Patent ID: 7283213

Claim:
In a time-of-flight (TOF) system that emits at least first and second periodic signals of optical energy spaced apart in phase by at least about 90° and that determines distance Z to a target object by detecting and examining relative phase shift in optical energy signals reflected from the target object, a detection system comprising: an array of blocks of four pixel detectors, each pixel detector comprising an optical energy collection area, an associated logic circuit, and an associated storage region to store collected charge detected by said pixel detector; and a phase clock unit outputting to each of said blocks at least two clock phase signals spaced-apart by at least about 90°; each said logic circuit coupled to receive one of said clock phase signals and delaying as required the received clock phase signal such that adjacent pixel detectors receive a clock phase signal shifted about 90° from adjacent pixel detectors; each said storage region receiving accumulated detection-generated charge when the associated pixel detector receives an active state clock phase signal.