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 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: 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: 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: Examples relate to a method, an apparatus and a computer program for detecting a presence of airborne particles. A reference measurement of an environment of a depth image sensor module is obtained. The reference measurement is based on a measurement of modulated light in a first time interval. The modulated light is reflected by features of the environment of the depth image sensor module. A subsequent measurement of modulated light is obtained in a second time interval. The presence of the airborne particles is detected based on the subsequent measurement of the modulated light, by using the reference measurement performed in the first time interval to disregard all or part of the features of the environment of the depth image sensor module. A signal indicative of one or more properties of the detected airborne particles is generated based on the detected presence of the airborne particles.

Abstract: Examples relate to a method, an apparatus and a computer program for detecting a presence of airborne particles. A reference measurement of an environment of a depth image sensor module is obtained. The reference measurement is based on a measurement of modulated light in a first time interval. The modulated light is reflected by features of the environment of the depth image sensor module. A subsequent measurement of modulated light is obtained in a second time interval. The presence of the airborne particles is detected based on the subsequent measurement of the modulated light, by using the reference measurement performed in the first time interval to disregard all or part of the features of the environment of the depth image sensor module. A signal indicative of one or more properties of the detected airborne particles is generated based on the detected presence of the airborne particles.