An optical sensor device configured to detect a time of flight of an electromagnetic signal includes a semiconductor substrate with a conversion region configured to convert at least a portion of the electromagnetic signal into photo-generated charge carriers. A deep control electrode is formed in a trench extending into the semiconductor substrate. The deep control electrode extends deeper into the semiconductor substrate than a shallow control electrode. A control circuit is configured to apply to the deep control electrode and to the shallow control electrode varying potentials having a fixed phase relationship to each other, to generate electric potential distributions in the conversion region, by which the photo-generated charge carriers in the conversion region are directed. The directed photo-generated charge carriers are detected at at least one readout node.