Sensors measure up to 30m and grab 3D images of moving items
14 March 2025 
Image: Business Wire
Onsemi has announced a family of sensors that, it claims, are the first to combine precise long-distance measurements with 3D imaging of fast-moving objects. Using a proprietary shutter pixel architecture and on-board storage, the Hyperlux ID sensors can capture an entire scene and process depth measurements simultaneously in real-time.
The indirect time-of-flight (iToF) sensors address the limitations of previous iToF sensors and deliver depth sensing of up to 30m – four times further than other iToF sensors – in a smaller form factor.
The sensors can produce monochrome images and depth information at the same time. By combining these two outputs, they can provide a comprehensive view of an environment without needing separate sensors for visual and depth data.
As a result, the sensors simplify designs, while offering the longest depth sensing available, according to Onsemi.
The ability to obtain accurate depth information quickly and efficiently is becoming critical to improving productivity and safety in complex automation and robotics environments. Until now, the use of iToF sensors has been limited by their limited ranges, poor performance in harsh light, and inability to calculate depth on moving objects.
By providing precision measurements and high-resolution images of moving objects, the new sensors can help to reduce errors and downtime, and to optimise manufacturing processes, thus cutting costs costs. They can also be used in commercial applications to enhance facial recognition, gesture detection and 3D video conferencing.
Potential uses for the new sensors include:
- Automation and robotics They can detect objects for better navigation and collision avoidance, thus enhancing safety on factory floors.
- Manufacturing and quality control They can measure the volume and shape of objects, detect defects, and ensure that products meet quality standards.
- Logistics and material-handling The sensors can measure the positions, sizes and content ratios of pallets and cargo to optimise storage and transportation.
- Agriculture and farming The sensors can help to monitor crop growth and health by measuring plant heights, detecting diseases, and optimising irrigation and fertilisation.
- Access control The sensors can provide detailed, accurate facial recognition for payment terminals, entry systems and more.
The Hyperlux ID sensors sense depth by measuring the phase shift of reflected light from one or multiple VCSELs (vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers). The proprietary pixel architecture allows them to capture and store four different phases of light simultaneously in one exposure, instantly capturing an entire scene and enhancing the accuracy of depth measurements.
The global shutter technology also aligns all of the sensor pixels with the VCSELs to reduce ambient infrared noise from other lighting sources. Onboard depth processing produces real-time results without needing costly external memory and high-performance processors.
One of the early adopters of the technology is IDS Imaging Development Systems. “Hyperlux ID not only offers higher resolution and better ambient light suppression than any other iToF sensor available on the market but also impressed us with its integrated processing, which calculates depth, confidence and intensity maps at high speeds,” says the company’s managing director, Alexander Lewinsky. “This makes it particularly suitable for capturing moving objects. We were able to develop and expand our range of 3D cameras quickly with a cost-efficient time-of-flight camera for indoor and outdoor applications for large-volume projects.”
