A solution has emerged that provides a 3D depth sensing and calibrated depth system without requiring design engineers to design optical devices or address electromechanical integration issues.

Analog Devices today announced a high-resolution, industrial-grade indirect Time-of-Flight (iToF) module for 3D depth sensing and vision systems.

The new ADTF3175 module, which enables cameras and sensors to perceive 3D space with 1 megapixel resolution, provides ±3mm accurate iToF technology for a variety of machine vision applications ranging from industrial automation to logistics, medical, and augmented reality (AR).

The ADTF3175 provides a scalable, fully manufacturable, and calibrated depth system that can be integrated into 3D sensing and vision systems, eliminating the need for design engineers to design special optics or address electromechanical integration challenges.

This can shorten time to market by simplifying the complex sensor design process. This rugged, high-resolution module is specifically designed to operate in a variety of environmental settings and utilizes state-of-the-art triple-junction VCSEL technology from Lumentum Operations LLC, a leading supplier of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) for Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and 3D sensing applications, enabling detection in a wide range of lighting environments.

“By leveraging Lumentum’s 10W VCSEL array, ADI has enabled a more capable sensing and vision system that can operate in a wide variety of lighting conditions,” said Thea Williams, senior vice president and general manager of Lumentum’s 3D Sensing business unit. “This removes environmental barriers to broader and faster machine vision deployment.”
The ADTF3175 features an infrared illumination source including an optical device, a laser diode, a driver, and a receiver path including a lens and optical bandpass filter. The module also includes flash memory for calibration and firmware storage, and a power regulator for generating a local supply voltage. This product comes pre-configured with several operating modes optimized for long and short ranges.

“Machine vision often requires faster recognition of very small and detailed objects in industrial environments, which often involve harsh conditions and diverse external stimuli,” said Tony Zanola, senior director of ToF at Analog Devices. “The superior resolution and accuracy of the ADTF3175 enables vision and sensing systems, including industrial robots, to perform more precise tasks, better understand their operating environments, and ultimately improve productivity.”

He also said, “The launch of a product with such superior performance helps bridge a significant gap and accelerates the deployment of next-generation automation solutions and core logistics systems.”

Meanwhile, the ADTF3175 module comes with an open-source reference design for a complete system implementation, all necessary drivers, and access to ADI's sophisticated depth processing capabilities. ADI also provides guidance on how to achieve Class One eye safety certification for your end product.