TOF
system shutter time needed to acquire image data in a time-of-flight (TOF)
system that acquires consecutive images is reduced, thus decreasing the time in which
relative motion can occur. In one embodiment, pixel detectors are clocked with multi-phase signals and integration of the four signals occurs simultaneously to yield four phase measurements from four pixel detectors within a single
shutter time unit. In another embodiment, phase measurement time is reduced by a factor (1 / k) by providing super pixels whose collection region is increased by a factor “k” relative to a normal
pixel detector. Each super pixel is coupled to k storage units and four-phase sequential signals. Alternatively, each
pixel detector can have k collector regions, k storage units, and share common
clock circuitry that generates four-phase signals. Various embodiments can reduce the mal-effects of
clock signal transients upon signals, and can be dynamically reconfigured as required.