HIGHLY EFFICIENT ACTIVE ILLUMINATION IMAGING SYSTEMS AND METHODS

Sensor methods and systems incorporating an integrated illumination or light source are provided. The sensor can include a plurality of pixels and the integrated light source. The sensor can additionally include or be associated with imaging optics. The light source operates to generate illumination light that is passed through the imaging optics towards a scene within a field of view of the sensor system. Objects within the field of view reflect light that is collected by the imaging optics and passed to at least some of the pixels. In at least some configurations, an output of the light source is located adjacent the pixels, and provides the illumination light to the imaging optics by reflecting the illumination light from at least some of the pixels. In other configurations, the light source excites pixel elements, which then produce illumination light that is provided to the imaging optics.