KR20230086397A - ToF sensor device and Method for determining distance using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

A ToF sensor device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a light source emitting light toward an object; a first driving unit outputting a first driving signal causing the light source to emit the light in a continuous wave mode; a second driving unit outputting a second driving signal causing the light source to emit the light in a pulse mode; a switch selectively transmitting one of the first driving signal and the second driving signal to the light source; and a control unit controlling the switch so that the temperature of the light source is within a predetermined temperature range.

Description

ToF sensor device and method for determining distance using the same

The present invention relates to a Time of Flight (ToF) sensor device and a method for determining a distance using the same, and in detail, for example, in relation to intelligent devices such as mobiles, robots, cars, drones, etc. The present invention relates to a ToF sensor device capable of high-resolution omnidirectional scanning and a method for determining a distance using the same in order to implement recognition technology.

Recently, as the 4th industrial revolution becomes a major issue, interest in ToF sensor devices capable of 3-dimensionally recognizing the surrounding environment in real time is increasing.

This ToF sensor device includes an indirect ToF (iToF) method for detecting a distance by comparing the phase of light emitted from a light source in continuous wave mode with the phase of received reflected light, and a light source emitted in pulse mode. There is a dToF (direct ToF) method that detects a distance by comparing a light emission time and a light receiving time when reflected light is received. In general, the iToF method has good short-range resolution, and the dToF method has good long-distance measurement performance.

However, in a conventional ToF sensor device, since the intensity of light emitted from a light source such as a laser is not uniform across the light emitting surface (a surface orthogonal to the traveling direction of the emitted light), a plurality of lenses are arranged across the light emitting surface. The intensity of light is equalized through a lens array or a diffuser. However, the lens array is expensive and increases the thickness of the device. In addition, the dToF-type ToF sensor device emits pulsed light from a light source, and when a lens array is used, there is a problem in that short-range resolution is reduced due to pulse broadening. In addition, when a diffuser is used, since the light loss rate is very high, there is a problem in that the measurable distance is greatly reduced.

In addition, the conventional iToF-type ToF sensor device has high short-range resolution but low long-range measurement performance, and the conventional dToF-type ToF sensor device has high long-range measuring performance but low short-range resolution. In addition, the ToF sensor device released by Apple uses a hologram optical system and a special Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL) to individually switch light emitting points to increase short-range resolution. There are problems in that the structure is complex and expensive, the profile of the intensity of emitted light is not uniform, and significant light loss occurs.

An object of the present invention is to uniformize the intensity of light emitted from a light source over the light emitting surface even without additional optical elements such as a lens array and a diffuser, thereby miniaturizing the device and reducing manufacturing cost, as well as providing near-field resolution and far-field resolution. It is an object of the present invention to provide a ToF sensor device capable of increasing all measurement performance and a method for determining a distance using the ToF sensor device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a low-cost, stable and high-performance ToF sensor device and a distance determination method using the same, by implementing the conventionally impossible iToF/dToF switching sensor technology in a single module with a simple structure. is in

In order to achieve the above object, a ToF sensor device according to a first feature of an embodiment of the present invention includes a light source emitting light toward an object; a first driving unit outputting a first driving signal causing the light source to emit the light in a continuous wave mode; a second driving unit outputting a second driving signal causing the light source to emit the light in a pulse mode; a switch selectively transmitting one of the first driving signal and the second driving signal to the light source; and a control unit controlling the switch so that the temperature of the light source is within a predetermined temperature range.

A ToF sensor device according to a second aspect of an embodiment of the present invention includes a light source emitting light toward an object; a first driving unit outputting a first driving signal causing the light source to emit the light in a continuous wave mode; a second driving unit outputting a second driving signal causing the light source to emit the light in a pulse mode; a heating/cooling element having at least one of a heating unit for heating the light source and a cooling unit for cooling the light source; and a control unit controlling the heating/cooling element so that the temperature of the light source is within a predetermined temperature range.

A distance determination method using a ToF sensor device according to a third feature of an embodiment of the present invention includes a) a first driving unit of a ToF sensor device including a light source, a first driving unit, a second driving unit, a switch, a ToF sensor, and a control unit. outputting a first drive signal to cause the light source to emit light in a continuous wave mode, and outputting a second drive signal to cause the light source to emit light in a pulse mode by the second driver; b) controlling, by the control unit, the switch for selectively transmitting one of the first driving signal and the second driving signal to the light source so that the temperature of the light source is within a predetermined temperature range; and c) determining, by the control unit, a distance of the object based on a detection signal for reflected light that is reflected from the object and received by the ToF sensor.

A distance determination method using a ToF sensor device according to a fourth feature of an embodiment of the present invention is a) a ToF sensor device including a light source, a first driving unit, a second driving unit, a heating/cooling element, a ToF sensor, and a control unit. outputting, by a first driving unit, a first driving signal for causing the light source to emit light in a continuous wave mode, and outputting, by the second driving unit, a second driving signal for causing the light source to emit light in a pulse mode; ; b) controlling, by the control unit, the heating/cooling element that performs at least one of heating and cooling the light source so that the temperature of the light source is within a predetermined temperature range; and c) determining, by the control unit, a distance of the object based on a detection signal for reflected light that is reflected from the object and received by the ToF sensor.

The following effects are achieved by using the ToF sensor device and the distance determining method using the ToF sensor device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

1. Even without additional optical elements such as lens arrays and diffusers, the intensity of the light emitted from the light source is uniformized over the light emitting surface, thereby miniaturizing the device and reducing manufacturing cost, as well as providing both near-field resolution and long-field measurement performance. can be raised

2. By implementing iToF/dToF switching sensor technology in a single module, which was previously impossible, with a simple structure, it is possible to provide a low-cost, stable and high-performance ToF sensor device and a distance determination method using the same.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a ToF sensor device according to the present invention and a method for determining a distance using the same will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
1 is a block diagram of a ToF sensor device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2A is a perspective view of a ToF sensor device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2B is an exploded perspective view of a ToF sensor device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an image of an object obtained by using intensity of light emitted from a light source and reflected light reflected from the object in the ToF sensor device according to Comparative Example 1. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an image of an object obtained by using intensity of light emitted from a light source and reflected light reflected from the object in the ToF sensor device according to Comparative Example 2; FIG.
5 is a diagram showing a schematic profile of the intensity of light emitted from a light source of a ToF sensor device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a flowchart of a method for determining a distance using a ToF sensor device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
7 is a block diagram of a ToF sensor device according to a modified example of an embodiment of the present invention.
8A is a partial cross-sectional view of a ToF sensor device according to a modification of an embodiment of the present invention.
8B is a partial plan view of a ToF sensor device according to a modified example of an embodiment of the present invention.
9 is a flowchart of a method for determining a distance using a ToF sensor device according to a modified example of an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a ToF sensor device according to the present invention and a method for determining a distance using the same will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram of a ToF sensor device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the ToF sensor device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2B is a ToF sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention. An exploded perspective view of the device.

1 to 2B, the first driving unit 120, the second driving unit 130, the switch 140, the control unit 150, and the storage unit 180 are shown in FIG. 1, but FIGS. 2A and 2B. It is not shown in Figure 2b.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an image of an object obtained by using intensity of light emitted from a light source and reflected light reflected from the object in the ToF sensor device according to Comparative Example 1. FIG. Specifically, the right side of FIG. 3 shows a graph of light intensity according to a distance from the light center and an image of light intensity that appears when the light emitting surface of the light source 110 is viewed. The left side of FIG. 3 shows an image of an object obtained from the ToF sensor device according to Comparative Example 1. In addition, the ToF sensor device according to Comparative Example 1 is a dToF type ToF sensor device in which the light source 110 emits light L only in a pulse mode. In addition, the light source 110 is implemented as a vertical cavity surface light emitting laser.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an image of an object obtained by using intensity of light emitted from a light source and reflected light reflected from the object in the ToF sensor device according to Comparative Example 2; FIG. Specifically, the left side of FIG. 4 shows a graph of light intensity according to a viewing angle and an image of light intensity that appears when viewing the light emitting surface of the light source 110 . The right side of FIG. 4 shows an image of an object obtained from the ToF sensor device according to Comparative Example 2. In addition, the ToF sensor device according to Comparative Example 2 is an iToF type ToF sensor device in which the light source 110 emits light L only in a continuous wave mode. In addition, the light source 110 is implemented as a vertical cavity surface light emitting laser.

5 is a diagram showing a schematic profile of the intensity of light emitted from a light source of a ToF sensor device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, FIG. 5 is a graph of light intensity according to a viewing angle. In addition, the light source 110 is implemented as a vertical cavity surface light emitting laser.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5 , the ToF sensor device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The ToF sensor device 100 includes a light source 110 , a first driving unit 120 , a second driving unit 130 , a switch 140 , and a control unit 150 . In addition, the ToF sensor device 100 may include at least one of a light source substrate 111, a light transmitting member 112, a light source housing 113, a ToF sensor 160, a temperature detection unit 170, and a storage unit 180. may further include.

The light source 110 is a component that emits light L toward an object. For example, the light source 110 may be implemented as a vertical cavity surface light emitting laser. In addition, the light source 110 may be implemented as a Laser Diode (LD) or a Light Emitting Diode (LED). For example, the light L emitted by the light source 110 may include near infrared rays. The wavelength of these near infrared rays may be 905 nm, 940 nm, and/or 1550 nm.

The first driving unit 120 is a component that outputs a first driving signal that causes the light source 110 to emit light L in a continuous wave mode. The second driving unit 130 is a component that outputs a second driving signal that causes the light source 110 to emit light L in a pulse mode.

The switch 140 is a component that selectively transmits one of the first driving signal and the second driving signal to the light source 110 .

The controller 150 controls the switch 140 so that the temperature of the light source 110 is within a predetermined temperature range. In this specification, the “predetermined temperature range” may be “a temperature at which the light source 110 emits light L with a light intensity equal to or greater than a predetermined light intensity”.

The controller 150 determines which one of the first driving signal and the second driving signal input to the light source 110 when at least one of the temperature of the central part and the temperature of the peripheral part of the light source 110 is outside a predetermined temperature range. It is possible to control the switch 140 so that one changes to the other.

In the present specification, the “central portion” and the “periphery portion” of the light source 110 are, respectively, in a direction parallel to the traveling direction of the light L, when the light emitting surface of the light source 110 is viewed (shown in FIG. 8B). state) of the center and the periphery of the light source 110 . Also, the central portion of the light source 110 may be "a portion in which the light intensity increases when the light L is emitted in a pulse mode and the light intensity decreases when the light L is emitted in a continuous wave mode". Also, the peripheral portion of the light source 110 may be "a portion in which the light intensity decreases when the light L is emitted in a pulse mode and the light intensity increases when the light L is emitted in a continuous wave mode".

For example, when the driving signal input to the light source 110 is the first driving signal, the control unit 150 controls the light source 110 when the temperature of the center of the light source 110 is higher than the upper limit of the predetermined temperature range. The switch 140 may be controlled so that the driving signal input to ) is changed from the first driving signal to the second driving signal. For example, when the driving signal input to the light source 110 is the second driving signal, the controller 150 controls the light source 110 when the temperature of the surrounding area of the light source 110 is lower than the lower limit temperature of the predetermined temperature range. The switch 140 may be controlled so that the driving signal input to ) is changed from the second driving signal to the first driving signal.

The controller 150 may determine the distance of the object based on the detection signal for the reflected light RL, in which the light L is reflected from the object. For example, when the light source 110 emits light L in the continuous wave mode, the controller 150 determines the phase of the light L emitted by the light source 110 and the reflected light received by the ToF sensor 160. The distance of the object can be determined based on the difference between the phases of (RL). For example, when the light source 110 emits light L in a pulse mode, the control unit 150 determines the emission time of the light L emitted from the light source 110 and the amount of light received by the ToF sensor 160. The distance of the object may be determined based on the difference between the reception times of the reflected light RL.

The first driving unit 120, the second driving unit 130, the switch 140, and the control unit 150 may be disposed on a main board (not shown) on which the light source board 111 and the sensor board 166 are mounted. However, it is not limited thereto, and may be disposed on one or more of the light source substrate 111 and the sensor substrate 166.

The light source substrate 111 is a substrate on which the light source 110 is mounted.

The light transmitting member 112 is a member that transmits the light L emitted from the light source 110 . The light transmitting member 112 may include an optical lens. The light transmission member 112 may be fixed to the light source housing 113 .

The light source housing 113 is a component housing the light source 110 . The light source housing 113 may be disposed on the light source substrate 111 .

The ToF sensor 160 is a component that receives reflected light RL, in which light L is reflected from an object, and generates a detection signal for the reflected light RL. The ToF sensor 160 may include, for example, an optical lens 161, a fixing member 162, a sensor housing 163, an optical filter 164, an image sensor 165, and a sensor substrate 166. can

The optical lens 161 is a component that concentrates the reflected light RL so that an image of an object is focused on the image sensor 165 .

The fixing member 162 is a member fixing the optical lens 161 .

The sensor housing 163 is a component housing the image sensor 165 . The sensor housing 163 may further house an optical filter 164 . The sensor housing 163 may be disposed on the sensor substrate 166 .

The optical filter 164 is a component that passes light having a predetermined wavelength among light incident toward the image sensor 165 . The “predetermined wavelength” may be the same as the wavelength of light L emitted from the light source 110 .

The image sensor 165 is a component that receives reflected light RL, in which light L is reflected from an object, and generates a sensing signal for the reflected light RL, that is, a sensing signal related to an image of the object.

The sensor substrate 166 is a substrate on which the image sensor 165 is mounted.

The temperature detector 170 is a component that detects the temperature of the light source 110 . For example, the temperature detection unit 170 may be implemented with a material whose resistance value changes according to temperature. The temperature detector 170 may be disposed on the first surface 111a, which is a mounting surface of the light source substrate 111, but is not limited thereto, and may be disposed inside the light source substrate 111.

In addition, the temperature detection unit 170 may detect the temperature of one or more of the central portion and the peripheral portion of the light source 110 . For example, referring to FIG. 2B , the temperature detector 170 may directly detect the temperature of the periphery of the light source 110 by contacting the periphery of the light source 110 . In addition, the temperature of the center of the light source 110 may be detected when the temperature detector 170 contacts the center of the light source 110 . In addition, the temperature of the center of the light source 110 is the light source 110 detected by the temperature detection unit 170 using a function or a lookup table relating to the relationship between the temperature of the periphery of the light source 110 and the temperature of the center. may be estimated based on the temperature of the surroundings of

The storage unit 180 is a component that stores a predetermined temperature range. Also, the storage unit 180 may store a function or a lookup table related to a relationship between the temperature of the periphery and the temperature of the center of the light source 110 .

According to a first feature of an embodiment of the present invention, the ToF sensor device 100 includes a light source 110 emitting light L toward an object; a first driving unit 120 outputting a first driving signal causing the light source 110 to emit the light L in a continuous wave mode; a second driving unit 130 outputting a second driving signal causing the light source 110 to emit the light L in a pulse mode; a switch 140 selectively transmitting one of the first driving signal and the second driving signal to the light source 110; and a controller 150 controlling the switch 140 so that the temperature of the light source 110 is within a predetermined temperature range. Accordingly, even if there is no additional optical element such as a lens array and a diffuser, the intensity of the light L emitted from the light source 110 is uniformed over the light emitting surface, thereby miniaturizing the device and reducing manufacturing cost, Both near resolution and long distance measurement performance can be improved. In addition, by implementing iToF/dToF switching sensor technology in a single module, which was previously impossible, with a simple structure, it is possible to provide a ToF sensor device 100 with low manufacturing cost, stability and high performance.

In this regard, referring to FIG. 3 , the ToF sensor device according to Comparative Example 1 of the dToF method in which the light source 110 emits light L in a pulse mode has an intensity of light L at the center of the light emitting surface. It represents the non-uniform intensity of the light (L) where is high but the intensity of the light (L) rapidly decreases in the periphery. In addition, referring to FIG. 4 , in the ToF sensor device according to Comparative Example 2 of the iToF method in which the light source 110 emits light L in a continuous wave mode, the intensity of the light L is high in the periphery of the light emitting surface, but In the center, the intensity of light L is non-uniform, where the intensity of light L rapidly decreases.

In contrast, referring to FIG. 5 , in the ToF sensor device 100 according to the first feature of the embodiment of the present invention, the intensity of light L is uniform over both the center and the periphery of the light emitting surface of the light source 110. represents a profile.

6 is a flowchart of a method for determining a distance using a ToF sensor device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 6 together with FIGS. 1 to 2B , a distance determination method using the ToF sensor device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In step 210, the ToF sensor device 100 including the light source 110, the first driving unit 120, the second driving unit 130, the switch 140, the ToF sensor 160, and the controller 150 is provided. 1 driving unit 120 outputs a first driving signal that causes light source 110 to emit light L in continuous wave mode, and second driving unit 130 allows light source 110 to pulse light L and outputs a second driving signal causing emission in the mode.

In step 220, the controller 150 controls the switch 140 to selectively transfer one of the first driving signal and the second driving signal to the light source 110 so that the temperature of the light source 110 is within a predetermined temperature range. do.

Between steps 220 and 230, a step in which the light source 110 emits light L toward the object may be performed.

In step 230, the controller 150 determines the distance of the object based on the detection signal for the reflected light RL that is received by the ToF sensor 160 after the light L is reflected from the object. In step 230, the controller 150 determines the phase of the light L emitted by the light source 110 and the reflected light received by the ToF sensor 160 when the light source 110 emits the light L in the continuous wave mode. It is possible to determine the distance of the object based on the difference between the phases of (RL). In step 230, when the light source 110 emits light L in a pulse mode, the control unit 150 determines the emission time of the light L emitted from the light source 110 and the light received by the ToF sensor 160. The distance of the object may be determined based on the difference between light reception times of the reflected light RL.

7 is a block diagram of a ToF sensor device according to a modification of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 8A is a partial cross-sectional view of a ToF sensor device according to a modification of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8B is a block diagram of a ToF sensor device according to a modification of an embodiment of the present invention. It is a partial plan view of a ToF sensor device according to a modification of an embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 7 to 8B , a ToF sensor device 100A according to a modified example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The ToF sensor device 100A according to the modified example includes a light source 110 , a first driving unit 120 , a second driving unit 130 , a heating/cooling element 190 , and a controller 150 . In addition, the ToF sensor device 100A according to the modified example may further include a switch 140, a ToF sensor 160, a temperature detection unit 170, and a storage unit 180. The ToF sensor device 100A according to the modified example differs from the ToF sensor device 100 shown in FIG. 1 in that it includes a heating/cooling element 190 .

The heating/cooling element 190 includes at least one of a heating unit 191 for heating the light source 110 and a cooling unit 192 for cooling the light source 110 .

The heating unit 191 may heat the periphery of the light source 110 . The heating unit 191 may be disposed on at least one of the first surface 111a and the inside of the light source substrate 111 . For example, the heating unit 191 may be implemented as a hot wire that generates heat when current flows.

The cooling unit 192 may cool the center of the light source 110 . The cooling unit 192 may be disposed inside the light source substrate 111 . For example, when the cooling unit 192 flows a current from one end of an element such as an n-type semiconductor or a p-type semiconductor to the other end, an endothermic reaction occurs at one end of the element and an exothermic reaction occurs at the other end. , or a Peltier element in which an exothermic reaction occurs at one end of the element and an endothermic reaction occurs at the other end. For example, referring to FIG. 8A , the cooling unit 192 may be implemented as a Peltier element having one end 192a where an endothermic reaction occurs to cool the central portion of the light source 110 . In this case, for example, the other end 192b of the cooling unit 192 may be disposed on the second surface 111b of the light source substrate 111 .

The controller 150 controls the heating/cooling element 190 so that the temperature of the light source 110 is within a predetermined temperature range.

The controller 150 may control the heating/cooling element 190 to heat the peripheral portion when the temperature of the peripheral portion of the light source 110 is lower than the lower limit temperature of the predetermined temperature range. The controller 150 may control the heating/cooling element 190 to cool the center when the temperature of the center of the light source 110 is higher than the upper limit of the predetermined temperature range.

The controller 150 controls the temperature of the light source 110 when the ToF sensor device 160 further includes a switch 140 for selectively transmitting one of the first driving signal and the second driving signal to the light source 110. It is possible to control the heating/cooling element 190 and the switch 140 so that is within a predetermined temperature range.

The controller 150 may determine the distance of the object based on the detection signal for the reflected light RL.

According to a second feature of an embodiment of the present invention, the ToF sensor device 100A includes a light source 110 emitting light L toward an object; a first driving unit 120 outputting a first driving signal causing the light source 110 to emit the light L in a continuous wave mode; a second driving unit 130 outputting a second driving signal causing the light source 110 to emit the light L in a pulse mode; a heating/cooling element 190 having at least one of a heating unit 191 for heating the light source 110 and a cooling unit 192 for cooling the light source 110; and a controller 150 controlling the heating/cooling element 190 so that the temperature of the light source 110 is within a predetermined temperature range. Accordingly, even if there is no additional optical element such as a lens array and a diffuser, the intensity of the light L emitted from the light source 110 is uniformized over the light emitting surface, thereby miniaturizing the device and reducing manufacturing cost. In addition, both near resolution and long distance measurement performance can be improved.

9 is a flowchart of a method for determining a distance using a ToF sensor device according to a modified example of an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 9 together with FIGS. 7 to 8B , a distance determination method using the ToF sensor device 100A according to a modified example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described as follows.

In step 310, a ToF sensor device 100A including a light source 110, a first driving unit 120, a second driving unit 130, a heating/cooling element 190, a ToF sensor 160, and a controller 150 The first driving unit 120 of ) outputs a first driving signal that causes the light source 110 to emit light L in a continuous wave mode, and the second driving unit 130 outputs a first driving signal that causes the light source 110 to emit light L. ) is output in a pulse mode.

In step 320, the controller 150 controls the heating/cooling element 190 that performs at least one of heating and cooling the light source 110 so that the temperature of the light source 110 is within a predetermined temperature range.

Between steps 320 and 330, a step in which the light source 110 emits light L toward the object may be performed.

In step 330, the controller 150 determines the distance of the object based on the detection signal for the reflected light RL, in which the light L is reflected from the object and received by the ToF sensor 160. In step 330, the controller 150 determines the phase of the light L emitted by the light source 110 and the reflected light received by the ToF sensor 160 when the light source 110 emits the light L in the continuous wave mode. It is possible to determine the distance of the object based on the difference between the phases of (RL). In step 330, the controller 150, when the light source 110 emits the light L in a pulse mode, determines the emission time of the light L emitted from the light source 110 and the light received by the ToF sensor 160. The distance of the object may be determined based on the difference between light reception times of the reflected light RL.

Although the present invention has been shown and described with reference to the preferred embodiments of the accompanying exemplary drawings, it is not limited thereto, and those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention described in the claims below. Of course, it can be implemented in various forms.

100, 100A: ToF sensor device 110: light source
111: light source substrate 112: light transmission member
113: light source housing 120: first driving unit
130: second driving unit 140: switch
150: control unit 160: ToF sensor
161: optical lens 162: fixing member
163: sensor housing 164: optical filter
165: image sensor 166: sensor board
170: temperature detection unit 180: storage unit
190: heating / cooling element 191: heating unit
192: cooling unit

Claims (12)

In the ToF sensor device,
a light source that emits light toward an object;
a first driving unit outputting a first driving signal causing the light source to emit the light in a continuous wave mode;
a second driving unit outputting a second driving signal causing the light source to emit the light in a pulse mode;
a switch selectively transmitting one of the first driving signal and the second driving signal to the light source; and
A controller for controlling the switch so that the temperature of the light source is within a predetermined temperature range
A ToF sensor device comprising a. In the ToF sensor device,
a light source that emits light toward an object;
a first driving unit outputting a first driving signal causing the light source to emit the light in a continuous wave mode;
a second driving unit outputting a second driving signal causing the light source to emit the light in a pulse mode;
a heating/cooling element having at least one of a heating unit for heating the light source and a cooling unit for cooling the light source; and
A controller for controlling the heating/cooling element so that the temperature of the light source is within a predetermined temperature range.
A ToF sensor device comprising a. The ToF sensor device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a ToF sensor configured to receive reflected light from which the light is reflected from an object and generate a detection signal for the reflected light. The ToF sensor device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a temperature detector for detecting the temperature of the light source. The method of claim 1 , wherein the control unit controls the first driving signal and the second driving input to the light source when at least one of a temperature of a central portion and a temperature of a peripheral portion of the light source is outside the predetermined temperature range. ToF sensor device, characterized in that for controlling the switch so that one of the signals is changed to another. The ToF sensor device of claim 2 , wherein the control unit controls the heating/cooling element to heat the peripheral portion when the temperature of the peripheral portion of the light source is lower than a lower limit temperature of the predetermined temperature range. The ToF sensor device of claim 2 , wherein the control unit controls the heating/cooling element to cool the center portion when the temperature of the center portion of the light source is higher than an upper limit temperature of the predetermined temperature range. . 3 . The ToF sensor device of claim 2 , further comprising a switch for selectively transmitting one of the first driving signal and the second driving signal to the light source. The ToF sensor device of claim 8 , wherein the control unit controls the heating/cooling element and the switch so that the temperature of the light source is within the predetermined temperature range. The ToF sensor device of claim 3, wherein the controller determines the distance to the object based on the detection signal. In the distance determination method using the ToF sensor device,
a) A first driving signal that causes the light source to emit light in a continuous wave mode is output by the first driving unit of a ToF sensor device including a light source, a first driving unit, a second driving unit, a switch, a ToF sensor, and a control unit. and outputting, by the second driving unit, a second driving signal causing the light source to emit light in a pulse mode;
b) controlling, by the control unit, the switch for selectively transmitting one of the first driving signal and the second driving signal to the light source so that the temperature of the light source is within a predetermined temperature range; and
c) determining, by the controller, a distance of the object based on a detection signal for reflected light that is reflected from the object and received by the ToF sensor;
A distance determination method using a ToF sensor device comprising a. In the distance determination method using the ToF sensor device,
a) a first drive for causing the light source to emit light in a continuous wave mode by the first drive unit of a ToF sensor device including a light source, a first drive unit, a second drive unit, a heating/cooling element, a ToF sensor, and a control unit; outputting a second driving signal for outputting a signal and causing the light source to emit light in a pulse mode by the second driver;
b) controlling, by the control unit, the heating/cooling element that performs at least one of heating and cooling the light source so that the temperature of the light source is within a predetermined temperature range; and
c) determining, by the controller, a distance of the object based on a detection signal for reflected light that is reflected from the object and received by the ToF sensor;
A distance determination method using a ToF sensor device comprising a.

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