公开(公告)号：US20240406552A1

公开(公告)日：2024-12-05

申请号：US18325150

申请日：2023-05-30

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Moshe Laifenfeld ,  Jason R. Holloway ,  Alexandra H. Chau ,  Gregory Guyomarc'h ,  Connor Henley ,  Oriel Y. Bergig

IPC: H04N23/67 ,  G01S7/481 ,  G01S7/4865 ,  G01S17/10 ,  G01S17/86 ,  H04N23/745

Abstract: Imaging apparatus includes a camera, which includes an autofocus mechanism. A range sensor includes a transmitter, which includes multiple emitters configured to transmit optical pulses at different angles toward the scene, and a receiver, to receive and sense respective times of flight of the optical pulses that are reflected from the scene. A photodetector outputs a signal indicative of an intensity of reflections from the scene. Control circuitry drives the emitters in alternation to transmit the optical pulses, estimates a range to a target in the scene responsively to the times of flight sensed by the receiver, detects a difference in the signal output by the photodetector in response to the pulses transmitted by different ones of the emitters, and sets the autofocus mechanism responsively to the estimated range as long as the detected difference is no greater than a predefined threshold difference.