Abstract: An imaging system is provided for monitoring a field of view with a two-dimensional array of photo elements on which the field of view is imaged. The imaging system determines for each photo element a distance between the photo element and a surface of an object in the field of view by light emitted into the field of view and subsequently arriving on the photo elements and to determine a distance vector to form a coordinate image that includes the distance vector. A first memory unit stores the coordinate image, a second memory unit stores logical relations for the photo elements. A processing unit determines for each of the photo elements whether a logical relation is fulfilled and outputs a trigger signal when at least one of the logical relations is fulfilled.

Abstract: A method is provided for illuminating an object and for determining a distance value R. The object is illuminated with a light source and the light intensity of the light source is switched at a time T0 from an intensity Iout,h to an intensity Iout,l being lower than Iout,h and switched back to Iout,h at a time T0+Tn. A signal value U is outputted at the end of an integration window time period which has such a predetermined delay relative to T0 that either Ttof or Ttof+Tn is between an integration start point in time Tsd of the integration window time period and an integration end point in time Tsd+Ts, with Ttof being a point in time when light with the intensity Iin,l arrives first at the photo element, and Ts is longer than Tn.

Abstract: A distance camera includes at least one photo element, a trigger generator activating the photo element during a temporal integration gate, a light source illuminating an object with light pulses having a predetermined temporal intensity profile with a duration Tp, and an intensity sensor determining the intensity Ip of the light pulses arriving on the photo element. The integration gate has a predetermined delay to the light pulse emission start point in order to capture the light pulses back reflected from the object. The photo element outputs a signal value U at an integration end point in time T1e and in accordance with an intensity Ip and a duration of the light pulse arriving on the photo element during its activation.