Abstract: A light reception array unit receives light irradiated from an irradiation unit and reflected from an object, and outputs in parallel a pulse signal respectively output from a plurality of light reception units. A timer unit measures an elapsed time since an input of an irradiation timing signal. A response acquisition unit acquires a number of responses, which is a number of the light reception units outputting the pulse signal, at each fixed cycle timing, and outputs an adjusted number of responses obtained by subtracting a bias value from the number of responses or dividing the number of responses by the bias value. An address of a memory is associated with a timer value measured by the timer unit. A histogram generation unit integrates and stores, in a memory address specified from a timer value, the adjusted number of responses as data at that address.

Abstract: A distance measurement device includes a light emitting and receiving units, and a calculation unit that uses a time-of-flight to calculate an object distance. The calculation unit includes: a histogram generation unit; a composite peak portion estimation unit that estimates whether a composite peak portion is present in a histogram, the composite peak portion being a peak portion at which the received light intensity changes with respect to the time-of-flight with reference to a peak time-of-flight and which is obtained from a combination of distributions of intensity of light from objects, differences of distances to the objects from the device being within a predetermined range; a time-of-flight specification unit that specifies rise time and fall time; a base time-of-flight determination unit that determines a base time-of-flight based on the rise time or the fall time; and a distance calculation unit that uses the base time-of-flight to calculate the object distance.

Abstract: A plurality of photodetectors form a light receiving group, and a plurality of the light receiving groups form one pixel. A light receiving array is provided with one or more of such pixels. The photodetectors each output a pulse signal in response to irradiation of a photon. A measuring unit is provided for each of the plurality of light receiving groups. The measuring unit generates time information representing an elapsed time from an irradiation timing input from outside and light quantity information acquired at each of one or more timings identified from the time information, in accordance with the pulse signal output from the light receiving group. The number of the photodetectors outputting the pulse signal among the plurality of photodetectors belonging to the light receiving group is used as the light quantity information.

Abstract: A plurality of photodetectors form a light receiving group, and a plurality of the light receiving groups form one pixel. A light receiving array is provided with one or more of such pixels. The photodetectors each output a pulse signal in response to irradiation of a photon. A measuring unit is provided for each of the plurality of light receiving groups. The measuring unit generates time information representing an elapsed time from an irradiation timing input from outside and light quantity information acquired at each of one or more timings identified from the time information, in accordance with the pulse signal output from the light receiving group. The number of the photodetectors outputting the pulse signal among the plurality of photodetectors belonging to the light receiving group is used as the light quantity information.

Abstract: A distance measuring device includes a light emitting unit, a light receiving array unit, a signal intensity calculation unit, a signal time calculation unit, an intensity correction unit, and a distance calculation unit. The light emitting unit emits pulsed signal light. The light receiving array unit includes a plurality of photodetectors, each of which outputs a pulse signal in response to incidence of a photon. The signal intensity calculation unit calculates a signal intensity that indicates a light intensity of the signal light received by the light receiving array unit. The signal time calculation unit calculates a rise time and a fall time of the signal light detected by the light receiving array unit. The intensity correction unit corrects at least one of the rise time and the fall time calculated by the signal time calculation unit based on the signal intensity calculated by the signal intensity calculation unit.

Abstract: A photodetector includes plural detectors. Each of the plural detectors has a single photon avalanche diode (hereinafter referred to as SPAD) which responds to incidence of a photon. The plural detectors include at least a first detector and a second detector. The SPAD has a recovery time period until the SPAD reaches a next photon-responsive state, in response to the SPAD responding to the incidence of the photon. The recovery time period of the SPAD in the first detector is different from the recovery time period of the SPAD in the second detector.

Abstract: A light detector is provided to include a light receiving array having a plurality of light receivers respectively outputting pulse signals upon incidence of photons. A delay setting value is set which is used to adjust a time interval from when the pulse signals are output from the light receiving array to when a response number, which is a specified number of the light receivers outputting the pulse signals, is acquired.

Abstract: A photodetector includes: a photoreceptor provided with a SPAD that is configured to respond to incidence of a photon, and as the response of the SPAD, configured to output a pulse signal; and a pulse rate control circuit configured to control sensitivity of the photoreceptor to have a pulse rate as the number of pulse signals outputted per unit time from the photoreceptor to be a set value set in advance, (i) in a set range including the set value, (ii) in a set range of the set value or more, or (iii) in a set range of the set value or less.

Abstract: A light detector is provided to include a detection module, and a monitoring SPAD. The detection module includes an SPAD that is an avalanche photodiode operable in Geiger mode; the detection module is configured to perform light detection by applying, to the SPAD, a reverse bias voltage in a reverse direction. The monitoring SPAD has characteristics identical to characteristics of the SPAD in the detection module. The reverse bias voltage is generated to be applied to the SPAD in the detection module based on (i) a reference breakdown voltage set from a breakdown voltage generated across the monitoring SPAD in Geiger mode and (ii) a predetermined excess voltage.

Abstract: In an optical ranging device for measuring a distance to an object using light, an optical system is configured to image reflected light from a predefined region corresponding to pulsed light to a pixel that performs detection, within which a plurality of sub-pixels arranged. A timing control unit is configured to cause detection of the reflected light, which is repeated at time intervals by at least some of the plurality of sub-pixels, and detection of the reflected light, which is repeated at the time intervals by others of the plurality of sub-pixels, to be performed at different phases. A determination unit is configured to, using a result of detection of the reflected light repeated at the time intervals by each of the plurality of sub-pixels, determine a spatial position of the object present in the predefined region range, including a distance to the object.

Abstract: In a ranging device for measuring a distance to an object, a distance image acquisition unit is configured to, using light reception signal, acquire a distance image that indicates, at each pixel, a distance to the object within a region illuminated with illumination light. A background light image acquisition unit is configured to, using the light reception signals, acquire a background light image that indicates an intensity of background light received at each pixel. An information acquirer is configured to acquire intensity-related information related to the intensity of the background light. A resolution controller is configured to control a resolution of the distance image and a resolution of the background light image by setting a size of pixel regions independently for each of the distance image and the background light image according to the intensity of the background light indicated by the intensity-related information.

Abstract: A photodetector and an optical ranging apparatus provided with the photodetector are disclosed. The photodetector includes a pulse output section that changes an output from a light-receiving element to a rectangular pulse having a predetermined pulse width and outputs the rectangular pulse. Further, the photodetector also includes a pulse conversion circuit that converts the rectangular pulse to a rectangular pulse having a pulse width different from the predetermined pulse, based on the rise and fall of the rectangular pulse.

Abstract: A cuff unit of the present invention includes a first wall and a second wall that face each other with an object which has a rod shape interposed therebetween, an actuator that is capable of moving the first wall and the second wall in parallel with each other in a direction in which the first wall and the second wall relatively approach each other or separate from each other, a pressing fluid bag that is provided on a surface of the first wall on a side facing the object and that receives supply of a fluid from outside to inflate and press the object, and a restraining fluid bag that is provided on a surface of the second wall on a side facing the object and that receives supply of a fluid from outside to inflate along the periphery of the object.

Abstract: A plurality of photodetectors form a light receiving group, and a plurality of the light receiving groups form one pixel. A light receiving array is provided with one or more of such pixels. The photodetectors each output a pulse signal in response to irradiation of a photon. A measuring unit is provided for each of the plurality of light receiving groups. The measuring unit generates time information representing an elapsed time from an irradiation timing input from outside and light quantity information acquired at each of one or more timings identified from the time information, in accordance with the pulse signal output from the light receiving group. The number of the photodetectors outputting the pulse signal among the plurality of photodetectors belonging to the light receiving group is used as the light quantity information.

Abstract: A photodetector includes: a photoreceptor provided with a SPAD that is configured to respond to incidence of a photon, and as the response of the SPAD, configured to output a pulse signal; and a pulse rate control circuit configured to control sensitivity of the photoreceptor to have a pulse rate as the number of pulse signals outputted per unit time from the photoreceptor to be a set value set in advance, (i) in a set range including the set value, (ii) in a set range of the set value or more, or (iii) in a set range of the set value or less.

Abstract: A plurality of photodetectors form a light receiving group, and a plurality of the light receiving groups form one pixel. A light receiving array is provided with one or more of such pixels. The photodetectors each output a pulse signal in response to irradiation of a photon. A measuring unit is provided for each of the plurality of light receiving groups. The measuring unit generates time information representing an elapsed time from an irradiation timing input from outside and light quantity information acquired at each of one or more timings identified from the time information, in accordance with the pulse signal output from the light receiving group. The number of the photodetectors outputting the pulse signal among the plurality of photodetectors belonging to the light receiving group is used as the light quantity information.

Abstract: A light detector is provided to include a detection module, and a monitoring SPAD. The detection module includes an SPAD that is an avalanche photodiode operable in Geiger mode; the detection module is configured to perform light detection by applying, to the SPAD, a reverse bias voltage in a reverse direction. The monitoring SPAD has characteristics identical to characteristics of the SPAD in the detection module. The reverse bias voltage is generated to be applied to the SPAD in the detection module based on (i) a reference breakdown voltage set from a breakdown voltage generated across the monitoring SPAD in Geiger mode and (ii) a predetermined excess voltage.

Abstract: A light detector is provided to include a light receiving array having a plurality of light receivers respectively outputting pulse signals upon incidence of photons. A delay setting value is set which is used to adjust a time interval from when the pulse signals are output from the light receiving array to when a response number, which is a specified number of the light receivers outputting the pulse signals, is acquired.

Abstract: A photodetector includes plural detectors. Each of the plural detectors has a single photon avalanche diode (hereinafter referred to as SPAD) which responds to incidence of a photon. The plural detectors include at least a first detector and a second detector. The SPAD has a recovery time period until the SPAD reaches a next photon-responsive state, in response to the SPAD responding to the incidence of the photon. The recovery time period of the SPAD in the first detector is different from the recovery time period of the SPAD in the second detector.

Abstract: A light reception array unit receives light irradiated from an irradiation unit and reflected from an object, and outputs in parallel a pulse signal respectively output from a plurality of light reception units. A timer unit measures an elapsed time since an input of an irradiation timing signal. A response acquisition unit acquires a number of responses, which is a number of the light reception units outputting the pulse signal, at each fixed cycle timing, and outputs an adjusted number of responses obtained by subtracting a bias value from the number of responses or dividing the number of responses by the bias value. An address of a memory is associated with a timer value measured by the timer unit. A histogram generation unit integrates and stores, in a memory address specified from a timer value, the adjusted number of responses as data at that address.