ams OSRAM TMF8820, TMF8821 and TMF8828 time-of-flight sensors

ams OSRAM has released the TMF8820, TMF8821 and TMF8828 multizone time-of-flight sensors. The high-performance, direct-time-of-flight (dToF) sensors achieve a 5 m detection range, while the devices’ multi-lens array widens the field of illumination.

The sensors are built using single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) array, time-to-digital converter (TDC) and histogram technology. The sensors feature an associated vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL), while the high-quality lens on the SPAD supports a dynamically adjustable field of view up to 63°. The versatile sensors are designed to enable detection of the target area in multiple zones with precise measurement results. The sensors can also detect multiple objects per zone, allowing automated robots to gain additional sensory awareness and provide early alerts to potential obstacles.

The sensors perform all raw data processing on chip, and the devices report both distance information and confidence values through an I²C interface. Housed in a single compact modular package, the sensors support a range of demanding applications, including laser detect autofocus for mobile phone cameras, object detection and collision avoidance, presence detection, and light curtain applications for industrial safety designs.