Abstract: A light source unit, a light receiving unit that includes a distance image sensor in which a plurality of pixels each including a photoelectric conversion device generating electric charge corresponding to incident light and a plurality of electric charge accumulating units accumulating the electric charge and dividing and accumulating the electric charge among the electric charge accumulating units at a predetermined accumulation timing are arranged in a two-dimensional matrix pattern, a distance image processing unit that is configured to acquire a distance from a subject present in the space that is an imaging target, and a timing determining unit that is configured to determine the accumulation timing in the measurement time interval on the basis of an electric charge amount in each of the electric charge accumulating units in an inspection time interval in which the light pulse is not emitted at the accumulation timing are provided.

Abstract: A distance image capturing apparatus has a light source unit that emits an intermittent light pulse into a space, a light receiving unit that includes a plurality of pixels each having a photoelectric conversion device and electric charge accumulating units, and a distance image processing unit. The distance image processing unit acquires an electric charge amount distributed by a predetermined fixed number of times and accumulated in the accumulating units. The distance image processing unit acquires electric charge amounts accumulated in the accumulating units with different number of times of electric charge distribution as one set and selects one of a first electric charge amount with a larger number of electric charge distribution and a second electric charge amount for acquiring a distance from a subject based on a comparison result with a threshold.

Abstract: A light source unit that emits a light pulse, a light receiving unit that includes pixels each including a photoelectric conversion device generating electric charge according to incident light and a plurality of electric charge accumulating units accumulating the electric charge and a pixel driving circuit that distributes the electric charge to the electric charge accumulating units of the pixels to be accumulated therein at a predetermined accumulation timing synchronized with the emission of the light pulse, and a distance image processing unit that measures the distance to a subject present in the measurement space on the basis of amounts of electric charge accumulated in the electric charge accumulating units are included, and the distance image processing unit includes a timing control unit that controls the accumulation timing in accordance with a measurement mode set in advance in accordance with a range of distances that are measurement targets.

Abstract: A range-measuring device encompasses a light emitter, a light-receiving region for receiving a reflected light of the pulsed light from the target, a driver for transmitting control signals to the light emitter and for transmitting transfer signals to distributing gates, providing offset periods in between on-periods of the transfer signals, distributing gates distribute signal charges to charge-accumulation regions, a range calculator configured to calculate ranges to the target, by using the signals transmitted from the charge-accumulation regions, and a control processor configured to generate control signals for controlling operations of the driver from calculated result delivered from the range calculator, and to transmit the control signals to the driver.

Abstract: A range-measuring device encompasses N charge-distributing gates configured to distribute the signal charges toward N charge-transfer routes, a charge-exhausting gate for exhausting unwanted charges other than the signal charges, N charge-accumulation regions for accumulating the signal charges, a driver for transmitting drive signals to the N charge-distributing gates and the charge-exhausting gate, a readout-amplifier for reading out output signals corresponding to the signal charges accumulated in the N charge-accumulation regions, an arithmetic logic circuit configured to execute a job for calculating ranges to the target after receiving the output signals transmitted through the readout-amplifier.

Abstract: An optical-detection element includes a p-type supporting-layer, an n-type buried charge-generation region to implement a photodiode with the supporting-layer, a p-type shield region buried in the buried charge-generation region, a gate insulating-film contacted with the shield region, a transparent electrode on the gate insulating-film, a p-type well region buried in the supporting-layer, and an n+-type charge-readout region buried in the supporting-layer at an edge of the well region toward the buried charge-generation region.

Abstract: An optical-detection element includes a p-type supporting-layer, an n-type buried charge-generation region to implement a photodiode with the supporting-layer, a p-type shield region buried in the buried charge-generation region, a gate insulating-film contacted with the shield region, a transparent electrode on the gate insulating-film, a p-type well region buried in the supporting-layer, and an n+-type charge-readout region buried in the supporting-layer at an edge of the well region toward the buried charge-generation region.

Abstract: A radiation tolerant optical detection element includes: a p-type base-body region; a gate insulating film provided on an upper surface of the base-body region; an n-type buried charge-generation region buried in an upper portion of the base-body region; an n-type charge-readout region buried in an upper portion of the base-body region on the inner-contour side of the buried charge-generation region; an n-type reset-drain region buried on the inner-contour side of the charge-readout region; a transparent electrode provided on the gate insulating film above the buried charge-generation region; and a reset-gate electrode provided on a portion of the gate insulating film between the charge-readout region and the reset-drain region.

Abstract: A radiation tolerant optical detection element includes: a p-type base-body region; a gate insulating film provided on an upper surface of the base-body region; an n-type buried charge-generation region buried in an upper portion of the base-body region; an n-type charge-readout region buried in an upper portion of the base-body region on the inner-contour side of the buried charge-generation region; an n-type reset-drain region buried on the inner-contour side of the charge-readout region; a transparent electrode provided on the gate insulating film above the buried charge-generation region; and a reset-gate electrode provided on a portion of the gate insulating film between the charge-readout region and the reset-drain region.