In this episode of Vision Vitals by e-con Systems, we explore one of the most important architectural decisions in modern 3D sensing — Continuous Wave vs Pulsed indirect Time-of-Flight (iToF).

Both approaches are widely used in depth cameras, robotics perception systems, and industrial automation. But their differences can significantly impact system performance, especially in terms of range, power consumption, outdoor reliability, and thermal behavior.

In this podcast, our vision expert breaks down how each architecture works and when engineers should choose one over the other.

🎙️ In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What Continuous Wave (CW) and Pulsed iToF really mean
• How both methods use Time-of-Flight to measure distance
• The key differences in how depth data is calculated
• How modulation frequency and signal correlation affect depth accuracy
• Trade-offs in range, power consumption, and thermal design
• When CW iToF is ideal for robotics and industrial automation
• How Pulsed iToF behaves in different environmental conditions

Whether you're designing robotics platforms, industrial automation systems, or smart sensing applications, understanding these architectures will help you choose the right depth technology for your deployment.

🔗 Learn more about our 3D iToF Depth Camera