Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
DETAILED ACTION
Claims status
Claims 1-23 are pending as the applicant filed Preliminary Amendment on 05/23/2024.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 101
35 U.S.C. 101 reads as follows:
Whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof, may obtain a patent therefor, subject to the conditions and requirements of this title.
Claims 1-23 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to a judicial exception (i.e., a law of nature, a natural phenomenon, or an abstract idea) without significantly more.
Claim 1, Step 1 the claim is a process (or machine) (Yes),
Step 2A Prong One, does the claim recite an abstract idea? current claim related to a ranging device comprising: a binning processing unit configured to convert a plurality of signals output from a plurality of unit regions each including at least one pixel into a plurality of signals corresponding to a plurality of pixel blocks each including at least two unit regions; a data accumulation unit configured to accumulate, for each of the plurality of pixel blocks, information indicating a relationship between a class determined according to a time from when the pulsed light is emitted to when the pulsed light is detected by the light receiving unit and a frequency indicating the number of times the pulsed light is detected, based on the plurality of signals output from the binning processing unit; a distance calculation unit configured to calculate a distance to the object corresponding to each of the plurality of unit regions based on the candidate appears is an abstract idea of mental process (MPEP 2106.04(a)) or data gathering equivalent to mathematical concept or mathematical manipulation function (MPEP 2106.04 (a) (2) (concept need not be expressed in mathematical symbols, because "[w]ords used in a claim operating on data to solve a problem can serve the same purpose as a formula), (OR Mathematical Concepts and Mental Processes) Step 2A Prong One: Yes.
Step 2A Prong Two, is the claim directed to an abstract idea? In other words, does claim recite additional elements that integrate the Judicial Exception into a practical application? the additional elements of a light receiving unit including a plurality of pixels configured to detect a pulsed light emitted from a light emitting unit and reflected by an object in a measurement target region are recited at a high level of generality and merely amount to a particular field of use (see MPEP 2106.05(h)) and/or insignificant post-solution activity (MPEP 2106.05(g)), this does not integrate the Judicial Exception into a practical application,
Step 2A Prong Two: NO.
Step 2B, Does the claim recite additional element that amount to significantly more than the Judicial exception? the additional elements of a reflected light determination unit configured to extract, for each of the plurality of unit regions, a candidate of a class including a signal based on a reflected light from the object from the information appears to be field of use (See MPEP 2106.05(h) and MPEP 2106.05(f)) and/or merely amounts to insignificant extra-solution output of the results (see MPEP 2106.05(g)) and therefore fails to integrate the abstract idea into a practical application or amount to significantly more. Step 2B: No. claim 1 not eligible.
Claim 17, Step 1 the claim is a process (or machine) (Yes),
Step 2A Prong One, does the claim recite an abstract idea? current claim related to a ranging device comprising: a binning processing unit configured to convert a plurality of first signals output from the plurality of pixels into a plurality of second signals having spatial resolution lower than that of the plurality of first signals; a data accumulation unit configured to accumulate, for each of a plurality of first unit regions corresponding to the plurality of second signals, information indicating a relationship between a class determined according to a time from when the pulsed light is emitted to when the pulsed light is detected by the light receiving unit and a frequency indicating the number of times the pulsed light is detected, based on the plurality of second signals output from the binning processing unit; a distance calculation unit configured to calculate a distance to the object corresponding to each of the plurality of second unit regions based on the candidate appears is an abstract idea of mental process (MPEP 2106.04(a)) or data gathering equivalent to mathematical concept or mathematical manipulation function (MPEP 2106.04 (a) (2) (concept need not be expressed in mathematical symbols, because "[w]ords used in a claim operating on data to solve a problem can serve the same purpose as a formula), (OR Mathematical Concepts and Mental Processes) Step 2A Prong One: Yes.
Step 2A Prong Two, is the claim directed to an abstract idea? In other words, does claim recite additional elements that integrate the Judicial Exception into a practical application? the additional elements of a light receiving unit including a plurality of pixels configured to detect a pulsed light emitted from a light emitting unit and reflected by an object in a measurement target region are recited at a high level of generality and merely amount to a particular field of use (see MPEP 2106.05(h)) and/or insignificant post-solution activity (MPEP 2106.05(g)), this does not integrate the Judicial Exception into a practical application,
Step 2A Prong Two: NO.
Step 2B, Does the claim recite additional element that amount to significantly more than the Judicial exception? the additional elements of a reflected light determination unit configured to extract, for each of a plurality of second unit regions corresponding to a plurality of signals having a spatial resolution higher than that of the plurality of second signals, a candidate of a class including a signal based on a reflected light from the object from the information appears to be field of use (See MPEP 2106.05(h) and MPEP 2106.05(f)) and/or merely amounts to insignificant extra-solution output of the results (see MPEP 2106.05(g)) and therefore fails to integrate the abstract idea into a practical application or amount to significantly more. Step 2B: No. claim 17 not eligible.
Claim 20, Step 1 the claim is a process (or machine) (Yes),
Step 2A Prong One, does the claim recite an abstract idea? current claim related to an information processing device comprising: a binning processing unit configured to convert a plurality of signals output from a plurality of unit regions each including at least one pixel into a plurality of signals corresponding to a plurality of pixel blocks each including at least two unit regions;
a data accumulation unit configured to accumulate, for each of the plurality of pixel blocks, information indicating a relationship between a class determined according to a time from when the pulsed light is emitted to when the pulsed light is detected by the light receiving unit and a frequency indicating the number of times the pulsed light is detected, based on the plurality of signals output from the binning processing unit; a distance calculation unit configured to calculate a distance to the object corresponding to each of the plurality of unit regions based on the candidate appears is an abstract idea of mental process (MPEP 2106.04(a)) or data gathering equivalent to mathematical concept or mathematical manipulation function (MPEP 2106.04 (a) (2) (concept need not be expressed in mathematical symbols, because "[w]ords used in a claim operating on data to solve a problem can serve the same purpose as a formula), (OR Mathematical Concepts and Mental Processes) Step 2A Prong One: Yes.
Step 2A Prong Two, is the claim directed to an abstract idea? In other words, does claim recite additional elements that integrate the Judicial Exception into a practical application? the additional elements of an input unit to which signals output from a plurality of pixels that detect pulsed light emitted from a light emitting unit and reflected by an object in a measurement target region are input are recited at a high level of generality and merely amount to a particular field of use (see MPEP 2106.05(h)) and/or insignificant post-solution activity (MPEP 2106.05(g)), this does not integrate the Judicial Exception into a practical application,
Step 2A Prong Two: NO.
Step 2B, Does the claim recite additional element that amount to significantly more than the Judicial exception? the additional elements of a reflected light determination unit configured to extract, for each of the plurality of unit regions, a candidate of a class including a signal based on a reflected light from the object from the information appears to be field of use (See MPEP 2106.05(h) and MPEP 2106.05(f)) and/or merely amounts to insignificant extra-solution output of the results (see MPEP 2106.05(g)) and therefore fails to integrate the abstract idea into a practical application or amount to significantly more. Step 2B: No. claim 20 not eligible.
Claim 23, Step 1 the claim is a process (or machine) (Yes),
Step 2A Prong One, does the claim recite an abstract idea? current claim related to a ranging method in which a pulsed light emitted from a light emitting unit and reflected by an object in a measurement target region is detected by a plurality of pixels and a distance to the object is calculated based on signals detected by the plurality of pixels, the method comprising: accumulating, for each of the plurality of pixel blocks, information indicating a relationship between a class determined according to a time from when the pulsed light is emitted to when the pulsed light is detected by the light receiving unit and a frequency indicating the number of times the pulsed light is detected, based on the plurality of signals output from the binning processing unit; calculating a distance to the object corresponding to each of the plurality of unit regions based on the candidate appears is an abstract idea of mental process (MPEP 2106.04(a)) or data gathering equivalent to mathematical concept or mathematical manipulation function (MPEP 2106.04 (a) (2) (concept need not be expressed in mathematical symbols, because "[w]ords used in a claim operating on data to solve a problem can serve the same purpose as a formula), (OR Mathematical Concepts and Mental Processes) Step 2A Prong One: Yes.
Step 2A Prong Two, is the claim directed to an abstract idea? In other words, does claim recite additional elements that integrate the Judicial Exception into a practical application? the additional elements of converting a plurality of signals output from a plurality of unit regions each including at least one pixel into a plurality of signals corresponding to a plurality of pixel blocks each including at least two unit regions are recited at a high level of generality and merely amount to a particular field of use (see MPEP 2106.05(h)) and/or insignificant post-solution activity (MPEP 2106.05(g)), this does not integrate the Judicial Exception into a practical application,
Step 2A Prong Two: NO.
Step 2B, Does the claim recite additional element that amount to significantly more than the Judicial exception? the additional elements of extracting, for each of the plurality of unit regions, a candidate of a class including a signal based on a reflected light from the object from the information appears to be field of use (See MPEP 2106.05(h) and MPEP 2106.05(f)) and/or merely amounts to insignificant extra-solution output of the results (see MPEP 2106.05(g)) and therefore fails to integrate the abstract idea into a practical application or amount to significantly more. Step 2B: No. claim 23 not eligible.
Claim 2 related to wherein the data accumulation unit is configured to generate the information by counting, for each class, pulse signals output from the binning processing unit at a plurality of times in response to a plurality of times of light emission of the pulsed light in a first period in one frame period, and wherein the reflected light determination unit is configured to extract the candidate based on pulse signals output at a plurality of times from the plurality of unit regions in response to a plurality of times of light emission of the pulsed light in a second period after the first period in the one frame period, its recites further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claim 2 not eligible.
Claim 3 related to wherein the reflection light determination unit includes a first determination unit configured to determinate, in a case where at least one unit region of the plurality of unit regions detects light, whether or not there is a possibility that an output signal of a pixel block including the one unit region includes a signal according to a reflected light from the object; and a second determination unit configured to determine whether or not there is a possibility that an output signal of the one unit region includes a signal according to a reflected light from the object, and wherein the reflection light detection unit is configured to extract, when both the first determination unit and the second determination unit determine that there is a possibility that the signal according to reflected light from the object is included, a class corresponding to a timing at which the one unit region detects light as the candidate corresponding to the one unit region, its recites further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claim 3 not eligible.
Claim 4 related to wherein the reflection light determination unit includes a first determination unit configured to determinate, in a case where at least one unit region of the plurality of unit regions detects light, whether or not there is a possibility that an output signal of a pixel block including the one unit region includes a signal according to a reflected light from the object; and a second determination unit configured to determine whether or not there is a possibility that an output signal of the one unit region includes a signal according to a reflected light from the object, and wherein the reflection light detection unit is configured to extract, when both the first determination unit and the second determination unit determine that there is a possibility that the signal according to reflected light from the object is included, a class corresponding to a timing at which the one unit region detects light as the candidate corresponding to the one unit region, its recites further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claim 4 not eligible.
Claim 5 related to wherein the first determination unit and the second determination unit determine that there is a possibility that the output signal includes the signal according to the reflected light from the object when a class corresponding to a timing at which the one unit region detects light corresponds to a class having a frequency equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold value among classes constituting the information, its recites further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claim 5 not eligible.
Claim 6 related to wherein the distance calculation unit is configured to count for the candidate the number of times that the second determination unit determines that there is a possibility of including the signal according to the reflected light from the object, and wherein the distance calculation unit is configured to output, when the count value of the class having the largest number of times among the candidates exceeds a prescribed threshold value, a distance corresponding to a class having the largest number of times as a distance to the object in the one unit region, its recites further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claim 6 not eligible.
Claim 7 related to wherein the distance calculation unit is configured to add, when a class corresponding to a timing at which the one unit region detects light is not included in the candidate, the class corresponding to the timing at which the one unit region detects light to the candidate, its recites further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claim 7 not eligible.
Claim 8 related to wherein the distance calculation unit is configured to select, when a class corresponding to a timing at which the one unit region detects light is not included in the candidate, the class corresponding to the timing at which the one unit region detects light as the candidate with an update probability according to the count value of the one unit region and unit regions around the one unit region, its recites further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claim 8 not eligible.
Claim 9 related to wherein the data accumulation unit is configured to accumulate the information based on a plurality of signals corresponding to a plurality of pixel block groups each including at least two pixel blocks for each of the plurality of pixel block groups, its recites further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claim 9 not eligible.
Claim 10 related to wherein the data accumulation unit is configured to accumulate the information based on a plurality of signals corresponding to a plurality of pixel block groups each including at least two pixel blocks for each of the plurality of pixel block groups, its recites further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claim 10 not eligible.
Claim 11 related to wherein the data accumulation unit includes a first data area for holding the information corresponding to each of the plurality of unit regions and a second data area for holding the candidate and the frequency thereof for each of the plurality of unit regions constituting the pixel block, and wherein at least a part of the first data area and the second data area overlap each other, its recites further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claim 11 not eligible.
Claim 12 related to wherein the data accumulation unit includes a first data area for holding the information corresponding to each of the plurality of unit regions and a second data area for holding the candidate and the frequency thereof for each of the plurality of unit regions constituting the pixel block, and wherein at least a part of the first data area and the second data area overlap each other, its recites further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claim 12 not eligible.
Claim 13 related to wherein each of the plurality of unit regions includes one pixel, its recites further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claim 13 not eligible.
Claim 14 related to wherein each of the plurality of unit regions includes one pixel, its recites further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claim 14 not eligible.
Claim 15 related to : a conversion unit configured to convert a spatial resolution of a signal output from the light receiving unit, wherein the conversion unit converts the plurality of signals output from the plurality of pixels into the plurality of signals corresponding to the plurality of unit regions, its recites further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claim 15 not eligible.
Claim 16 related to wherein each of the plurality of unit regions includes two or more first number of the pixels, and wherein each of the plurality of pixel blocks includes a second number of the pixels greater than the first number, its recites further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claim 16 not eligible.
Claim 18 related to wherein the plurality of signals having the special resolution higher than that of the plurality of second signals is the plurality of first signals, and wherein the plurality of second unit regions is the plurality of pixels, its recites further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claim 18 not eligible.
Claim 19 related to wherein the plurality of signals having the special resolution higher than that of the plurality of second signals is a plurality of third signals having a special resolution higher than that of the plurality of second signals and different from the plurality of first signals, its recites further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claim 19 not eligible.
Claim 21 related to a control device configured to control the movable object based on distance information acquired by the ranging device, its recites further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claim 21 not eligible.
Claim 22 related to a control device configured to control the movable object based on distance information acquired by the ranging device, its recites further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claim 22 not eligible.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1-23 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a) (1) as being anticipated by Yoon, CN 113766159 A, DATE PUBLISHED: 2021-12-07, CPC H04N 25/705.
Regarding claim 1:
Yoon described a ranging device comprising:
a light receiving unit including a plurality of pixels configured to detect a pulsed light emitted from a light emitting unit and reflected by an object in a measurement target region (page 2-3, page 4, pixel array, light charge is to a floating diffusion (FD) region through a transmission gate in the indirect pixel, allow the collected light to be focused onto the pixels of the pixel array);
a binning processing unit configured to convert a plurality of signals output from a plurality of unit regions each including at least one pixel into a plurality of signals corresponding to a plurality of pixel blocks each including at least two unit regions (page 2, The first pixel and the second pixel have different characteristics comprising at least one of the following: effective measuring distance related to the ability of effectively sensing distance, the time resolution related to the ability of identifying time difference, space resolution related to the ability of identifying space difference, or unit power consumption for indicating the power amount required for generating pixel signal);
a data accumulation unit configured to accumulate, for each of the plurality of pixel blocks, information indicating a relationship between a class determined according to a time from when the pulsed light is emitted to when the pulsed light is detected by the light receiving unit and a frequency indicating the number of times the pulsed light is detected, based on the plurality of signals output from the binning processing unit (page 5, of pulse light incident reflected from the target object 1; and therefore, the distance from the target object1 can be calculated by using the round trip time and the light velocity);
a reflected light determination unit configured to extract, for each of the plurality of unit regions, a candidate of a class including a signal based on a reflected light from the object from the information (page 5, of pulse light incident reflected from the target object 1; and therefore, the distance from the target object1 can be calculated by using the round trip time and the light velocity); and
a distance calculation unit configured to calculate a distance to the object corresponding to each of the plurality of unit regions based on the candidate (page 5, the distance from the target object1 can be calculated by using the round trip time and the light velocity).
Regarding claim 17:
Yoon described a ranging device comprising:
a light receiving unit including a plurality of pixels configured to detect a pulsed light emitted from a light emitting unit and reflected by an object in a measurement target region (page 2-3, page 4, pixel array, light charge is to a floating diffusion (FD) region through a transmission gate in the indirect pixel, allow the collected light to be focused onto the pixels of the pixel array);
a binning processing unit configured to convert a plurality of first signals output from the plurality of pixels into a plurality of second signals having spatial resolution lower than that of the plurality of first signals (page 2, The first pixel and the second pixel have different characteristics comprising at least one of the following: effective measuring distance related to the ability of effectively sensing distance, the time resolution related to the ability of identifying time difference, space resolution related to the ability of identifying space difference, or unit power consumption for indicating the power amount required for generating pixel signal);
a data accumulation unit configured to accumulate, for each of a plurality of first unit regions corresponding to the plurality of second signals, information indicating a relationship between a class determined according to a time from when the pulsed light is emitted to when the pulsed light is detected by the light receiving unit and a frequency indicating the number of times the pulsed light is detected, based on the plurality of second signals output from the binning processing unit (page 5, of pulse light incident reflected from the target object 1; and therefore, the distance from the target object1 can be calculated by using the round trip time and the light velocity);
a reflected light determination unit configured to extract, for each of a plurality of second unit regions corresponding to a plurality of signals having a spatial resolution higher than that of the plurality of second signals, a candidate of a class including a signal based on a reflected light from the object from the information (page 5, of pulse light incident reflected from the target object 1; and therefore, the distance from the target object1 can be calculated by using the round trip time and the light velocity); and
a distance calculation unit configured to calculate a distance to the object corresponding to each of the plurality of second unit regions based on the candidate (page 5, the distance from the target object1 can be calculated by using the round trip time and the light velocity).
Regarding claim 20:
Yoon described an information processing device comprising:
an input unit to which signals output from a plurality of pixels that detect pulsed light emitted from a light emitting unit and reflected by an object in a measurement target region are input ((page 2-3, page 4, pixel array, light charge is to a floating diffusion (FD) region through a transmission gate in the indirect pixel, allow the collected light to be focused onto the pixels of the pixel array);
a binning processing unit configured to convert a plurality of signals output from a plurality of unit regions each including at least one pixel into a plurality of signals corresponding to a plurality of pixel blocks each including at least two unit regions (page 2, The first pixel and the second pixel have different characteristics comprising at least one of the following: effective measuring distance related to the ability of effectively sensing distance, the time resolution related to the ability of identifying time difference, space resolution related to the ability of identifying space difference, or unit power consumption for indicating the power amount required for generating pixel signal);
a data accumulation unit configured to accumulate, for each of the plurality of pixel blocks, information indicating a relationship between a class determined according to a time from when the pulsed light is emitted to when the pulsed light is detected by the light receiving unit and a frequency indicating the number of times the pulsed light is detected, based on the plurality of signals output from the binning processing unit (page 5, of pulse light incident reflected from the target object 1; and therefore, the distance from the target object1 can be calculated by using the round trip time and the light velocity);
a reflected light determination unit configured to extract, for each of the plurality of unit regions, a candidate of a class including a signal based on a reflected light from the object from the information (page 5, of pulse light incident reflected from the target object 1; and therefore, the distance from the target object1 can be calculated by using the round trip time and the light velocity); and
a distance calculation unit configured to calculate a distance to the object corresponding to each of the plurality of unit regions based on the candidate (page 5, the distance from the target object1 can be calculated by using the round trip time and the light velocity).
Regarding claim 23:
Yoon described a ranging method in which a pulsed light emitted from a light emitting unit and reflected by an object in a measurement target region is detected by a plurality of pixels and a distance to the object is calculated based on signals detected by the plurality of pixels (page 2-3, page 4, pixel array, light charge is to a floating diffusion (FD) region through a transmission gate in the indirect pixel, allow the collected light to be focused onto the pixels of the pixel array), the method comprising:
converting a plurality of signals output from a plurality of unit regions each including at least one pixel into a plurality of signals corresponding to a plurality of pixel blocks each including at least two unit regions (page 2, The first pixel and the second pixel have different characteristics comprising at least one of the following: effective measuring distance related to the ability of effectively sensing distance, the time resolution related to the ability of identifying time difference, space resolution related to the ability of identifying space difference, or unit power consumption for indicating the power amount required for generating pixel signal);
accumulating, for each of the plurality of pixel blocks, information indicating a relationship between a class determined according to a time from when the pulsed light is emitted to when the pulsed light is detected by the light receiving unit and a frequency indicating the number of times the pulsed light is detected, based on the plurality of signals output from the binning processing unit (page 5, of pulse light incident reflected from the target object 1; and therefore, the distance from the target object1 can be calculated by using the round trip time and the light velocity);
extracting, for each of the plurality of unit regions, a candidate of a class including a signal based on a reflected light from the object from the information (page 5, of pulse light incident reflected from the target object 1; and therefore, the distance from the target object1 can be calculated by using the round trip time and the light velocity); and
calculating a distance to the object corresponding to each of the plurality of unit regions based on the candidate (page 5, the distance from the target object1 can be calculated by using the round trip time and the light velocity).
.
Regarding claim 2, Yoon further described wherein the data accumulation unit is configured to generate the information by counting, for each class, pulse signals output from the binning processing unit at a plurality of times in response to a plurality of times of light emission of the pulsed light in a first period in one frame period, and wherein the reflected light determination unit is configured to extract the candidate based on pulse signals output at a plurality of times from the plurality of unit regions in response to a plurality of times of light emission of the pulsed light in a second period after the first period in the one frame period (page 12-13, The drain voltage (Vd) may be at a low voltage (e.g., a ground voltage) level during a modulation period of collecting the photocharge generated by the photoelectric conversion element PD and transmitting tothe floating diffusion (FD) region FD1 to FD4. During the read period after the past modulation period,the drain voltage (Vd) may be at a high voltage (e.g., a power supply voltage) level. In addition, during
the modulation period, the cyclic control signal CXV1 to CXV4 can respectively corresponding to thecyclic control voltage Vcir1 to Vcir4).
Regarding claim 3, Yoon further described wherein the reflection light determination unit includes a first determination unit configured to determinate, in a case where at least one unit region of the plurality of unit regions detects light, whether or not there is a possibility that an output signal of a pixel block including the one unit region includes a signal according to a reflected light from the object; and a second determination unit configured to determine whether or not there is a possibility that an output signal of the one unit region includes a signal according to a reflected light from the object, and wherein the reflection light detection unit is configured to extract, when both the first determination unit and the second determination unit determine that there is a possibility that the signal according to reflected light from the object is included, a class corresponding to a timing at which the one unit region detects light as the candidate corresponding to the one unit region (page 12, transmission transistor TX1 can transmit the photocharge stored in the photoelectric conversionelement PD to the floating diffusion (FD) region FD1 in response to the transmission control signalTFv1. The transmission transistor TX2 may transmit the photocharge stored in the photoelectricconversion element PD to the floating diffusion (FD) region FD2 in response to the transmissioncontrol signal TFv2. The transmission transistor TX3 can transmit the photocharge stored in thephotoelectric conversion element PD to the floating diffusion (FD) region FD3 in response to thetransmission control signal TFv3. The transmission transistor TX4 may transmit the photochargestored in the photoelectric conversion element PD to the floating diffusion (FD) region FD4 in responseto the transmission control signal TFv4. Each of the transmission control signals TFv1 to TFv4 can bereceived from the indirect pixel driver 130).
Regarding claim 4, Yoon further described wherein the reflection light determination unit includes a first determination unit configured to determinate, in a case where at least one unit region of the plurality of unit regions detects light, whether or not there is a possibility that an output signal of a pixel block including the one unit region includes a signal according to a reflected light from the object; and a second determination unit configured to determine whether or not there is a possibility that an output signal of the one unit region includes a signal according to a reflected light from the object, and wherein the reflection light detection unit is configured to extract, when both the first determination unit and the second determination unit determine that there is a possibility that the signal according to reflected light from the object is included, a class corresponding to a timing at which the one unit region detects light as the candidate corresponding to the one unit region (page 18-19, the signal (DARK) may occur due to the dark noise component in the time periodt2 to t3. The distance corresponding to the time delay between the signal (LIGHT) and the signal(DARK) may be equal to or less than the threshold distance, and the count result value stored in themode counter may be increased. However, because the counting result value does not exceed themode switching value, so it may not happen the switching of the operation mode of the image sensingdevice 100.
The light emitted from the image sensing device 100 at each of the time points t4, t5, and t6 can besensed after being reflected from the target object 1, such that a signal (EVENT) may be present. Thedistance corresponding to the time delay between the signal (LIGHT) and the signal (EVENT) may beequal to or less than the threshold distance, and the count result value stored in the mode countermay be increased.).
Regarding claim 5, Yoon further described wherein the first determination unit and the second determination unit determine that there is a possibility that the output signal includes the signal according to the reflected light from the object when a class corresponding to a timing at which the one unit region detects light corresponds to a class having a frequency equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold value among classes constituting the information (page 19, if the threshold distance, each of the mode switching value and the initialization time is set asa suitable value, it can prevent error increase or operation mode of the counting result value causedby the signal DARK switching error. Although the threshold distance can be predetermined byexperimentation, each of the mode switching value and the initialization time, but the range or spirit ofthe disclosed technology is not limited to this, and other implementations are also possible. In someimplementations, the image signal processor 200 also can according to the external condition (e.g.,shooting device external illumination, shooting device speed, user request and so on) dynamicallychanging the threshold distance, mode switching value and the initialization value in at least one.).
Regarding claim 6, Yoon further described wherein the distance calculation unit is configured to count for the candidate the number of times that the second determination unit determines that there is a possibility of including the signal according to the reflected light from the object, and wherein the distance calculation unit is configured to output, when the count value of the class having the largest number of times among the candidates exceeds a prescribed threshold value, a distance corresponding to a class having the largest number of times as a distance to the object in the one unit region (page 18-19, The distance corresponding to the time delay between the signal (LIGHT) and the signal(DARK) may be equal to or less than the threshold distance, and the count result value stored in themode counter may be increased. However, because the counting result value does not exceed themode switching value, so it may not happen the switching of the operation mode of the image sensingdevice 100.
The light emitted from the image sensing device 100 at each of the time points t4, t5, and t6 can besensed after being reflected from the target object 1, such that a signal (EVENT) may be present. Thedistance corresponding to the time delay between the signal (LIGHT) and the signal (EVENT) may beequal to or less than the threshold distance, and the count result value stored in the mode countermay be increased.).
Regarding claim 7, Yoon further described wherein the distance calculation unit is configured to add, when a class corresponding to a timing at which the one unit region detects light is not included in the candidate, the class corresponding to the timing at which the one unit region detects light to the candidate (page 10, The image signal processor 200 may add a predetermined value (e.g., "1") to thecount result value stored in the mode counter embedded therein. In addition, the image signalprocessor 200 may determine whether the count result value in the mode counter is above apredetermined mode switching value K in step S30 (where K is an integer). If a predetermined time (orinitialization time) has elapsed, or if the operation mode of the image sensing device 100 is switchedfrom the object monitoring mode to the depth parsing mode, the counting result value may beinitialized.)
Regarding claim 8, Yoon further described wherein the distance calculation unit is configured to select, when a class corresponding to a timing at which the one unit region detects light is not included in the candidate, the class corresponding to the timing at which the one unit region detects light as the candidate with an update probability according to the count value of the one unit region and unit regions around the one unit region (page 10, if the calculated distance of the target object is longer than the threshold distance (i.e., in the step S20is " no ") , the image sensing device 100 can be continuously operated in the object monitoring mode.For example, if the target object is any one of the first vehicle VH1 to the third vehicle VH3 shown inFIG. 2, the image sensing device 100 can continue to operate in the object monitoring mode.
If the calculated distance to the target object is equal to or shorter than the threshold distance (i.e., instep S20 is "yes") The image signal processor 200 may add a predetermined value (e.g., "1") to thecount result value stored in the mode counter embedded therein. In addition, the image signalprocessor 200 may determine whether the count result value in the mode counter is above apredetermined mode switching value K in step S30).
Regarding claim 9, Yoon further described wherein the data accumulation unit is configured to accumulate the information based on a plurality of signals corresponding to a plurality of pixel block groups each including at least two pixel blocks for each of the plurality of pixel block groups (page 10, some direct pixels in the direct pixels can be activated, so as to reduce the power consumption.).
Regarding claim 10, Yoon further described wherein the data accumulation unit is configured to accumulate the information based on a plurality of signals corresponding to a plurality of pixel block groups each including at least two pixel blocks for each of the plurality of pixel block groups (page 16, The photocharge can be accumulated or collected in the peripheral region of the cyclic gates CG1 to CG4without moving to the drain nodes DA-D4.).
Regarding claim 11, Yoon further described wherein the data accumulation unit includes a first data area for holding the information corresponding to each of the plurality of unit regions and a second data area for holding the candidate and the frequency thereof for each of the plurality of unit regions constituting the pixel block, and wherein at least a part of the first data area and the second data area overlap each other (fig. 2).
Regarding claim 12, Yoon further described wherein the data accumulation unit includes a first data area for holding the information corresponding to each of the plurality of unit regions and a second data area for holding the candidate and the frequency thereof for each of the plurality of unit regions constituting the pixel block, and wherein at least a part of the first data area and the second data area overlap each other (page 16, circulating gate CG1 to CG4 canrespectively set in the area corresponding to the four sides of the rectangular ring shape of thephotoelectric conversion element PD. In this case, the circulation gates CG1 to CG4 can be arrangedto partially overlap with the photoelectric conversion element PD.).
Regarding claim 13, Yoon further described wherein each of the plurality of unit regions includes one pixel (page 1-2, first pixel, second pixel).
Regarding claim 14, Yoon further described wherein each of the plurality of unit regions includes one pixel (page 6, The transmission control signal may allow for sequential transmission of a moving photocharge to a floating diffusion (FD) region. The reset control signal may initialize each pixel. The selection control signal may control the output of the electrical signal corresponding to the voltage of the floating diffusion (FD) region.).
Regarding claim 15, Yoon further described a conversion unit configured to convert a spatial resolution of a signal output from the light receiving unit, wherein the conversion unit converts the plurality of signals output from the plurality of pixels into the plurality of signals corresponding to the plurality of unit regions (page 7, the direct TOF method may have a longer effective measurement distance and a lower spatial resolution, and the indirect TOF method may have a higher spatial resolution and as shorter effective measurement distance.).
Regarding claim 16, Yoon further described wherein each of the plurality of unit regions includes two or more first number of the pixels, and wherein each of the plurality of pixel blocks includes a second number of the pixels greater than the first number (page 9, The monitoring area may correspond to a region of a distance greater than a threshold value (e.g., L4) from the main vehicle 300. In the monitoring area, because the distance from the target object is relatively long).
Regarding claim 18, Yoon further described wherein the plurality of signals having the special resolution higher than that of the plurality of second signals is the plurality of first signals, and wherein the plurality of second unit regions is the plurality of pixels (page 2, first, second pixels).
Regarding claim 19, Yoon further described wherein the plurality of signals having the special resolution higher than that of the plurality of second signals is a plurality of third signals having a special resolution higher than that of the plurality of second signals and different from the plurality of first signals (page 5, As a result, the direct pixel 1010 can use a relatively long effective measurement distance and a relatively high temporal resolution to identify the presence or absence of the target object 1 in the object monitoring mode, and at the same time can correctly measure the distance to the target object 1 using a relatively long effective measurement distance and a relatively high temporal resolution.).
Regarding claim 21, Yoon further described and a control device configured to control the movable object based on distance information acquired by the ranging device (page 5, direct pixels 1010 are designed to have a relatively long effective measurement distance and a relatively high temporal resolution, rather than to obtain an accurate depth image. As a result, the direct pixel 1010 can use are latively long effective measurement distance and a relatively high temporal resolution to identify the presence or absence of the target object 1 in the object monitoring mode, and at the same time can correctly measure the distance to the target object 1 using a relatively long effective measurement distance and a relatively high temporal resolution).
Regarding claim 22, Yoon further described and a control device configured to control the movable object based on distance information acquired by the ranging device (page 5, direct pixels 1010 are designed to have a relatively long effective measurement distance and a relatively high temporal resolution, rather than to obtain an accurate depth image. As a result, the direct pixel 1010 can use are latively long effective measurement distance and a relatively high temporal resolution to identify the presence or absence of the target object 1 in the object monitoring mode, and at the same time can correctly measure the distance to the target object 1 using a relatively long effective measurement distance and a relatively high temporal resolution).
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4. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Tung Lau whose telephone number is (571)272-2274, email is Tungs.lau@uspto.gov. The examiner can normally be reached on Tuesday-Friday 7:00 AM-5:00 PM EST.
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/TUNG S LAU/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2857
Technology Center 2800
August 13, 2026
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