TOF sensors are valued for their low computational needs, strong anti-interference, long range, and high accuracy. Top smartphone brands use them in rear cameras, with annual shipments more than hundreds of millions.

There are two types of TOF sensors: DTOF and ITOF. DTOF offers a better response in terms of speed, accuracy, and environmental resistance. Its key parts are VCSEL, SPAD, and TDC. VCSEL emits pulse waves, SPAD captures the reflected pulses, and TDC records the time interval between pulse emission and reception, enabling precise measurements.

01 DTOF – A Vast and Expansive Market

The high-end DTOF market in China is currently dominated by international players. The operation of a DTOF sensor is simple, but it requires precise clock synchronization and accurate pulses, which are made possible by complex SPAD production. TDC resolution is also critical, making integration difficult. Currently, global suppliers like Sony and STMicroelectronics lead the market, while local companies face challenges.

With advances in DTOF technology and AI, these sensors are increasingly used in consumer electronics and gaining popularity in industrial control, autonomous driving, and more. In the next decade, efficient, low-cost, and fully integrated DTOF sensors are expected to dominate the LiDAR market.

02 Maxic Enters the Growing Domestic DTOF Market

Maxic has developed high-performance SPADs and launched a series of integrated, low-power DTOF products, strengthening the domestic market. Through extensive research, Maxic identified the key needs of customers, designing flexible solutions based on the M0 core for easy application development. The products match international quality and support domestic innovation.

The MT380X series, a new domestic DTOF sensor, features SPAD, DSP, M0 core, and 940nm VCSEL, with a range of 0.02m to 5m with <4% error rate. It supports up to 120 FPS and standby current <10μA, offering better performance than international mainstream products. Maxic’s strategy focuses on innovation, customization, and meeting customer needs.

03 AIoT+ Low-Altitude Application

DTOF sensors are noticeable in smartphone applications due to their high integration, measurement accuracy, fast response, and low power consumption. They play a key role in AI applications, especially in smart home devices with compact designs and robots requiring fast distance measurement and obstacle avoidance. Maxic's DTOF products tap into the wide market starting with smartphones, driving the realization of "AIoT + Low-Altitude" applications, and offering more competitive, complete solutions for industry customers.

• Smartphone and Camera Application

Maxic's DTOF sensors measure the distance between the target object and the camera, allowing faster and more accurate autofocus. Compared to traditional phase detection and contrast detection autofocus, DTOF-assisted autofocus offers higher precision and speed, is not affected by lighting conditions, and provides better anti-interference and stability. It enables fast and accurate autofocus in complex environments.

• Smart Home Application

In robotic vacuums, compared to triangulation-based LiDAR, Maxic's DTOF sensors provide consistent accuracy regardless of distance. This helps the vacuum detect its surroundings and plan the best cleaning path. The sensors ensure precise cliff and wall detection, preventing collisions and allowing the vacuum to move easily in narrow or complex spaces for efficient cleaning. The fully sealed design also makes the sensor waterproof and dustproof, protecting it from damage.

In smart bathroom applications, Maxic's DTOF sensors create a touchless, convenient space through user detection and proximity sensing. When a user's hand enters the sensor range of a faucet or soap dispenser, water or liquid is automatically dispensed. When a user approaches a smart toilet, the lid opens automatically, and when they move away, the lid closes, and the toilet flushes. Additionally, when a user brings a hairdryer close to their hair, the temperature automatically adjusts.

• Drone Application

Drones need to sense obstacles and flight height in real time to ensure safe and stable flight. Compared to traditional distance measuring solutions like ultrasound, Maxic's DTOF sensors offer excellent sunlight resistance, allowing them to measure distances accurately even in strong outdoor sunlight. This provides reliable data for ceiling and ground detection, as well as landing guidance, giving drones a clear advantage in obstacle avoidance, collision prevention, and altitude control.

As AR/VR adoption grows and autonomous driving technology advances, DTOF technology shows great potential and is expected to have broader applications and higher market value in the future.

Maxic is diversifying its product line to meet market needs and trends, focusing on communication devices, wearables, low-altitude economy devices, automotive ADAS, and robotics. With AI technology advancing, Maxic is grabbing opportunities for cross-industry collaboration, driving the growth of smart sensing and contributing to the domestic industry ecosystem.