Abstract: An abnormality of output laser light is detected for enhancement in safety. A light-source drive device includes a light-source control unit, a light-receiving unit, and an abnormality detection unit. The light-source control unit included in the light-source drive device controls light emission of a light source. The light-receiving unit included in the light-source drive device receives light from the light source through an output part allowing outward output of light of the light source. The abnormality detection unit included in the light-source drive device detects an abnormality of the light output from the output part, on the basis of the received light.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a driving device, a driving method, and a light-emitting unit that make it possible to appropriately drive a light-emitting element. The driving device according to the present invention includes: a setting section (161) that sets at least one of a bias current of a light-emitting element (an LD 121) or a target current for setting output light from the light-emitting element (the LD 121) to desired intensity on the basis of a result of detection of an offset light amount when the light-emitting element (the LD 121) does not emit light; and an output controller (164) that controls an output of a driving current of the light-emitting element (the LD 121) on the basis of at least one of the set bias current or the set target current. The detection of the offset light amount is performed by a light-receiving element (a PD 122) that receives a portion of the output light. The present invention is applicable to a ranging module, for example.

Abstract: A light reception device comprises a pixel array including a plurality of pixels, each of the plurality of pixels including a photosensitive element configured to generate a signal in response to detection of a photon by the photosensitive element, wherein the plurality of pixels include a first pixel having a first sensitivity to detect a first photon incident on the first pixel and a second pixel having a second sensitivity to detect a second photon incident on the second pixel, wherein the second sensitivity is lower than the first sensitivity.

Abstract: A light reception device comprises a pixel array including a plurality of pixels, each of the plurality of pixels including a photosensitive element configured to generate a signal in response to detection of a photon by the photosensitive element, wherein the plurality of pixels include a first pixel having a first sensitivity to detect a first photon incident on the first pixel and a second pixel having a second sensitivity to detect a second photon incident on the second pixel, wherein the second sensitivity is lower than the first sensitivity.

Abstract: A driving device that includes a temperature monitoring circuit, a headroom voltage monitoring circuit, a power supply voltage monitoring circuit, and a control unit. The temperature monitoring circuit detects a temperature of a drive circuit that drives a light emitting element in a test light emission period of the light emitting element. The headroom voltage monitoring circuit detects a headroom voltage of the drive circuit in the test light emission period. The power supply voltage monitoring circuit detects a power supply voltage supplied to the light emitting element in the test light emission period. The control unit adjusts the power supply voltage in the test light emission period according to an input/output potential difference of the light emitting element varying depending on the temperature of drive circuit so as to obtain a headroom voltage necessary and sufficient for causing a prescribed drive current to flow through the light emitting element.

Abstract: The configuration of a light source driving device, which drives a plurality of light sources that emit light to an object to measure the distance to the object, is simplified. A light source device drives a plurality of light sources provided in a system that measures the distance to the object. The light source driving device is provided in the light source device. The light source driving device includes a light source control unit that individually controls emission of light from a plurality of light sources that emit the light to an object to measure a distance to the object.

Abstract: To detect a malfunction of a light-emission driving unit that drives a light emitting element in a light-emission driving device. A malfunction detection device is provided to the light-emission driving device including the light-emission driving unit that supplies a light-emission current for causing the light emitting element to emit light during a light-emission period during which the light emitting element is caused to emit light. The malfunction detection device provided to this light-emission driving device detects, on the basis of a voltage of an output terminal, a malfunction of the light-emission driving unit, the output terminal being a terminal in the light-emission driving unit that supplies the light-emission current for causing the light emitting element to emit light during the light-emission period, the terminal supplying the light-emission current.

Abstract: A distance measuring device of the present disclosure includes a light source section that irradiates a subject with light, a light receiving device that receives reflected light from the subject, and an application processor that controls the light source section and the light receiving device. The light receiving device has an object detection function of measuring a distance to the subject to detect that the subject approaches within a predetermined distance, and provides notification of a detection result to the application processor in a standby state. The application processor starts up in response to the notification from the light receiving device.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to reduce errors caused by changes in delay time when driving a light-emitting element. A light-emission driving device (10) includes: a light-emission current detection unit (401) (12); a phase difference detection unit (300); and a delay unit (200). The light-emission current detection unit (401) (12) detects a light-emission current for causing a light-emitting element (20) to emit light, the light-emission current being supplied from a light-emission driving unit (110). The phase difference detection unit (300) detects a phase difference between the detected light-emission current and a drive signal for controlling the supply of the light-emission current in the light-emission driving unit (110). The delay unit (200) adjusts propagation delay of the drive signal in accordance with the detected phase difference, and supplies the adjusted drive signal to the light-emission driving unit (110) as a drive signal.

Abstract: A current generation circuit according to the present disclosure includes a constant current source (10), a current mirror circuit (20), and a gate length adjusting unit (9). The constant current source (10) is able to flow a reference current (Id) with a plurality of values. The current mirror circuit (20) is constituted by a first transistor (40) that is connected to the constant current source (10) and second transistors (50) that are connected to respective single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) elements (6a). The gate length adjusting unit (9) adjusts, on the basis of the reference current (Id) that is set in the constant current source (10), a gate length of the first transistor (40) and a gate length of each of the second transistors (50).

Abstract: To detect a malfunction of a light-emission driving unit (110) that drives a light emitting element (20) in a light-emission driving device (10). A malfunction detection device (100) is provided to the light-emission driving device (10) including the light-emission driving unit (110) that supplies a light-emission current for causing the light emitting element (20) to emit light during a light-emission period during which the light emitting element (20) is caused to emit light. The malfunction detection device (100) provided to this light-emission driving device (10) detects, on the basis of a voltage of an output terminal (113), a malfunction of the light-emission driving unit (110), the output terminal (113) being a terminal in the light-emission driving unit (110) that supplies the light-emission current for causing the light emitting element (20) to emit light during the light-emission period, the terminal supplying the light-emission current.

Abstract: A control circuit according to the present disclosure includes first wiring (10) to which a first power supply voltage (Vdd1) is applied, second wiring (20) to which a second power supply voltage (Vdd2) lower than the first power supply voltage (Vdd1) is applied, a current supply unit (20) configured to supply a predetermined current from the first wiring (10) to a SPAD element (6a), a first withstand voltage unit (40) configured to hold a lower voltage side of the current supply unit (20) at a voltage equal to or above the second power supply voltage (Vdd2), an inverter (60) connected to a cathode of the SPAD element (6a), and a second withstand voltage unit (50) that is configured to hold the inverter (60) at a voltage equal to or below the second power supply voltage (Vdd2), and includes an N-type first transistor that is provided between the cathode of the SPAD element (6a) and an input terminal of the inverter (60), and has a gate connected to the second wiring (11), and a P-type second transistor that i

Abstract: The control circuit according to the present disclosure includes a passive circuit (10) and an active circuit (20). The passive circuit (10) is configured to: supply current to a Single Photon Avalanche Diode (SPAD) element (6a) from a supply path (Rp); and output a first pulse signal (P1) according to a signal Generated in the SPAD element (6a). The active circuit (20) is configured to: supply current to the SPAD element (6a) selectively from among a plurality of supply paths; and output a second pulse signal (P2) according to a signal generated in the SPAD element (6a).

Abstract: A configuration of a light emission device that shortens a light emission latency time of a light emitting element is simplified. A light emission drive circuit includes a light emission current wire, a light emission current switch, a preliminary current wire, and a preliminary current switch. The light emission current wire flows a light emission current for causing a light emitting element to emit light, is the light emitting element. The light emission current switch is connected to the light emission current wire, and controls the light emission current. The preliminary current wire flows, in the light emission current wire, a preliminary current for exciting an inductance component of the light emission current wire before a light emission period being a period in which the light emission current flows in the light emitting element. The preliminary current switch is connected to the preliminary current wire, and controls the preliminary current.

Abstract: An abnormality of output laser light is detected for enhancement in safety. A light-source drive device includes a light-source control unit, a light-receiving unit, and an abnormality detection unit. The light-source control unit included in the light-source drive device controls light emission of a light source. The light-receiving unit included in the light-source drive device receives light from the light source through an output part allowing outward output of light of the light source. The abnormality detection unit included in the light-source drive device detects an abnormality of the light output from the output part, on the basis of the received light.

Abstract: A light receiving device of the present disclosure includes: a pixel array unit having a plurality of pixels 501 to 504 each including a light receiving unit 501 to 504 that generates a signal according to reception of photons; a first switch unit that 611 to 614 recharges the light receiving unit 501 to 504; and a recharge control unit 64 that controls the first switch unit 611 to 614 according to output of the light receiving unit 501 to 504, and the recharge control unit 64 is shared among the plurality of pixels 501 to 504. By this sharing of the recharge control unit 64, since the circuit area of the circuit unit 60 per pixel can be reduced, the aperture ratio can be increased while miniaturizing the pixel 50. Preferably, the recharge control unit 64 includes a four-input OR circuit 641 and a recharge signal generation circuit 642. The OR circuit 641 obtains the OR of the logic signals retrieved from each cathode electrode of the SPAD sensors 501 to 504 supplied through the comparators 631 to 634.

Abstract: A light reception device comprises a pixel array including a plurality of pixels, each of the plurality of pixels including a photosensitive element configured to generate a signal in response to detection of a photon by the photosensitive element, wherein the plurality of pixels include a first pixel having a first sensitivity to detect a first photon incident on the first pixel and a second pixel having a second sensitivity to detect a second photon incident on the second pixel, wherein the second sensitivity is lower than the first sensitivity.

Abstract: A level conversion circuit includes: a multi-value output differential amplifier circuit including an inverting input section, an output section, and two or more non-inverting input sections; and an offset cancelling circuit configured to store, on each of a plurality of capacitors, an offset voltage that arises on each of the two or more non-inverting input sections of the multi-value output differential amplifier circuit, and subtract the offset voltages from an output voltage of the output section.