Range imaging system and solid-state imaging device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016259057-A1
Application number	US-201615156002-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 16, 2016
Priority date	Nov 20, 2013
Publication date	Sep 8, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A range imaging system includes: a control unit that generates a light emission signal for instructing light irradiation and an exposure signal for instructing exposure; a pulsed-light source unit that emits pulsed light in response to the light emission signal; an imaging unit that includes a solid-state imaging device and performs exposure and imaging in response to the exposure signal; and a calculation unit that calculates range information. The solid-state imaging device includes a first pixel for receiving radiant light from a subject and a second pixel for receiving reflected light of the pulsed light. The calculation unit calculates the range information using an image capture signal from the first pixel and an imaging signal from the second pixel.

First claim

1 . A range imaging system comprising:
a signal generation unit configured to generate a light emission signal for instructing light irradiation and an exposure signal for instructing exposure; a light source unit including a light source and configured to emit an irradiation light beam in response to the light emission signal; an imaging unit including a solid-state imaging device and configured to perform exposure and imaging in response to the exposure signal; and a calculation unit configured to calculate range information, wherein the solid-state imaging device outputs an image capture signal for detecting an object and an imaging signal for calculating a distance, the light source unit is configured to irradiate an irradiation region with a plurality of the irradiation light beams divided from source light outputted from the light source, and the range information of the object in the irradiation region is calculated using the image capture signal and the imaging signal based on light beams reflected from irradiation points on the object as a result of the light irradiation with the irradiation light beams reaching the irradiation points.

2 . The range imaging system according to claim 1 , being mounted to transportation equipment,
wherein the range information of the object present outside the transportation equipment and located in front of, behind, or on a side of the transportation equipment is calculated, and the object is an obstacle that obstructs driving of the transportation equipment.

3 . The range imaging system according to claim 2 ,
wherein the light source unit is provided in a front grille, a headlight, or a fog lamp of the transportation equipment, and the imaging unit is provided near a rearview mirror, in the front grille, or in a front bumper of the transportation equipment.

4 . The range imaging system according to claim 2 , being provided near a license plate or in a sideview mirror section of the transportation equipment.

5 . The range imaging system according to claim 2 ,
wherein the obstacle is another piece of transportation equipment or a person.

6 . The range imaging system according to claim 2 ,
wherein at least a part of drive control of the transportation equipment including the range imaging system is performed using the range information of the obstacle.

7 . The range imaging system according to claim 1 ,
wherein the irradiation region includes: a center region having a small number of the irradiation points; and a peripheral region having a large number of the irradiation points.

8 . The range imaging system according to claim 7 ,
wherein the center region of the irradiation region includes an upper part having a small number of the irradiation points.

9 . The range imaging system according to claim 1 ,
wherein the solid-state imaging device includes a dual-purpose pixel for outputting the image capture signal and the imaging signal.

10 . The range imaging system according to claim 1 ,
wherein the solid-state imaging device includes a passive pixel for outputting the image capture signal and an active pixel for outputting the imaging signal.

11 . The range imaging system according to claim 10 ,
wherein the passive pixel receives visible light and the active pixel receives infrared light.

12 . The range imaging system according to claim 1 ,
wherein the object is detected using the image capture signal and a distance to the object is calculated as the range information using the imaging signal.

13 . The range imaging system according to claim 1 ,
wherein the light source is a laser light source, and the light source unit is configured to irradiate the irradiation region with a plurality of laser light beams divided from the source light.

14 . The range imaging system according to claim 1 ,
wherein the light source unit includes a diffraction grating, and the diffraction grating divides the source light into the irradiation light beams.

15 . The range imaging system according to claim 1 ,
wherein each of the irradiation light beams is emitted in a shape of a spot.

16 . The range imaging system according to claim 1 ,
wherein the calculation unit is configured to calculate a distance by a time-of-flight method.

17 . A range imaging system comprising:
a signal generation unit configured to generate a light emission signal for instructing light irradiation and an exposure signal for instructing exposure; a light source unit including a light source and configured to emit an irradiation light beam in response to the light emission signal; an imaging unit including a solid-state imaging device and configured to perform exposure and imaging in response to the exposure signal; and a calculation unit configured to calculate range information, wherein the solid-state imaging device outputs an image capture signal and an imaging signal, and the image capture signal is used to detect an object in an irradiation region and the imaging signal is used to calculate a distance to the object in the irradiation region.

18 . A solid-state imaging device that outputs an image capture signal and an imaging signal, the solid-state imaging device being included in a range imaging system that includes: a signal generation unit configured to generate a light emission signal for instructing light irradiation and an exposure signal for instructing exposure; a light source unit including a light source and configured to emit an irradiation light beam in response to the light emission signal; an imaging unit including the solid-state imaging device and configured to perform exposure and imaging in response to the exposure signal; and a calculation unit configured to calculate range information,
wherein the range imaging system irradiates an irradiation region with a plurality of the irradiation light beams divided from source light outputted from the light source, and calculates the range information of an object in the irradiation region using the image capture signal and the imaging signal based on light beams reflected from irradiation points on the object as a result of the light irradiation with the irradiation light beams reaching the irradiation points.

Assignees

• Panasonic Ip Man Co Ltd

Inventors

• Ito Junji

Classifications

• H04N23/63

  by using electronic viewfinders · CPC title

• H04N25/131

  including elements passing infrared wavelengths · CPC title

• H04N25/135

  based on four or more different wavelength filter elements · CPC title

• G01S7/4815

  using multiple transmitters · CPC title

• G01S7/51

  Display arrangements · CPC title