The field of sensors deals with the complete development of electro-optical sensors from the idea to its successful implementation in the form of prototypes. Our scientists and engineers work closely and confidently with clients, cooperation partners, potential manufacturers and users. The highlight in the short history of this division so far was the successful completion of a project for the development of a 3d distance sensor in 2006.

This sensor combines the features of a modern digital camera with the time of flight (TOF) of a laser pulse. The working principle developed by our scientists was converted into an electronic circuit in cooperation with the Microelectronics Division of the Technical University of Berlin and on this basis an Opto-ASIC in the 0.6 μm BiCMOS technology of the XFab in Erfurt was produced. On the basis of this chip, the prototype of a 3D distance sensor was developed, which can determine in each of its 256 pixels the distance of the corresponding object point
In the field of sensors, the development of algorithms and software for the application of the 3D-TOF sensors is also carried out. In general, methods for 3D-capturing objects have been implemented. The applications for facial recognition and classifying counting of persons and moving objects for public transport have been particularly successful.

Potential applications of a 3D distance sensor are intelligent airbag controls, control of autonomous robots/vehicles, as well as the measurement, counting and classification of objects and persons up to face recognition