precision of 52um (single frame) and 27um (10 frames average). The second technique, CI-RPS, uses pseudo photocurrent generated by charge injection. CI-RPS does not require additional light sources and any optical components. The prototype chip has demonstrated a range precision of 55um (single frame) and 38um (10 frames average).

Free Research Field

撮像素子

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

光の飛行時間（TOF: Time-of-Flight)を利用した距離イメージングは、リアルタイム処理や装置の小型化、安価なシステムの構築などから、ジェスチャや物体の「認識」のために開発されている．これを「計測」のための応用まで広げるためには，TOF距離撮像素子の距離精度の改善が欠かせない．本研究では，50umを超える距離精度を実現するためのTOF距離撮像素子のジッタ低減手法を提供するものである．