Abstract: A monitoring device includes a storage, a controller, and a communication module. The storage stores a table in which a series of operation positions to which a monitoring target of a robot moves and time information regarding a timing when the monitoring target is positioned at each of the operation positions are associated with each other. The controller executes a process of determining an operational abnormality of the robot by comparing an operation position of the monitoring target acquired from the robot with an operation position of the monitoring target based on a captured image from a camera, and a process of determining an operational abnormality of the robot by comparing a timing when the operation position has been acquired from the robot with a timing based on the time information associated with the operation position in the table.

Abstract: The present disclosure allows a light-emitting device to detect a failure of a light-emitting circuit without affecting the waveform of a pulse current to be supplied to a light source element. The light-emitting device includes: a light-emitting circuit including a light source element; and a power supply configured to supply electric charges to the light-emitting circuit. The light-emitting circuit is provided between a power supply node and a ground node. The power supply is connected to the power supply node via a power supply line. A monitor detects an abnormal state of the light-emitting circuit by monitoring the voltage of the power supply line or the internal voltage of the power supply.

Abstract: In an object information generation system, an imaging unit is configured to capture a plurality of segment images respectively corresponding to a plurality of distance segments dividing a target space. In a signal processor, the object region extraction unit extracts, from a plurality of segment images, an object region that is a pixel region including an image of the object. An object information generation unit determines, for the object region, a window in which calculation-target pixels are cut out, and generates distance information of the object by calculation using information of a plurality of pixels in the window for two or more segment images.

Abstract: Effective pixels and a failure detection pixel are connected to a control signal line for controlling an operation of the pixels and to an output signal line for outputting a result of failure detection in the pixels. Among the effective pixels, the effective pixels in a same row are connected in common to a same control signal line, and the effective pixels in a same column are connected in common to a same output signal line. The failure detection pixel is connected in common to at least one of the control signal line or the output signal line and configured to detect a failure in any of the effective pixels connected to the at least one of the control signal line or the output signal line.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: pixels; a first sample-and-hold circuit provided per column and generating a first differential voltage that is a difference between a first reset voltage and a first signal voltage output from a first pixel disposed in a corresponding column among the pixels; a second sample-and-hold circuit provided per column and generating a second differential voltage that is a difference between a second reset voltage and a second signal voltage output from a second pixel disposed in the corresponding column among the pixels and different from the first pixel; and an A/D conversion circuit provided per column and converting, into digital signals, a first voltage based on the first differential voltage output from the first sample-and-hold circuit disposed in the corresponding column and a second voltage based on the second differential voltage output from the second sample-and-hold circuit disposed in the corresponding column.

Abstract: A distance-image obtaining method includes: (A) setting a plurality of distance-divided segments in a depth direction, and (B) obtaining a distance image based on each of the plurality of distance-divided segments set. The obtaining of the distance image includes: obtaining a plurality of distance images by imaging two or more of the plurality of distance-divided segments, to obtain a first distance image group; and obtaining a plurality of distance images by imaging distance-divided segments, among the plurality of distance-divided segments, in a phase different from a phase of the two or more of the plurality of distance-divided segments, to obtain a second distance image group.

Abstract: A distance measuring method according to the present disclosure includes: measuring, in an environment where background light is applied to an object, the illuminance of the background light; setting a distance measuring range based on the illuminance of the background light; setting, based on the distance measuring range set, an image capturing condition for an image capturer including a plurality of pixels each including an avalanche photo diode (APD) and an emission condition in which light is emitted from a light source; and measuring a distance to the object by controlling the image capturer and the light source based on the image capturing condition and the emission condition that are set.

Abstract: A pixel includes a photodiode, an overflow circuit, a first sensing circuit, and a second sensing circuit. The first sensing circuit charges and discharges a cathode capacitance by a photocurrent flowing through a photodiode, and amplifies an obtained voltage by a source follower amplifier so as to be outputted to a data line. The second sensing circuit charges and discharged the cathode capacitance by the photocurrent flowing through the photodiode, and outputs electric charge stored in the cathode capacitance via the data line. A pixel circuit is configured so that a first mode in which the first sensing circuit becomes active and a second mode in which the second sensing circuit becomes active can be switched. The first mode and the second mode are switched according to an amount of light received by the photodiode included in each pixel circuit. Gain is controlled according to the amount of light received, in the first mode, and the storage time is controlled in the second mode.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a photoelectric conversion portion generating signal charges, a voltage conversion portion for converting the signal charges to a voltage, a charge increasing portion for increasing the number of the signal charges stored in the photoelectric conversion portion, a first light shielding film formed to cover at least one part of the charge increasing portion and a second light shielding film provided separately from the first light shielding film and formed to cover the voltage conversion portion.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a carrier generating portion having a photoelectric conversion function, a voltage conversion portion for converting signal charges to a voltage, a charge increasing portion for increasing carriers generated by the carrier generating portion and a light shielding film formed to cover at least one part of the charge increasing portion.

Abstract: A pixel includes a photodiode, an overflow circuit, a first sensing circuit, and a second sensing circuit. The first sensing circuit charges and discharges a cathode capacitance by a photocurrent flowing through a photodiode, and amplifies an obtained voltage by a source follower amplifier so as to be outputted to a data line. The second sensing circuit charges and discharged the cathode capacitance by the photocurrent flowing through the photodiode, and outputs electric charge stored in the cathode capacitance via the data line. A pixel circuit is configured so that a first mode in which the first sensing circuit becomes active and a second mode in which the second sensing circuit becomes active can be switched. The first mode and the second mode are switched according to an amount of light received by the photodiode included in each pixel circuit. Gain is controlled according to the amount of light received, in the first mode, and the storage time is controlled in the second mode.