Abstract: In one aspect the invention provides a heat transfer apparatus which includes a transmitter object which defines an external collection surface and an internal transmission surface. Also provided is a receiver object displaced from the transmitter object, the receiver object defining an internal receiving surface and an external heat delivery surface. A thermal conduit is provided which incorporates at least one side wall connected between the transmitter object and receiver object, this at least one side wall spanning the distance between the transmitter object and receiver object and enclosing a volume between the transmitter and receiver objects. This side wall or walls enclose the internal transmission surface of the transmitter object and the internal receiving surface of the receiver object. The transmitter object, receiver object and thermal conduit are configured to promote heat transfer predominantly towards the receiver object.

Abstract: In one aspect the invention provides a time of flight camera system which includes a time of flight transmitter arranged to transmit modulated radiation at a target, and a phase adjustment element configured to adjust the phase of a source modulation signal used to modulate the radiation transmitted at the target. This phase adjustment element provides a set of phase separated output signals, each output signal provided having one of a set phase offsets values applied, where at least one of these phase offset values is the cancellation phase value of another member of the set of phase offset values. The camera system also includes an image sensor modulated with the source modulation signal and configured to measure radiation reflected from a target, and a processor arranged to receive the image sensor measurements and being programmed to resolve range information from the measurements received by the image sensor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of simulating an initial component of a signal to approximate a component of a reference signal, the method characterized by the steps of: i. generating a source signal which includes at least one harmonic component, and ii. determining the average amplitude and duration of the source signal, and iii. referencing the amplitude of the reference signal component to be simulated, and iv. integrating the source signal over a period of time sufficient to produce a value for the signal component amplitude approximate to the reference signal component amplitude.

Abstract: A time of flight camera system resolves the direct path component or the multi-path component of modulated radiation reflected from a target. The camera system includes a time of flight transmitter arranged to transmit modulated radiation at a target, and at least one pattern application structure operating between the transmitter and the target, the pattern application structure operating to apply at least one structured light pattern to the modulated transmitter radiation, and an image sensor configured to measure radiation reflected from a target. The time of flight camber is arranged to resolve from the measurements received the contribution of direct source reflection radiation reflected from the target.

Abstract: In one aspect the invention provides a time of flight camera system which includes a time of flight transmitter arranged to transmit modulated radiation at a target, and a phase adjustment element configured to adjust the phase of a source modulation signal used to modulate the radiation transmitted at the target. This phase adjustment element provides a set of phase separated output signals, each output signal provided having one of a set phase offsets values applied, where at least one of these phase offset values is the cancellation phase value of another member of the set of phase offset values. The camera system also includes an image sensor modulated with the source modulation signal and configured to measure radiation reflected from a target, and a processor arranged to receive the image sensor measurements and being programmed to resolve range information from the measurements received by the image sensor.

Abstract: A method for determining a distance to an object using an amplitude modulated continuous wave range imaging device includes emitting a modulated illumination signal. The modulated illumination signal is modulated with a pseudo random code. An image sensor is modulated based on the pseudo random code to capture a plurality of samples of the modulated illumination signal reflected from the object. A phase shift between the plurality of samples and the modulated illumination signal is determined.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring intensity and/or range characteristics of an object(s), comprising: a signal source to emit modulation signals at a frequency(s); an illuminator to illuminate the object(s) by a first modulation signal; a sensor comprising a pixel(s), wherein the sensor creates a sampled correlated signal by sampling the correlation of a backscattered signal with a second modulation signal within the pixel; and a processor to determine range/intensity characteristics of component returns within the pixel(s) by comparing sampled correlated signals using measurements(s), wherein the measurement(s) comprise first and second modulation signals having a characteristic(s) selected from: (a) two or more different modulation frequencies, (b) a different modulation frequency(s) and an offset of the correlation waveform, and (c) another different modulation frequency(s) and one selected from: the zeroth spatial frequency of the signal returns versus range and an approximation of the zeroth spatial frequency o

Abstract: A time of flight camera system resolves the direct path component or the multi-path component of modulated radiation reflected from a target. The camera system includes a time of flight transmitter arranged to transmit modulated radiation at a target, and at least one pattern application structure operating between the transmitter and the target, the pattern application structure operating to apply at least one structured light pattern to the modulated transmitter radiation, and an image sensor configured to measure radiation reflected from a target. The time of flight camber is arranged to resolve from the measurements received the contribution of direct source reflection radiation reflected from the target.

Abstract: Methods and devices for correcting for motion blur in range cameras without increasing acquisition speed or reducing the overall quality of the distance determinations, by identifying moving objects in a scene and determining the speed and direction of the objects.

Abstract: An amplitude modulated continuous wave range imaging device has a signaling device configured to emit an intensity modulated illumination signal. An image sensor is configured to capture a plurality of images of a reflection of the modulated illumination signal. The captured images include intensity and/or phase components for a plurality of pixels of the image sensor. Each pixel includes a first modulation terminal having a first capacitive component. A first driver is configured to charge a first set of modulation terminals of the plurality of pixels. A second driver is configured to charge a second set of modulation terminals of the plurality of pixels. A charge transfer circuit is connected between the first set of modulation terminals and the second set of modulation terminals. The charge transfer circuit is configured to transfer charge between the first set of modulation terminals and the second set of modulation terminals.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of simulating an initial component of a signal to approximate a component of a reference signal, the method characterized by the steps of: i. generating a source signal which includes at least one harmonic component, and ii. determining the average amplitude and duration of the source signal, and iii. referencing the amplitude of the reference signal component to be simulated, and iv. integrating the source signal over a period of time sufficient to produce a value tier the signal component amplitude approximate to the reference signal component amplitude.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring intensity and/or range characteristics of an object(s), comprising: a signal source to emit modulation signals at a frequency(s); an illuminator to illuminate the object(s) by a first modulation signal; a sensor comprising a pixel(s), wherein the sensor creates a sampled correlated signal by sampling the correlation of a backscattered signal with a second modulation signal within the pixel; and a processor to determine range/intensity characteristics of component returns within the pixel(s) by comparing sampled correlated signals using measurements(s), wherein the measurement(s) comprise first and second modulation signals having a characteristic(s) selected from: (a) two or more different modulation frequencies, (b) a different modulation frequency(s) and an offset of the correlation waveform, and (c) another different modulation frequency(s) and one selected from: the zeroth spatial frequency of the signal returns versus range and an approximation of the zeroth spatial frequency o

Abstract: An amplitude modulated continuous wave range imaging device has a signaling device configured to emit an intensity modulated illumination signal. An image sensor is configured to capture a plurality of images of a reflection of the modulated illumination signal. The captured images include intensity and/or phase components for a plurality of pixels of the image sensor. Each pixel includes a first modulation terminal having a first capacitive component. A first driver is configured to charge a first set of modulation terminals of the plurality of pixels. A second driver is configured to charge a second set of modulation terminals of the plurality of pixels. A charge transfer circuit is connected between the first set of modulation terminals and the second set of modulation terminals. The charge transfer circuit is configured to transfer charge between the first set of modulation terminals and the second set of modulation terminals.

Abstract: A method for determining a distance to an object using an amplitude modulated continuous wave range imaging device includes emitting a modulated illumination signal. The modulated illumination signal is modulated with a pseudo random code. An image sensor is modulated based on the pseudo random code to capture a plurality of samples of the modulated illumination signal reflected from the object. A phase shift between the plurality of samples and the modulated illumination signal is determined.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of simulating an initial component of a signal to approximate a component of a reference signal, the method characterised by the steps of; i) generating a source signal which includes at least one harmonic component, and ii) determining the average amplitude and duration of the source signal, and iii) referencing the amplitude of the reference signal component to be simulated, and iv) integrating the source signal over a period of time sufficient to produce a value for the signal component amplitude approximate to the reference signal component amplitude.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus used to calculate at least one velocity component for a target within the region. The invention employs an energy source which is activated using an activation system in a cyclic pattern with a selected source frequency. A receiver is also employed in conjunction with a shielding system where this shielding system is configured to block the sensing of reflected energy from the target in a cyclic pattern with a selected receiver frequency. The invention operates through measuring a frequency change in the source frequency of the energy source signal when received by the receiver and determines a velocity component for a target based on a measured frequency change for a known direction of travel. The invention may also be extended to provide a two or three dimensional velocity vector through the addition of further energy sources.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus used to calculate at least one velocity component for a target within the region. The invention employs an energy source which is activated using an activation system in a cyclic pattern with a selected source frequency. A receiver is also employed in conjunction with a shielding system where this shielding system is configured to block the sensing of reflected energy from the target in a cyclic pattern with a selected receiver frequency. The invention operates through measuring a frequency change in the source frequency of the energy source signal when received by the receiver and determines a velocity component for a target based on a measured frequency change for a known direction of travel. The invention may also be extended to provide a two or three dimensional velocity vector through the addition of further energy sources.

Abstract: The invention relates to a solid-state range sensing system. As with previous solid-state range sensing systems, an energy source is activated and deactivated in a cyclic pattern with a selected source frequency. A receiver is adapted to sense the reflection of emitted energy from the target. The receiver includes a shielding system to block the sensing of the reflected energy from the target in a cyclic pattern with a selected receiver frequency. Unlike the prior art, the frequency of the source and receiver are offset by a small frequency. The resulting output signal of the receiver is a further cyclic pattern beat signal of frequency equal to the difference between the source activation and receiver shielding modulation frequencies. The best signal is effectively a down-converted version of the source modulation frequency and, unlike the prior art, is compared with a reference beat signal whereby the phase difference between the two beat signals is used to determine a range value.