company blog about Nephotonics NP2F2401 High Precision Low Power Phase Time-Of-Flight Depth Sensor

Nephotonics NP2F2401 High Precision Low Power Phase Time-Of-Flight Depth Sensor

Amidst the rapid proliferation of 3D sensing technology, high precision, low power consumption, and miniaturisation have become the core competitive dimensions for depth sensors. Shenzhen Mingjiada Electronics Co., Ltd. supplies and recycles Nephotonics' NP2F2401 phase time-of-flight (i-ToF) depth sensor. Tailored for applications requiring moderate resolution while being sensitive to size and power consumption, it is widely compatible with terminal devices across consumer electronics, smart home, AR/VR and other fields. This provides a cost-effective solution for upgrading the 3D perception capabilities of various smart products.

I. Core Overview of NP2F2401

The NP2F2401 is a high-precision depth sensor employing Phase-based Time of Flight (i-ToF) technology. Its core principle involves emitting modulated near-infrared light, capturing the phase shift of light reflected from target objects, and utilising proprietary algorithms to precisely calculate the light's flight time. This data is then converted into depth information of the target object, enabling rapid and accurate perception of three-dimensional space. Compared to conventional ToF sensors, this product maintains millimetre-level measurement accuracy while significantly optimising power consumption. Its compact packaging design makes it ideally suited for space-constrained mobile devices and portable smart terminals. Simultaneously, it fills the market gap for mid-resolution, cost-effective ToF sensors with superior cost-benefit performance.

II. Detailed Explanation of NP2F2401 Core Technical Features

1. High-Precision Perception with Stable Output Across All Scenarios

The NP2F2401's core advantage lies in its high-precision depth measurement capability. Featuring a 240×180 pixel (HQVGA) resolution, it achieves millimetre-level measurement accuracy, precisely capturing subtle contours and spatial positional differences of target objects. This effectively mitigates measurement deviations common in traditional sensors when operating at close range or within complex contour scenarios.

To further ensure stability, the sensor integrates an on-chip temperature sensor with dedicated compensation functionality. This automatically offsets environmental temperature variations affecting measurement outcomes, guaranteeing consistent and precise depth data across diverse thermal conditions. This overcomes temperature limitations typically affecting ToF sensor accuracy, enabling broader operational applicability. Additionally, the product employs global shutter technology, supporting high modulation frequencies and multi-frequency operation modes. This enables both high frame rate output and enhanced capture capabilities in dynamic scenes, reducing motion blur and meeting depth detection requirements for rapidly moving targets.

2. Low-power optimisation for extended mobile device operation

Addressing stringent power consumption demands in mobile and portable smart terminals, the NP2F2401 incorporates comprehensive low-power design. It significantly reduces operational power consumption while maintaining high precision and frame rates, effectively extending device battery life. This resolves the traditional ToF sensor trade-off between high accuracy and high power consumption.

By optimising the chip architecture and streamlining redundant modules, the NP2F2401 achieves a balance between power consumption and performance. It also supports multiple integration time operating modes, allowing flexible adjustment of integration time according to specific application requirements to further optimise power consumption. In scenarios with slightly lower precision requirements, integration time can be reduced to lower power consumption; conversely, in high-precision scenarios, integration time can be increased to ensure measurement accuracy, thereby balancing practicality and energy efficiency.

3. Highly Integrated Design Simplifies End-Device Integration

The NP2F2401 adopts a high-integration design philosophy, incorporating core modules such as a temperature sensor, modulated light source signal generator, ADC (analogue-to-digital converter), high-speed clock, and standard MIPI interface within the chip. This eliminates the need for extensive peripheral components, enabling rapid interfacing with the main processor. Consequently, it significantly streamlines the hardware integration process for end devices, reducing both R&D costs and manufacturing complexity for manufacturers.

The inclusion of a standard MIPI interface enables seamless compatibility with mainstream mobile processors, enhancing data transmission efficiency while minimising interface compatibility issues. The integrated modulated light source signal generator enables precise light modulation. Combined with the highly integrated architecture, this further reduces chip size, enabling compact packaging that perfectly suits space-constrained terminal products such as smartphones, tablets, and AR/VR devices. Furthermore, the product supports configurable digital regions of interest (ROI), enabling focused depth measurement on specific areas as required, thereby optimising performance and power consumption.

4. High Environmental Adaptability for Complex Applications

The NP2F2401 demonstrates exceptional ambient light suppression, effectively resisting interference from external light sources (such as sunlight or artificial lighting). It delivers stable, precise depth data even under complex lighting conditions—be it intense sunlight or low illumination—minimising environmental light's impact on measurement accuracy and broadening its application scope.

Concurrently, its compact packaging and high-stability design enable adaptation to diverse operational environments. Whether deployed in indoor smart home scenarios, outdoor mobile device applications, or immersive AR/VR setups, it delivers consistent performance without requiring additional protective modules, thereby reducing terminal product design complexity.

III. NP2F2401's Extensive Application Scenarios

Leveraging its core strengths of high precision, low power consumption, high integration, and cost-effectiveness, the NP2F2401 is widely compatible across multiple sectors including consumer electronics, smart homes, AR/VR, and industrial assistance. Specific application scenarios include:

1. Consumer Electronics Sector

Primarily deployed for front-facing 3D sensing functions in smartphones and tablets, such as 3D facial unlocking, front-facing depth-of-field photography, and gesture control. Its low-power characteristics prevent excessive battery drain, while its high-precision sensing enables rapid, accurate facial unlocking and natural depth-of-field blur effects, enhancing user experience. Furthermore, the HQVGA resolution meets core front-facing sensing requirements while controlling costs, making it suitable for mid-to-high-end consumer electronics.

2. Smart Home Applications

Suitable for smart door locks, smart lighting, and gesture control devices. Within smart locks, it enables precise 3D facial verification, enhancing both security and convenience. In gesture-controlled devices, it rapidly captures user hand movements for contactless operation—such as adjusting light brightness or switching channels via gestures. Furthermore, it supports obstacle avoidance and path planning in robotic vacuum cleaners and service robots, enabling precise depth perception to navigate around barriers and improve operational stability.

3. AR/VR Applications

For inside-out tracking in AR/VR devices, it precisely captures head movements and spatial positioning, enabling immersive virtual scene interaction. Its high-precision depth sensing ensures tracking accuracy, preventing misalignment between virtual scenes and physical space. Low-power design extends device battery life, prolonging immersive user experiences. while its compact packaging accommodates lightweight design requirements for AR/VR devices, reducing both size and weight.

4. Other Industrial and Civil Applications

Suitable for projector auto-focus and keystone correction, it automatically adjusts image clarity and aspect ratio by precisely measuring the distance and angle between the projector and projection surface, enhancing user convenience. Additionally, it can be applied in gesture recognition interaction devices and small-scale industrial machine vision scenarios, providing precise 3D perception support for various smart devices.

IV. Core Value and Advantages of the NP2F2401 Product

1. Outstanding Cost-Effectiveness

The NP2F2401 delivers a highly cost-effective solution while maintaining high precision, low power consumption, and high integration. Compared to other brands at the same precision level, it significantly reduces procurement and R&D costs for OEMs. Furthermore, it eliminates the need for complex peripheral components, further compressing end-product manufacturing costs. This makes it ideal for mass production applications, particularly suited to cost-sensitive end products with moderate performance requirements.

2. Extensive Adaptability

Featuring a compact package and standard MIPI interface, the NP2F2401 supports multi-frequency and multi-integration-time operating modes. It seamlessly integrates into mobile terminals such as smartphones and tablets, while also accommodating smart home and consumer electronics like AR/VR devices and smart door locks. Furthermore, it extends to applications in small-scale industrial machine vision, meeting the diverse requirements of different industries and endpoints with exceptional flexibility.

3. Stable and Reliable Performance

Leveraging Nephotonics' proprietary ToF core technology, combined with on-chip temperature compensation, superior ambient light suppression, and global exposure features, the NP2F2401 delivers stable, high-precision depth data across varying temperatures, lighting conditions, and dynamic environments. This minimises measurement deviations and performance fluctuations, enhancing the operational stability and reliability of end products while reducing after-sales service costs.

4. Empowering End-Product Upgrades

The NP2F2401's high precision and low power consumption enable manufacturers to rapidly upgrade products with 3D perception capabilities, overcoming functional limitations of traditional devices and enhancing core competitiveness. Examples include adding precise front-facing 3D sensing to smartphones, boosting security and convenience in smart locks, and optimising immersive experiences for AR/VR devices. This drives the evolution of smart products towards greater intelligence, convenience, and accuracy.

V. NP2F2401 Summary

As a high-precision, low-power phase time-of-flight depth sensor with HQVGA resolution, Nephotonics NP2F2401 stands as the preferred solution in the mid-resolution 3D sensing domain. Its millimetre-level measurement accuracy, comprehensive low-power optimisation, high integration design, excellent environmental adaptability, and outstanding cost-performance ratio set it apart. Not only does it fill the market gap for ‘high precision + low power consumption + low cost’, but its extensive application scenario compatibility also provides robust support for terminal product upgrades across multiple sectors including consumer electronics, smart home devices, and AR/VR.

Amidst the rapid proliferation of smart devices and sustained growth in 3D sensing demand, the NP2F2401 delivers differentiated performance advantages. It not only meets manufacturers' stringent requirements for cost, power consumption, and form factor, but also enhances user experience. This positions it for large-scale deployment across expanding smart applications, driving the widespread adoption and advancement of 3D sensing technology.