1. An apparatus for measuring depth information, the apparatus comprising:
a log converting unit configured to receive a light reflected from an object, and to output a log node voltage that is proportional to a log value of an intensity of the reflected light;
a comparison outputting unit connected to an output of the log converting unit, and configured to output a comparison node voltage of a second threshold value when the log node voltage increases by at least a first threshold value after activation of a first control signal,
wherein the comparison outputting unit comprises:
a comparator with a first input port and a second input port, the second input port being connected to an input port of the comparison outputting unit;
a buffer connected to the first input port of the comparator; and
a first switch disposed between the buffer and the input port of the comparison outputting unit,
wherein the first switch operates based on the first control signal, and
wherein the comparator outputs a comparison node voltage substantially equal to the second threshold value when a voltage of a second input port of the comparator is at least the first threshold value greater than a voltage of the first input port; and
at least one discharging unit connected to an output of the comparison outputting unit and configured to discharge, based on a predetermined rule, an output node voltage until a second control signal is activated when the output of the comparison outputting unit is equal to or greater than the second threshold value,
wherein the output node voltage is charged, in advance, to a level of a source voltage,
wherein the second control signal is activated when the discharging is performed during a predetermined time, and
wherein each of the at least one discharging unit discharges the corresponding output node voltage at a different rate.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the log converting unit comprises:
an optical sensor configured to receive the light reflected from the object, and to convert the received light to a current; and
a log output trans-impedance amplifier configured to output the log node voltage that is proportional to a log value of a magnitude of the current.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one discharging unit charges a corresponding output node voltage to the level of the source voltage, based on whether a third control signal input to a corresponding discharging unit is activated.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one discharging unit comprises:
a discharger including an on-port and an off-port;
a capacitor connected between a corresponding discharging unit and ground; and
a second switch connected between the source voltage and an output node, the output node disposed between the discharger and the capacitor,
wherein the second switch operates based on a third control signal, and
wherein the discharger operates in an active mode that discharges the output node voltage when a voltage greater than or equal to the second threshold value is input to the on-port, and operates in a sleep mode that stops the discharging based on the second control signal input to the off-port.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the capacitor included in each of the at least one discharging unit has a different capacity.
6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the discharger included in each of the at least one discharging unit has a different discharging rate.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
a light source configured to output, in a direction of the object, a periodic optical pulse including light of at least two intensity levels, wherein the at least two intensity levels have values other than zero.
8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the lowest intensity level of light of the periodic optical pulse is higher than an intensity of ambient light.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
a controller configured to control the comparison outputting unit based on the first control signal, and to control the at least one discharging unit based on the second control signal.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the controller selectively controls the at least one discharging unit based on an estimated distance to the object.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein a discharging unit having a relatively fast discharging rate among the at least one discharging unit is selected when the estimated distance is relatively short.
12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein a discharging unit having a relatively slow discharging rate among the at least one discharging unit is selected when the estimated distance is relatively long.
13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
a processor configured to calculate depth information based on each change in output node voltage of the at least one discharging unit from before the discharging is performed to after the second control signal is activated.
14. A method of measuring depth information, the method comprising:
receiving a light reflected from an object;
generating a log node voltage that is proportional to a log value of an intensity of the reflected light;
generating, as an output of a comparison outputting unit, a comparison node voltage of a second threshold value when the log node voltage increases by at least a first threshold value after activation of a first control signal input to the comparison outputting unit
wherein the comparison outputting unit comprises:
a comparator with a first input port and a second input port, the second input port being connected to an input port of the comparison outputting unit;
a buffer connected to the first input port of the comparator; and
a first switch disposed between the buffer and the input port of the comparison outputting unit,
wherein the first switch operates based on the first control signal, and
wherein the comparator outputs a comparison node voltage substantially equal to the second threshold value when a voltage of a second input port of the comparator is at least the first threshold value greater than a voltage of the first input port; and
discharging, by at least one discharging unit and based on a predetermined rule, an output node voltage of each of the at least one discharging unit until a second control signal input to a corresponding discharging unit is activated when the output of the comparison outputting unit is greater than or equal to the second threshold value,
wherein the output node voltage is charged, in advance, to a level of a source voltage, and
wherein the second control signal is activated when the discharging is performed during a predetermined time, and
wherein the discharging comprises discharging, by each of the at least one discharging unit, a corresponding output node voltage at a different rate.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the generating of the log node voltage comprises converting the received light to a current and generating the log node voltage that is proportional to a log value of a magnitude of the current.
16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:
charging the output node voltage to the level of the source voltage, based on whether a third control signal input to each of the at least one discharging unit is activated.
17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:
outputting, in a direction of the object, a periodic optical pulse including light of at least two intensity levels, wherein the at least two intensity levels have values other than zero.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the outputting comprises:
outputting a lowest intensity level of light of the periodic optical pulse is higher than an intensity of ambient light.
19. The method of claim 14, further comprising:
calculating depth information based on each change in output node voltage from before the discharging is performed to after the second control signal is activated.
20. A method of measuring depth information, the method comprising:
generating an optical pulse toward an object;
receiving a reflected optical signal resulting from the optical pulse being reflected from the object;
generating a log node voltage that is proportional to a log value of an intensity of the reflected optical signal;
generating, as an output of a comparison outputting unit, a comparison node voltage of a second threshold value when the log node voltage increases by at least a first threshold value after activation of a first control signal input to the comparison outputting unit,
wherein the comparison outputting unit comprises:
a comparator with a first input port and a second input port, the second input port being connected to an input port of the comparison outputting unit;
a buffer connected to the first input port of the comparator; and
a first switch disposed between the buffer and the input port of the comparison outputting unit,
wherein the first switch operates based on the first control signal, and
wherein the comparator outputs a comparison node voltage substantially equal to the second threshold value when a voltage of a second input port of the comparator is at least the first threshold value greater than a voltage of the first input port
generating a discharge signal based on the log node voltage; and
determining the depth information according to a value measured with respect to the discharge signal a predetermined time after the generation of the optical pulse,
wherein the discharge signal varies as a function of time, and
wherein the discharge signal is outputted at a different rate for each of at least one discharging unit.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A computer programmed to:
a) receive a message to be encrypted;
b) use a first sequence generator, to place false information within a template;
c) based upon said message, use a second sequence generator, to generate an encrypted text; and,
d) weave said encrypted text into said template among said false information.
2. The computer according to claim 1, wherein said computer is programmed to use a third sequence generator to establish the false information.
3. The computer according to claim 1, wherein said computer is programmed to choose said first sequence generator and said second sequence generator from a library of sequence generators.
4. The computer according to claim 3,
a) wherein said computer is programmed to receive a destination address for communicating said template to a remote computer; and,
b) wherein said first sequence generator and said second sequence generator are chosen in response to said destination address.
5. The computer according to claim 4, wherein said computer is further programmed to:
a) create a modulation value; and,
b) use said modulation value in conjunction with said destination address for subsequent communications with said remote computer.
6. The computer according to claim 4, programmed to:
a) receive a first user generated key; and,
b) use said first user generated key with said first sequence generator.
7. The computer according to claim 5, programmed to use said first user generated key with said second sequence generator.
8. An encryption method comprising the steps of:
a) scattering a series of false symbols within a template; and,
b) interweaving, among said series of false symbols within said template, a series of true symbols.
9. The encryption method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of creating said series of true symbols by encrypting an original series of symbols.
10. The encryption method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of placing said series of false symbols within said template using a sequence generator.
11. The encryption method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of scattering a second series of false symbols within said template before the step of interweaving the series of true symbols.
12. The encryption method according to claim 10, further including the step of creating the series of false symbols using a second sequence generator.
13. A communication computer programmed to:
a) receive a message to be encrypted;
b) use a first sequence generator, to establish locations for false information; and,
c) based upon a chosen character within said message, use a second sequence generator to generate an encrypted character; and,
d) selectively communicate either false information or said encrypted character to a remote computer.
14. The communication computer according to claim 15, wherein said communication computer is programmed to choose said first sequence generator and said second sequence generator from a library of sequence generators.
15. The communication computer according to claim 14,
a) wherein said communication computer is programmed to receive a destination address; and,
b) wherein said first sequence generator and said second sequence generator are chosen in response to said destination address.
16. The communication computer according to claim 15, programmed to:
a) receive a first user generated key; and,
b) use said first user generated key to establish locations of false information.
17. An encryption and communication method comprising the steps of:
a) creating a series of false symbols having defined locations within a message; and,
b) based upon a position within said message being sent and said defined locations, selectively communicating to a remote computer either a false symbol or a true symbol.
18. The encryption and communication method according to claim 17, further including the step of establishing said true symbol using a first predefined sequence generator.
19. The encryption and communication method according to claim 18, further including the step of accepting a first user defined key used to initiate said first predefined sequence generator.
20. The encryption and communication method according to claim 19, further including the step of establishing said defined locations using a second predefined sequence generator.
21. The encryption and communication method according to claim 20, further including the step of accepting a second user defined key used to initiate said second predefined sequence generator.
22. The encryption and communication method according to claim 20, further including the step of establishing said true symbol using a third predefined sequence generator.
23. The encryption and communication method according to claim 22, further including the step of accepting a third user defined key used to initiate said third predefined sequence generator.
24. A computer programmed to communicate a message to a remote computer, said message having both true encrypted characters and false encrypted characters intermixed therewith.
25. The computer according to claim 24, programmed to:
a) encrypt said true encrypted characters using a first sequence generator; and,
b) place said false encrypted characters using a second sequence generator.