Abstract: An imaging system includes an illumination element for emitting light and an imaging sensor having at least one photo-sensitive element that includes a first element with a modifiable first charge level and a second element with a modifiable second charge level. Control circuitry is configured to, during a first phase, control the illumination element to emit light towards a scene and drive the photo-sensitive element such that charge carriers generated in the photo-sensitive element by light received from the scene modify the first charge level. The control circuitry is configured to, during a second phase, control the illumination element to pause emission of the light and drive the photo-sensitive element such that charge carriers generated in the photo-sensitive element by light received modify the second charge level, and to generate a gray-scale image of the scene based on the first and second charge levels.

Abstract: A method for determining a reflectivity value indicating a reflectivity of an object is provided. The method includes performing a Time-of-Flight (ToF) measurement using a ToF sensor. A correlation function of the ToF measurement increases over distance within a measurement range of the ToF sensor such that an output value of the ToF sensor for the ToF measurement is independent of the distance between the ToF sensor and the object. The method further includes determining the reflectivity value based on the output value of the ToF sensor for the ToF measurement.

Abstract: An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes: a display device including a plurality of light-emitting elements for displaying an optical image on a front side of the display device; an illumination element integrated into the display device and configured to emit light for illuminating a scene in front of the front side of the display device; an optical sensor configured to sense reflections of the light from the scene; an optical transmitter configured to transmit an optical control signal encoded with control information for controlling light emission by the illumination element; and an optical receiver integrated into the display device and configured to receive the optical control signal and generate an electrical control signal based on the optical control signal. The electronic device further includes a driver circuit integrated into the display device and configured to drive the illumination element based on the electrical control signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a specular surface in a scene is provided. The apparatus includes an illumination device configured to emit polarized light towards the scene. The apparatus further includes an imaging system configured to capture a first image of the scene based on light emanating from the scene. The light emanating from the scene includes one or more reflection of the emitted polarized light. The imaging system is further configured to capture a second image of the scene based on filtered light. The apparatus further includes a polarization filter configured to generate the filtered light by filtering the light emanating from the scene. The apparatus further includes processing circuitry configured to determine presence of the specular surface in the scene based on a comparison of the first image and the second image.

Abstract: An apparatus for sensing a scene is provided. The apparatus includes an illumination element configured to illuminate the scene with modulated light. Additionally, the apparatus includes an optical sensor configured to receive reflected light from the scene. The optical sensor includes at least one photo-sensitive sensor pixel configured to store charge carriers generated in the photo-sensitive sensor pixel by the reflected light in at least one charge storage of the photo-sensitive sensor pixel during a measurement. The at least one photo-sensitive sensor pixel is further configured to selectively prevent the charge carriers from reaching the at least one charge storage during the measurement to strictly monotonically increase a sensitivity of the at least one photo-sensitive sensor pixel over distance for reflected light originating within a measurement range of the optical sensor.

Abstract: An illumination device for an optical sensor is provided. The illumination device includes a plurality of light sources and a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to control the plurality of light sources to entirely illuminate a field of illumination in a first operation mode. The control circuit is further configured to control the plurality of light sources to illuminate at least one subfield of the field of illumination in a second operation mode.

Abstract: A method for determining an intensity value representing an intensity of light reflected from an object in a scene is provided. The method includes performing a Time-of-Flight (ToF) measurement of the scene using a ToF sensor. A light-intensity-independent correlation function of a photo-sensitive pixel of the ToF sensor exhibits a plateau in a target measure-ment range for the ToF measurement. The object is located within the target measurement range. The method further includes determining the intensity value based on an output of the photo-sensitive pixel for the ToF measurement.

Abstract: A method for Time-of-Flight (ToF) sensing of a scene is provided. The method includes performing, by a ToF sensor, a plurality of first ToF measurements using a first modulation frequency to obtain first measurement values. A respective correlation function of each of the plurality of first ToF measurements is periodic and exhibits an increasing amplitude over distance within a measurement range of the ToF sensor. The method additionally includes determining a distance to an object in the scene based on the first measurement values.

Abstract: A time-of-flight (ToF) imaging system includes a photonic mixer device configured to perform ToF measurements using at least one photo-sensitive element. Each photo-sensitive element includes at least a first element with a modifiable first charge level, a second element with a modifiable second charge level, and a gate for transferring charges to a fixed potential. The ToF imaging system includes control circuitry configured to provide a control signal for the photonic mixer device. The control signal is configured to drive the at least one photo-sensitive element such that charge carriers generated in the at least one photo-sensitive element by received light are directed either to the first element, the second element or the gate, or such that charge carriers generated in the at least one photo-sensitive element by received light are directed either to the first element, the second element, the gate, or to the first and the second element.

Abstract: An imaging system includes an illumination element for emitting light and an imaging sensor having at least one photo-sensitive element that includes a first element with a modifiable first charge level and a second element with a modifiable second charge level. Control circuitry is configured to, during a first phase, control the illumination element to emit light towards a scene and drive the photo-sensitive element such that charge carriers generated in the photo-sensitive element by light received from the scene modify the first charge level. The control circuitry is configured to, during a second phase, control the illumination element to pause emission of the light and drive the photo-sensitive element such that charge carriers generated in the photo-sensitive element by light received modify the second charge level, and to generate a gray-scale image of the scene based on the first and second charge levels.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a display device having light-emitting elements for displaying an optical image on a front side of the display device, and at least one illumination element configured to emit light for illuminating a scene in front of the front side of the display device. The display device is arranged between the at least one illumination element and the scene and includes a first display region exhibiting a first transmissivity for the light emitted by the at least one illumination element and a second display region exhibiting a second transmissivity for the light emitted by the at least one illumination element. The first transmissivity is higher than the second transmissivity. At least one optical element arranged between the at least one illumination element and the display device is configured to focus the light emitted by the at least one illumination element through the first display region.

Abstract: An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a display device configured to display an optical image on a front side of the display device. Further, the electronic device includes at least one sensor configured to measure electromagnetic radiation received from a scene in front of the front side of the display device. The display device includes a first display region using a first display technology and exhibiting a first transmissivity for the electromagnetic radiation. The display device further includes a second display region using a second display technology and exhibiting a second transmissivity for the electromagnetic radiation. The first transmissivity is higher than the second transmissivity. The at least one sensor is arranged on a back side of the display device and faces the first display region.

Abstract: An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes: a display device including a plurality of light-emitting elements for displaying an optical image on a front side of the display device; an illumination element integrated into the display device and configured to emit light for illuminating a scene in front of the front side of the display device; an optical sensor configured to sense reflections of the light from the scene; an optical transmitter configured to transmit an optical control signal encoded with control information for controlling light emission by the illumination element; and an optical receiver integrated into the display device and configured to receive the optical control signal and generate an electrical control signal based on the optical control signal. The electronic device further includes a driver circuit integrated into the display device and configured to drive the illumination element based on the electrical control signal.

Abstract: A display device is provided. The display device includes a plurality of first light-emitting elements configured to emit light for displaying an optical image on a front side of the display device. Additionally, the display device includes at least one second light-emitting element configured to emit infrared light for illuminating a scene in front of the front side of the display device.

Abstract: A method for time-of-flight sensing of a scene is provided. For at least one pixel position, the method includes performing at least one time-of-flight measurement using a first modulation frequency to obtain at least one first measurement value for the pixel position. Further, the method includes for the at least one pixel position performing at least one time-of-flight measurement using a second modulation frequency to obtain at least one second measurement value for the pixel position. The method additionally includes determining an estimate of a distance value of the pixel position based on the at least one first measurement value and the at least one second measurement value using a mapping function.

Abstract: A method for determining a reflectivity value indicating a reflectivity of an object is provided. The method includes performing a Time-of-Flight (ToF) measurement using a ToF sensor. A correlation function of the ToF measurement increases over distance within a measurement range of the ToF sensor such that an output value of the ToF sensor for the ToF measurement is independent of the distance between the ToF sensor and the object. The method further includes determining the reflectivity value based on the output value of the ToF sensor for the ToF measurement.

Abstract: For a single exposure of a light capturing element of a time-of-flight sensor, a method for time-of-flight sensing includes illuminating a scene at least once with a first modulated light signal and illuminating the scene at least once with a second modulated light signal. The method also includes driving the light capturing element at least once based on a first reference signal portion for measuring reflections of the first modulated light signal from the scene, and driving the light capturing element at least once based on a second reference signal portion for measuring reflections of the second modulated light signal from the scene. The first modulated light signal and the second modulated light signal each exhibit a first duty cycle. The first reference signal portion and the second reference signal portion each exhibit a second duty cycle. The first duty cycle is lower than the second duty cycle.

Abstract: A method for characterizing a time-of-flight sensor is provided. The time-of-flight sensor is covered by a cover exhibiting an adjustable transmittance. The method includes selectively adjusting the transmittance of the cover such that the cover is opaque for light emittable by the time-of-flight sensor. Further, the method includes performing at least one time-of-flight measurement with the time-of-flight sensor while the cover is opaque for obtaining measurement data for light reflected from the cover back to the time-of-flight sensor. The method additionally includes determining characterization data based on the measurement data. The characterization data indicate a quantity related to the time-of-flight sensor.

Abstract: A method for characterizing a time-of-flight sensor and/or a cover covering the time-of-flight sensor is provided. The method includes performing at least one coded modulation measurement with the time-of-flight sensor for obtaining measurement data for light reflected from the cover back to the time-of-flight sensor. A measurement range of the time-of-flight sensor is configured to end shortly after the cover for the at least one coded modulation measurement. Further, the method includes determining characterization data based on the measurement data, wherein the characterization data indicate a quantity related to the time-of-flight sensor and/or the cover.

Abstract: A method for time-of-flight sensing is provided. The method includes for at least one pixel position performing at least one continuous wave measurement to obtain at least one first measurement value for the pixel position. Further, the method includes performing at least one coded modulation measurement to obtain at least one second measurement value for the pixel position. The method additionally includes determining an estimate of a distance value of the pixel position based on the at least one first measurement value and the at least one second measurement value using a mapping function.