High resolution, high frame rate, low power image sensor
First Claim
1. A method of detecting an optical event, the method comprising:
- interrogating an object with a photonic interrogation beam;
activating an array of pixels substantially concurrent with activation of the photonic interrogation beam, the pixels comprising avalanche photodiodes, a voltage bias level of avalanche photodiodes corresponding to pixel operation in one of Geiger mode and avalanche mode, wherein the array of pixels comprises a plurality of subsets;
receiving a reflected beam from the interrogating the object, at the array;
generating a signal corresponding to a location of incidence of the reflected beam on the array, the signal corresponding to at least one of a pixel array address and a time-of-flight (TOF) of the photonic interrogation beam and the reflected beam, wherein the generating the signal is based on the receiving the reflected beam by a pixel comprised by an active subset of the plurality of subsets, and wherein any detection of the reflected beam by a remainder of pixels comprised by the active subset is not included in the signal; and
determining a distance to the object based upon the signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for determining a distance to an object using a binary, event-based image sensor. In one aspect, the image sensor includes memory circuitry and address decode circuitry. In one aspect, activation of a photodiode of the image sensor array by receipt of one or more photons is able to be used directly as an input to logic circuitry. In one embodiment, the image sensor includes photodiodes operating in an avalanche photodiode mode or Geiger mode. In one embodiment, the imaging sensor includes photodiodes operating as thresholded integrating pixels. The imaging sensor can be fabricated from one or more substrates having at least a first and a second voltage portion.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of detecting an optical event, the method comprising:
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interrogating an object with a photonic interrogation beam; activating an array of pixels substantially concurrent with activation of the photonic interrogation beam, the pixels comprising avalanche photodiodes, a voltage bias level of avalanche photodiodes corresponding to pixel operation in one of Geiger mode and avalanche mode, wherein the array of pixels comprises a plurality of subsets; receiving a reflected beam from the interrogating the object, at the array; generating a signal corresponding to a location of incidence of the reflected beam on the array, the signal corresponding to at least one of a pixel array address and a time-of-flight (TOF) of the photonic interrogation beam and the reflected beam, wherein the generating the signal is based on the receiving the reflected beam by a pixel comprised by an active subset of the plurality of subsets, and wherein any detection of the reflected beam by a remainder of pixels comprised by the active subset is not included in the signal; and determining a distance to the object based upon the signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An optical event sensor for detecting an optical event, the optical event sensor comprising:
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an array of pixels operable to be activated substantially concurrent with activation of a photonic interrogation source, the pixels comprising avalanche photodiodes, a voltage bias level of avalanche photodiodes corresponding to pixel operation in one of Geiger mode and avalanche mode; wherein the array of pixels is operable to receive a reflected beam from the object, at the array, and to generate a signal corresponding to a location of incidence of the reflected beam on the array, wherein the signal corresponds to at least one of a pixel array address and a time-of-flight (TOF) of the interrogation beam and the reflected beam, wherein the array of pixels is operable to determine a distance to the object based upon the signal, wherein the array of pixels comprises a plurality of subsets, wherein the signal is generated based on detection of the reflected beam by a first pixel comprised by an active subset of the plurality of subsets, and wherein any detection of the reflected beam by a remainder of pixels comprised by the active subset is not included in the signal. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A distance measuring mobile apparatus, comprising:
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a processor; a memory operatively coupled to the processor; a photonic interrogation source configured to emit an interrogation beam for illuminating an object; and an image sensor comprising an array of pixels and corresponding charge storage elements, the image sensor operatively coupled to the interrogation source and to the processor, the image sensor configured to receive a reflected beam generated by illumination of the object by the interrogation beam, and to develop a signal based on the reflected beam on the array, wherein activation of the interrogation source and the image sensor initiates and terminates a changing charge level of the charge storage elements during a time period between an emission from the interrogation beam and a reception of a reflected beam from the object, wherein the charge level is comprised by the signal, wherein the processor is operable to receive the signal and to output distance information of the object based on the signal, wherein the array of pixels comprises a plurality of subsets, wherein the signal is generated based on detection of the reflected beam by a first pixel comprised by an active subset of the plurality of subsets, and wherein any detection of the reflected beam by a remainder of pixels comprised by the active subset is not included in the signal. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification