Abstract: A sensor includes an avalanche photodiode (APD), a first resistor, a second resistor, and a rectification element. The first resistor is connected between a current output terminal of the APD and a first output terminal. The second resistor and the rectification element are connected in series between the current output terminal and a second output terminal. The rectification element is connected between the second resistor and the second output terminal.

Abstract: A light receiving device includes a light receiver including pixels and a light receiving area. The pixels are arranged in an array in a first direction and in a second direction intersecting with the first direction and each of the pixels has one light receiving element or more. The light receiving area has continuous pixels out of the pixels, outputs signals based on intensities of light received in the continuous pixels, and is changed in position in the light receiver according to a signal indicating a position in the first direction and a position in the second direction.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a distance measuring device is a signal processing device that performs processing on time-series luminance signals of each of frames acquired on the basis of reflected lights of laser lights irradiated in order in a plurality of predetermined directions for each of the frames. The distance measuring device includes a storage circuit and a selection circuit. The storage circuit stores information concerning a distance value obtained on the basis of a time-series luminance signal of a preceding frame. The selection circuit selects a peak based on the distance value as a candidate of the distance value out of peaks in the time-series luminance signal in a present frame.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a sensor includes a first avalanche photodiode, a first quenching element, a second avalanche photodiode, and a second quenching element. The first quenching element is connected to a current output terminal of the first avalanche photodiode at one end and is connected to an output terminal at another end. The second avalanche photodiode is arranged adjacent to the first avalanche photodiode. The second quenching element is connected to a current output terminal of the second avalanche photodiode at one end and is connected to a specific electric potential at another end.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a light detector includes: a first set of light detection elements and a second set of light detection elements each being disposed in a first region on a substrate; and a first selection and integration circuit and a second selection and integration circuit each being disposed in a second region outside of the first region on the substrate. The first selection and integration circuit is configured to select a first subset of light detection elements in the first set, and integrate outputs from the light detection elements in the first subset. The second selection and integration circuit is configured to select a second subset of light detection elements in the second set, and integrate outputs from the light detection elements in the second subset.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a distance measuring device includes emission circuitry, an optical mechanism system, and measurement circuitry. The emission circuitry emits pulse light having a predetermined pulse width. The optical mechanism system emits the pulse light emitted by the emission circuitry to an object to be measured and receives scattered light of the pulse light scattered by the object to be measured. The measurement circuitry measures, via the optical mechanism system, a distance to the object to be measured using a detection signal having magnitude corresponding to light intensity received within a time range corresponding to the pulse width.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a distance measuring device measures a distance to the measured object base on light scattered on the measured object is detected. The distance measuring device includes an optical detector and a measurer. The optical detector detects the scattered light. The measurer has a sampler to sample a signal corresponding to an output signal of the optical detector every time when the light is emitted at a plurality of sampling time points and a storage to accumulate sampling values and store an accumulation value at each sampling time point. The measurer measures the distance based on a plurality of accumulation values at the sampling time points.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a distance measuring device measures a distance to the measured object base on light scattered on the measured object is detected. The distance measuring device includes an optical detector and a measurer. The optical detector detects the scattered light. The measurer has a sampler to sample a signal corresponding to an output signal of the optical detector every time when the light is emitted at a plurality of sampling time points and a storage to accumulate sampling values and store an accumulation value at each sampling time point. The measurer measures the distance based on a plurality of accumulation values at the sampling time points.

Abstract: A distance measuring device according to an embodiment includes a time acquisition circuit and a distance measurement circuit. The time acquisition circuit acquires a rising time in which a measurement signal obtained by converting reflected light of a laser beam from an object into a signal reaches a first threshold and a falling time in which the measurement signal reaches a second threshold after reaching the first threshold. The distance measurement circuit measures the distance to a target object on the basis of a time difference between timing based on the rising time and the falling time and irradiation timing of the laser beam.

Abstract: A distance measuring device according to an embodiment includes a weight value generator, a cumulative signal generator, and a distance measurer. The weight value generator generates, on the basis of similarity between a first digital signal obtained by digitizing reflected light of laser light irradiated in a first irradiation direction and a second digital signal obtained by digitizing reflected light of laser light irradiated in a second irradiation direction different from the first irradiation direction, a weight value of the second digital signal. The cumulative signal generator accumulates, on the first digital signal, a signal obtained by weighting the second digital signal with the weight value and generates a third digital signal. The distance measurer measures a distance to a target object on the basis of a time difference between irradiation timing of the laser light and timing of a peak position in the third digital signal.

Abstract: A distance measurement processing device according to an embodiment includes an information acquisition circuit and a reliability-degree generation circuit. The information acquisition circuit acquires a two-dimensional distance image having a measured distance as a pixel value and signal information concerning a signal value corresponding to the measured distance image. The reliability-degree generation circuit sets, for each of the pixels of the two-dimensional distance image, each of the pixels as a center pixel and generates a reliability degree based on information concerning the pixels having distance values equal to or smaller than a predetermined value from a distance value of the center pixel among the pixels contiguous within a predetermined range from the center pixel and a signal value corresponding to the center pixel.

Abstract: A photodetector includes: a silicon layer of a first conductivity type; a first semiconductor layer that is provided in the silicon layer, of a first conductivity type, and having an impurity concentration higher than a carrier concentration of the silicon layer; a second semiconductor layer provided on the first semiconductor layer, of a second conductivity type, and forming a pn boundary with the first semiconductor layer; a third semiconductor layer provided in the silicon layer, of a first conductivity type, having an impurity concentration higher than that of the silicon layer, and separated from the first semiconductor layer; a first electrode connected to the silicon layer; and a second electrode connected to the second semiconductor layer.

Abstract: A distance measuring device according to an embodiment includes a weight value generator, a cumulative signal generator, and a distance measurer. The weight value generator generates, on the basis of similarity between a first digital signal obtained by digitizing reflected light of laser light irradiated in a first irradiation direction and a second digital signal obtained by digitizing reflected light of laser light irradiated in a second irradiation direction different from the first irradiation direction, a weight value of the second digital signal. The cumulative signal generator accumulates, on the first digital signal, a signal obtained by weighting the second digital signal with the weight value and generates a third digital signal. The distance measurer measures a distance to a target object on the basis of a time difference between irradiation timing of the laser light and timing of a peak position in the third digital signal.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a distance measurement apparatus includes a light emitter that intermittently emits a light beam, and a meter that measures a distance to an object from a length of time from an emission of the light beam from the light emitter to a return of reflected light by the object. The light emitter emits the light beam in a certain cycle with delay corresponding to randomly set offset time. The meter generates an integrated detection signal by shifting a plurality of detection signals of the light beam emitted in the certain cycle by the respective offset times and time-divisionally integrating the detection signals, and determines based on the integrated detection signal whether or not the light indicated by the detection signals is reflected light by the object, emitted from the light emitter.

Abstract: A distance measuring device according to an embodiment includes a light source, an irradiation optical system, a light-receiving optical system, a sensor, an extractor, an adjuster, a signal generator, and a distance measurer. The light source intermittently emits laser light. The irradiation optical system reflects the laser light. The light-receiving optical system receives reflected light of the laser light via the mirror. The sensor includes a plurality of light receiving elements. The extractor extracts light receiving elements used for measurement of a distance to the measurement target object. The adjuster adjusts, according to an amplification factor corresponding to the light receiving elements extracted by the extractor, signal values of the electric signals of the light receiving elements. The signal generator generates time-series signals for measurement on the basis of the electric signals adjusted by the adjuster. The distance measurer measures the distance to the measurement target object.

Abstract: A distance measuring device includes a laser light source, an irradiation optical system comprising a beam spreader which is configured to spread the laser light about a first optical axis, a light reception optical system having a second optical axis different from the first optical axis and positioned to receive reflected light of the laser light from the object for measuring a distance to the object, a sensor with light receiving elements arranged in a first direction, the sensor being positioned to receive light reflected from the object which has passed through the light reception optical system, and a distance measuring unit configured to acquire distance information relating to the object based on the difference in time between emission of the laser light source and the reception of the reflected light at each of the plurality of light receiving elements.

Abstract: A method for determining photodetector elements used for measurement, from photodetector elements of a photodetector device, includes directing measurement light to an object, such that the measurement light reflected by the object is incident on the photodetector device, selecting a group of candidate photodetector elements that are consecutively arranged to each other from the plurality of photodetector elements, and obtaining an output signal from each of the candidate photodetector elements of the group when the reflected measurement light is incident on the photodetector device.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a distance measuring device includes emission circuitry, an optical mechanism system, and measurement circuitry. The emission circuitry emits pulse light having a predetermined pulse width. The optical mechanism system emits the pulse light emitted by the emission circuitry to an object to be measured and receives scattered light of the pulse light scattered by the object to be measured. The measurement circuitry measures, via the optical mechanism system, a distance to the object to be measured using a detection signal having magnitude corresponding to light intensity received within a time range corresponding to the pulse width.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus of an embodiment includes a plurality of light receiving units arranged in an array to each detect light with a specific color and a specific polarization angle. In the plurality of light receiving units, both the color and polarization angle to be detected differ between the light receiving units adjacent to each other.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a distance measuring device measures a distance to the measured object base on light scattered on the measured object is detected. The distance measuring device includes an optical detector and a measurer. The optical detector detects the scattered light. The measurer has a sampler to sample a signal corresponding to an output signal of the optical detector every time when the light is emitted at a plurality of sampling time points and a storage to accumulate sampling values and store an accumulation value at each sampling time point. The measurer measures the distance based on a plurality of accumulation values at the sampling time points.