Configurable 4x4 multi-zone Time-of-Flight Sensor
The TMF8820/21/28 is a dToF (direct time of flight) wide field of view optical distance sensor module achieving up to 5000 mm target detection distance and has up to 3x3, 4x4, 3x6 or 8x8 zones.
The TMF8821 is a direct time-of-flight (dToF) sensor in a single modular package with associated VCSEL. The dToF device is based on SPAD, TDC and histogram technology and achieves 5000 mm detection range. Due to its lens on the SPAD, it supports 3x3, 4x4 and 3x6 multizone output data and a wide, dynamically adjustable, field of view. A multi-lens-array (MLA) inside the package above the VCSEL widens up the FoI (field of illumination). All processing of the raw data is performed on-chip and the TMF8821 provides distance information together with confidence values on its I2C interface.
The device is ideal for use with applications including:
- Distance measurement for camera autofocus - Laser Detect Autofocus - LDAF (mobile phone)
- Presence detection (computing and communication)
- Object detection and collision avoidance (robotics)
- Light curtain (industrial)
Features
- Direct ToF technology with high sensitivity SPAD detection
- 4x4 configurable multi-zone configuration with multi-object detection
- Adjustable field of view (up to 63° diagonal)
- Fast Time-to-Digital Converter (TDC) architecture
- Sub-nanosecond light pulse
- 10 – 5000mm distance sensing @ 30Hz
- On-chip histogram processing
- 940nm VCSEL Class 1 Eye Safety
- High performance on-chip sunlight rejection filter and algorithm
- Small modular OLGA 2.0mm x 4.6mm x 1.4mm package
Benefits
- Small footprint fits within narrow bezel applications
- Detecting objects in a very wide field of view
- Enable new applications like click to focus, object tracking, presence detection
- Within ±3% / ±10 mm of measurement (accuracy); no multipath and no multiple object problems as for iToF
- Better accuracy detects reliably closest object
Minimum distance 10 mm
Maximum distance 5000 mm - No complex calibration
- Compensates for dirt on glass
- Improved accuracy over temperature and life
- Class 1 eye safe
Block diagram
