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SMARTPHONE CAMERA SUBSYSTEM BLOCK DIAGRAM

Ambient light sensors (ALS) can be used with front and rear cameras to help to evaluate the light source, optimize the white

balance, and compensate for light source flicker.

STMicroelectronics offers a family of high-accuracy and target-reflectance-independent Time-of-Flight (ToF) ranging sensors

as well as a new high-resolution 3D Time-of-Flight camera. ST pioneered highvolume production of fully integrated miniature

direct ToF products. The products feature a vertical cavity surface emission laser (VCSEL) logic implementing a ranging

algorithm, an array of single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) detectors, and an ultralow power ranging architecture that is

perfectly suited to the assisting camera focus algorithm.

In addition to laser autofocus assist, FlightSense sensors can address other use cases, including touch-to-focus and scene

understanding enhancement.

The introduction of the high-resolution indirect ToF sensors enable exciting new use cases, including support for photographic

Bokeh effect as well as high-performance face identification to enable secure phone unlock and support secure payments.

Back cameras domain

Lens

actuators

EEPROM

Camera #n

Protection

MCU

A+G

Lens

actuators

EEPROM

Camera #1

Protection

VCSEL +

LDD

EEPROM

iToF sensor

ToF

LDO

ALS

Vbat

Protection

Application

processor

Front cameras domain

EEPROM

Camera

Protection

VCSEL +

LDD

EEPROM

iToF sensor

Proximity

LDO

Protection

Vbat

Face authentication

EEPROM

GS camera

Protection

VCSEL +

LDD

EEPROM

iToF sensor

Proximity

LDO

Protection

Vbat

ALS AND TOF