Imaging simulation of the AMCW ToF camera based on path tracking.

The time-of-flight (ToF) camera suffers from many error factors, such as multiple reflection or multipath interference and electronic and optical shot noise, making it difficult to simulate its imaging process. Aiming to test the ToF camera algorithm, it is important to obtain a depth image affected by these error factors. In order to model the light propagation behavior and the sensor effect in the imaging process of the ToF camera, an amplitude modulated continuous-wave (AMCW) ToF camera imaging simulation method based on path tracking is presented by deducing the path tracking algorithm model in the AMCW ToF camera theoretically and by realizing the physically based simulation by introducing the infrared bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) data of the actual materials.