Abstract: In an optical distance measuring apparatus, a light source irradiates a target object with a light pulse having a first pulse width. A light receiver outputs a pulse signal that represents reflection light from the target object being incident on the light receiver, and has a second pulse width that is larger than or equal to the first pulse width. A histogram generator records, every predetermined period, a frequency representing the number of outputted pulse signals to thereby generate a histogram. A peak detector detects, from the histogram, an edge point of a peak figure included in the histogram. A distance calculator subtracts, from a time indicative of the edge point of the peak figure, a time length of the second pulse width to thereby calculate a target time, and calculates a distance to the target object as a function of the calculated target time.

Abstract: An optical detector includes: a light-receiving element that is operated in a Geiger mode by application of a service voltage higher than a breakdown voltage and outputs a pulse signal in accordance with reception of light; a voltage setting unit that is capable of selectively applying any one of the service voltage and a test voltage lower than the breakdown voltage to the light-receiving element; and an abnormality determination unit that performs an abnormality determination process of determining that the light-receiving element is abnormal when the number of pulse signals output from the light-receiving element operated under the test voltage is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, and determining that the light-receiving element is normal when the number of pulse signals is smaller than the threshold.

Abstract: An object detection apparatus includes: a light emission part; a light reception part; a time determination part that determines an environmental light acquisition time during which to acquire environmental light in accordance with the intensity of the environmental light; a light reception control part that controls an operation of receiving incident light by the light reception part; and a light emission control part that controls a light emission operation by the light emission part. The light reception control part causes the light reception part to execute a light reception operation by which to acquire the environmental light during the determined environmental light acquisition time.

Abstract: An optical ranging device includes: a photodetector configured to output an output signal corresponding to an amount of a received light; a scanning scanner configured to switch between a state where outside light is permitted to enter the photodetector and a dark state where the outside light is prevented from entering the photodetector; and an abnormality determiner configured to determine a deterioration state of the photodetector by using the output signal outputted from the photodetector in the dark state and a determination threshold.

Abstract: An optical ranging device includes a light emitting section provided with a semiconductor laser element having a light emitting region whose length in a first direction is more than that in a second direction intersecting the first direction. The device measures the distance to an object based on the time from light emission from the light emitting section to reception of the light by a light receiving section. A plurality of light emitting regions may be provided in the light emitting section such that they are separated in the second direction and abut or partially overlap each other in the first direction so that the light emitting regions are continuous in the first direction.

Abstract: In an optical ranging device, a light source unit is configured to emit irradiation light to irradiate a measurement region, and a light receiving unit has a light-receiving surface provided with an array of single photon avalanche diodes (SPADs) and is configured to use the SPADs to detect photons of reflected light of the irradiation light. A controller is configured to control the light source unit and the light receiving unit and perform a distance measurement process to measure a distance to an object in the measurement region using signals output from the SPADs upon receipt of measurement reflected light that is reflected light of the irradiation light from the object in the measurement region. A determiner is configured to determine presence or absence of an abnormality in the light receiving unit using signals output during a dead time following incidence of photons of clutter reflected light on the SPADs.

Abstract: An optical detector includes: a light-receiving element that is operated in a Geiger mode by application of a service voltage higher than a breakdown voltage and outputs a pulse signal in accordance with reception of light; a voltage setting unit that is capable of selectively applying any one of the service voltage and a test voltage lower than the breakdown voltage to the light-receiving element; and an abnormality determination unit that performs an abnormality determination process of determining that the light-receiving element is abnormal when the number of pulse signals output from the light-receiving element operated under the test voltage is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, and determining that the light-receiving element is normal when the number of pulse signals is smaller than the threshold.

Abstract: In an optical distance measuring apparatus, a light source irradiates a target object with a light pulse having a first pulse width. A light receiver outputs a pulse signal that represents reflection light from the target object being incident on the light receiver, and has a second pulse width that is larger than or equal to the first pulse width. A histogram generator records, every predetermined period, a frequency representing the number of outputted pulse signals to thereby generate a histogram. A peak detector detects, from the histogram, an edge point of a peak figure included in the histogram. A distance calculator subtracts, from a time indicative of the edge point of the peak figure, a time length of the second pulse width to thereby calculate a target time, and calculates a distance to the target object as a function of the calculated target time.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: multiple pixels. Each pixel is arranged at a surface layer portion of a semiconductor substrate, and includes: a photoelectric conversion portion that converts light incident into an electric charge; a charge holding portion that stores the electric charge, and is arranged in the semiconductor substrate; a multiplication gate electrode that is capacitively coupled with the charge holding portion, and is arranged on the semiconductor substrate via an insulation film; and a charge barrier portion that is arranged between the charge holding portion and the insulation film, and has a higher impurity concentration than the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: multiple pixels. Each pixel is arranged at a surface layer portion of a semiconductor substrate, and includes: a photoelectric conversion portion that converts light incident into an electric charge; a charge holding portion that stores the electric charge, and is arranged in the semiconductor substrate; a multiplication gate electrode that is capacitively coupled with the charge holding portion, and is arranged on the semiconductor substrate via an insulation film; and a charge barrier portion that is arranged between the charge holding portion and the insulation film, and has a higher impurity concentration than the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A light detecting device includes a well region, a first holding region disposed in a surface portion of the well region, a second holding region and a third holding region disposed in a surface portion of the first holding region, an insulating layer disposed on the second holding region and the third holding region, a first electrode disposed on the second holding region through the insulating layer, and the second electrode disposed on the third holding region through the insulating layer. The first holding region is configured to hold a first carrier generated in the well region. Each of the second holding region and the third holding region is configured to hold a second carrier generated in the well region. The first carrier is one of an electron and a hole, and the second carrier is the other one of the electron and the hole.

Abstract: A light detecting device includes a well region, a first holding region disposed in a surface portion of the well region, a second holding region and a third holding region disposed in a surface portion of the first holding region, an insulating layer disposed on the second holding region and the third holding region, a first electrode disposed on the second holding region through the insulating layer, and the second electrode disposed on the third holding region through the insulating layer. The first holding region is configured to hold a first carrier generated in the well region. Each of the second holding region and the third holding region is configured to hold a second carrier generated in the well region. The first carrier is one of an electron and a hole, and the second carrier is the other one of the electron and the hole.

Abstract: An image data generating device has a photoelectric sensor including an array of pixel generating units, each of which has one photoelectric conversion element and one floating diffusion. The photoelectric sensor includes a matrix of pixel sets, each of which includes a matrix of pixel generating units on two rows and two columns. To generate plane image data, the image data generating device finds a pixel value on a pixel basis from an output value for each pixel generating unit. To generate distance image data, the image data generating device finds a distance to a subject for each pixel set from an output value for each pixel generating unit belonging to the pixel set and calculates a pixel value per pixel set.

Abstract: A method for producing a range data includes: irradiating a pulse light toward an object during a first time period; receiving a reflected pulse light during the first time period and a second time period; calculating a ratio between a first or second received light amount and a total received light amount, wherein the first received light amount is a light amount received during the first time period, wherein the second received light amount is a light amount received during the second time period, and wherein the total received light amount is a sum of the first and second received light amounts; and producing the range data based on the ratio.

Abstract: An image data generating device has a photoelectric sensor including an array of pixel generating units, each of which has one photoelectric conversion element and one floating diffusion. The photoelectric sensor includes a matrix of pixel sets, each of which includes a matrix of pixel generating units on two rows and two columns. To generate plane image data, the image data generating device finds a pixel value on a pixel basis from an output value for each pixel generating unit. To generate distance image data, the image data generating device finds a distance to a subject for each pixel set from an output value for each pixel generating unit belonging to the pixel set and calculates a pixel value per pixel set.

Abstract: A method for producing a range data includes: irradiating a pulse light toward an object during a first time period; receiving a reflected pulse light during the first time period and a second time period; calculating a ratio between a first or second received light amount and a total received light amount, wherein the first received light amount is a light amount received during the first time period, wherein the second received light amount is a light amount received during the second time period, and wherein the total received light amount is a sum of the first and second received light amounts; and producing the range data based on the ratio.