company blog about VI4331 Integrated Time-of-Flight Imaging Sensor: Single-Photon Technology Enables Holistic 3D Perception

VI4331 Integrated Time-of-Flight Imaging Sensor: Single-Photon Technology Enables Holistic 3D Perception

Amidst the rapid evolution of 3D perception technologies, time-of-flight (ToF) imaging sensors have become the core hardware foundation for machine vision, smart home systems, security surveillance, and related fields. Shenzhen Mingjiada Electronics Co., Ltd., a renowned distributor and recycler of electronic components, supplies and recycles the VI4331 integrated time-of-flight imaging sensor. Leveraging breakthrough applications of single-photon detection technology, it achieves comprehensive upgrades in key metrics including accuracy, field of view, and integration density, delivering high-performance, cost-effective solutions for multi-scenario 3D perception requirements.

【VI4331 Core Technology Architecture: Single-Photon Detection Drives Performance Leap】

The VI4331's competitive edge stems from the deep integration of single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) detection technology with a Gen2 DSP deep signal processing module. As a direct time-of-flight (dToF) sensor, it overcomes the phase calculation limitations inherent in traditional indirect time-of-flight (iToF) technology. By directly converting distance from the flight time of individual photons, it fundamentally enhances ranging accuracy and environmental adaptability.

The chip integrates a high-performance time-to-digital converter (TDC), high-speed DSP processing module, and power management unit, achieving full-link integration from optical signal detection and electrical signal conversion to digital signal processing. This highly integrated design not only reduces chip size but also simplifies external circuitry, facilitating miniaturisation and integration in end devices. Additionally, the VI4331 incorporates four laser drive signal sets, each capable of driving one-quarter of the imaging array while achieving precise synchronisation with the internal sensor scan timing. When paired with an addressable laser, it enables an efficient solid-state scanning solution, significantly optimising light field control efficiency.

【VI4331 Key Performance Parameters: Balanced Accuracy and Scenario Adaptability】

The VI4331 achieves multi-dimensional optimisation in performance parameters, satisfying both high-precision perception requirements and broad scenario adaptability:

- Resolution and Field of View: Utilising a 240×96-pixel sensor array, it outputs 23K-point depth point cloud data. Combined with a 120° horizontal wide-angle design, it achieves extensive scene coverage while eliminating perception blind spots, making it particularly suitable for indoor space modelling and panoramic surveillance applications.

- Accuracy and Range Measurement: Leveraging the Gen2 DSP module and optimised algorithms, it outputs sub-millimetre precision depth point clouds unaffected by object colour, surface reflectivity, or texture variations. It reliably detects diverse materials including metal, plastic, and fabric. Under normal conditions, detection range extends to 12 metres, maintaining dependable performance even in intense sunlight with exceptional resistance to solar interference.

- Frame Rate and Data Interface: Supports 30fps high-frame-rate output to capture real-time depth changes in dynamic scenes. Paired with a high-speed MIPI interface, it efficiently transmits depth imaging data while offering full histogram output functionality. This provides flexible data support for customer algorithm optimisation and multi-scenario adaptation.

- Power Consumption and Integration Advantages: Through chip-level optoelectronic converter design and efficient power management, it achieves high performance while controlling power consumption. Combined with its compact packaging, it integrates seamlessly into power- and size-sensitive end products such as robotic vacuum cleaners and small surveillance devices.

【VI4331 Core Application Scenarios: Comprehensive Empowerment from Consumer Electronics to Industrial Security】

Leveraging its core strengths of ‘high precision, wide field of view, and easy integration,’ the VI4331 has achieved practical deployment across multiple domains, establishing itself as the preferred sensor for 3D perception solutions:

Smart Homes and Service Robots

Within robotic vacuum cleaners, the VI4331 enables precise simultaneous localisation and mapping (SLAM). Leveraging its 12m ranging capability and sub-millimetre accuracy, it rapidly constructs comprehensive 3D maps of entire living spaces. Simultaneously, it accurately identifies obstacles such as carpets, furniture legs, and fine wires, mitigating collision risks while significantly enhancing cleaning efficiency and route planning rationality. Its solid-state scanning architecture and low-power characteristics also align with service robots' mobility perception requirements, enabling safe human-machine interaction.

Security Surveillance and Behaviour Detection

Combining a 120° horizontal field of view with 30fps high frame rate, the VI4331 covers extensive monitoring areas while capturing real-time human motion trajectories. Applications include security screening surveillance and indoor behaviour detection. Through analysis of depth point cloud data, it accurately distinguishes between humans and objects, enabling intelligent functions such as anomaly behaviour alerts and people counting, thereby enhancing the responsiveness and accuracy of security systems.

LiDAR and Industrial Perception

The VI4331 underpins a consumer-grade, fully solid-state, area-scan 3D dToF LiDAR product. It integrates dual navigation and obstacle avoidance capabilities, outputting both a 16-line navigation positioning frame (maximum range 10m) and a wide-view obstacle avoidance recognition frame (field of view H120° × V50°). This makes it suitable for applications such as drones and low-speed autonomous driving. In industrial applications, its high-precision ranging capability addresses lightweight industrial perception needs such as positioning calibration for small equipment and object dimension measurement.

【VI4331 Technical Advantages and Industry Impact】

Compared to similar ToF sensors, the VI4331's core strengths lie in the precision breakthrough and enhanced scene adaptability delivered by its single-photon technology. Compared to traditional iToF sensors, its ranging accuracy leaps from centimetre-level to sub-millimetre-level, with superior resistance to ambient light interference. Against other dToF products, its combination of four laser drive signals with a solid-state scanning solution offers greater advantages in cost control and integration complexity, making it more suitable for large-scale consumer-grade applications.

The VI4331 not only represents a performance iteration over its predecessor, the VI4330, but also advances the adoption of single-photon detection technology across consumer electronics and security sectors. Its characteristics of compact size, high performance, and low cost lower the application threshold for 3D sensing technology, providing flexible integration solutions for device manufacturers and accelerating the deployment of intelligent equipment.

[Summary]

The VI4331 integrated time-of-flight imaging sensor centres on single-photon detection technology. Through precise performance calibration and highly integrated design, it achieves balanced advantages across key metrics including accuracy, field of view, and frame rate. This makes it perfectly suited for diverse applications such as robotic vacuum cleaners, security surveillance, and lidar systems. At a time when 3D perception has become central to differentiating end-product competition, the VI4331 not only delivers high-performance hardware solutions for the industry but also empowers diverse intelligent devices to achieve enhanced experiences characterised by ‘greater perceptual precision and more natural interaction’. This lays a solid foundation for the comprehensive penetration of 3D perception technology.