Patent ID: 7791715

Claim:
A method of dealiasing distance Z range of a phase-type time of flight (TOF) system operable at a maximum modulation frequency f m , comprising the following steps: (a) acquiring data from said TOF system using at least a first modulation frequency f 1 and using a second modulation frequency f 2 , wherein operation of said TOF system solely at f 1 would yield an aliasing interval range of Z AIR1 , and operation of said TOF system solely at f 2 would yield an aliasing interval range of Z AIR2 , where Z AIR2 >Z AIR1 ; and (b) processing phase data acquired at step (a) so as to cause said TOF system to provide an effective aliasing interval range Z AIRD , where Z AIRD >Z AIR2 >Z AIR1 , said Z AIRD corresponding to operation of said TOF system at an effective dealiasing frequency f D that is proportional to: A·f 1 −B·f 2 , where A and B are weighting factors, and to provide Z resolution certainty exceeding what said TOF system produces by processing data acquired solely while operating at said modulation frequency f 1 and disregarding data acquired at said modulation frequency f 2 , and to provide Z resolution certainty exceeding what said TOF system produces by processing data acquired solely while operating at said modulation frequency f 2 and disregarding data acquired at said modulation frequency f 1 .