Abstract: An oven may include a housing having a cooking receptacle configured to hold content therein, a heating element carried by the housing and configured to heat the content, and a proximity detector carried by the housing in the cooking receptacle and configured to detect surface movement of the content. The proximity detector may include at least one SPAD.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a histogram output from a detector sensor, and calculating a median point of a pulse waveform within the histogram. The pulse waveform has an even probability distribution over at least one quantization step of the histogram around the median point. A corresponding apparatus can include a detector sensor and a co-processor coupled to the detector sensor.

Abstract: A time to digital converter (TDC) may include a sampling stage configured to sample an input signal based upon a plurality of timing signals having different respective phases, and provide a respective output for each of the different timing signals. A first synchronization stage may be configured to receive the outputs from the sampling stage, synchronize a first subset of the outputs to a first one of the plurality of timing signals, and synchronize a second subset of the outputs to a second one of the plurality of timing signals. A second synchronization stage may be configured to receive the synchronized outputs from the first synchronization stage, and synchronize all of the synchronized outputs from the first synchronization stage to the first one of the plurality of timing signals.

Abstract: A distance from an apparatus to at least one object is determined by generating a first signal and generating light modulated by the first signal to be emitted from the apparatus. Light reflected by the at least one object is detected using a Time-of-flight detector array, wherein each array element of the Time-of-flight detector array generates an output signal from a series of photon counts over a number of consecutive non-overlapping time periods. The output signals are compared to the first signal to determine at least one signal phase difference. From this at least one signal phase difference a distance from the apparatus to the at least one object is determined.

Abstract: An embodiment circuit includes a diode having a first terminal coupled to a first reference voltage; a first controllable switch coupled between a second terminal of the diode and a second reference voltage; and a capacitive element having a first terminal coupled to the first reference voltage and a second terminal controllably coupled to the second terminal of the diode.

Abstract: An electronic device disclosed herein includes a single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) configured to detect an incoming photon and to generate a first pulse signal in response thereto. Pulse shaping circuitry is configured to generate a second pulse signal from the first pulse signal by high pass filtering the first pulse signal. The pulse shaping circuitry includes a transistor drain-source coupled between a first node and a reference node, and a capacitor coupling the first node to an anode of the SPAD.

Abstract: An embodiment circuit includes a diode having a first terminal coupled to a first reference voltage; a first controllable switch coupled between a second terminal of the diode and a second reference voltage; and a capacitive element having a first terminal coupled to the first reference voltage and a second terminal controllably coupled to the second terminal of the diode.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes a method that includes generating a decoded output signal that corresponds to reflected light received by a plurality of single photon avalanche diodes (SPAD) by removing ambient light from a plurality of SPAD array output signals. The removing of ambient light including synchronizing the plurality of SPAD array output signals by using a plurality of parallel time to digital converters, each time to digital converter outputting a synchronized SPAD array output signal, determining a plurality of flexible thresholds for each one of the synchronized SPAD array output signals, comparing current data on the synchronized SPAD array output signals with the respective ones of the flexible threshold in a filter, and outputting the first output signal.

Abstract: A single photon avalanche diode based range detecting apparatus includes a reference array of single photon avalanche diodes configured to receive light from an illumination source via an internally coupled path. A return array of single photon avalanche diodes is configured to receive light from the illumination source via an external free space path. A calibration pulse generator is configured to generate a calibration signal pulse. Readout circuitry is configured to receive an output of the reference array via a reference signal path, an output of the return array via a return signal path, and an output of the calibration pulse generator via a calibration signal path. The readout circuitry is configured to determine a delay difference value between the reference signal path and the return signal path based on the output of the calibration pulse generator via the calibration signal path.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an illumination source configured to emit light when driven with a current greater than a threshold current and driver circuitry configured to drive the illumination source with a controllable current. The driver circuit controlled by at least a first input value. At least one illumination detector is configured to detect light emitted by the illumination source and monitor circuitry is configured to receive an output from the illumination detector and provide the first input value.

Abstract: Photoluminescence from a sample detector is detected using an array of photo-sensitive detectors. At least one first photo-sensitive detector of the array is provided with a first type of linear polarization filter and at least one second photo-sensitive detector is provided with a second type of linear polarization filter. The first type of linear polarization filter has a plane of polarization which is at angled with respect to a plane of polarization of said second type of polarization filter.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a single photon avalanche diode pixel that includes a single photon avalanche diode and an output transistor configured to provide an analog output current from the single photon avalanche diode. The single photon avalanche diode pixel is configured to operate in a first mode to output a digital single photon detection event. The single photon avalanche diode pixel is further configured to operate in a second mode to output the analog output current indicating a level of illumination of the pixel.

Abstract: One or more embodiments are directed to imaging devices and methods for determining a distance to a target object utilizing a single sensor array. One embodiment is directed to an imaging device that includes a light-emitting device, a driving circuit, a return single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) array and readout circuitry. The driving circuit generates a driving signal, and the light-emitting device generates an optical pulse based on the driving signal. The return SPAD array is configured to receive a first portion of the optical pulse that is reflected by an object in an image scene. The readout circuitry receives a signal indicative of the received first portion of the optical pulse, and a signal indicative of the driving signal, and determines a distance between the imaging device and the object based on a difference between a time of receiving the signal indicative of the received first portion of the optical pulse and a time of receiving the signal indicative of the driving signal.

Abstract: One or more embodiments are directed to charge pump overload detection circuits which may be employed in imaging devices including one or more SPAD arrays, such as proximity sensors and time of flight sensors. One embodiment is directed to a charge pump overload detection circuit that includes a charge pump, a charge pump supply regulation device, a charge pump voltage regulation feedback loop and a charge pump overload detection comparator. The charge pump supplies an output voltage to a load, and the charge pump supply regulation device supplies a regulated voltage to an input of the charge pump. The charge pump voltage regulation feedback loop includes a feedback voltage generator that generates a feedback voltage based on the charge pump output voltage, and an amplifier that generates and provides a charge pump regulation control signal to the charge pump supply regulation device based on a difference between the feedback voltage and a reference voltage.

Abstract: Photoluminescence from a sample detector is detected using an array of photo-sensitive detectors. At least one first photo-sensitive detector of the array is provided with a first type of linear polarization filter and at least one second photo-sensitive detector is provided with a second type of linear polarization filter. The first type of linear polarization filter has a plane of polarization which is at angled with respect to a plane of polarization of said second type of polarization filter.

Abstract: A flash control circuit of an image capture device includes a time-of-flight ranging sensor configured to sense distances to a plurality of objects within an overall field of view of the time-of-flight ranging sensor. The time-of-flight sensor is configured to generate a range estimation signal including a plurality of sensed distances to the plurality of objects. Flash control circuitry is coupled to the time-of-flight ranging sensor to receive the range estimation signal and is configured to generate a flash control signal to control a power of flash illumination light based upon the plurality of sensed distances. The time-of-flight sensor may also generate a signal amplitude for each of the plurality of sensed objects, with the flash control circuitry generating the flash control signal to the control the power of the flash illumination based on the plurality of sensed distances and signal amplitudes.

Abstract: A pixel array includes pixels arranged in columns. A pair of column lines is provided for each column of pixels. A current source circuit is coupled to each pair of column lines. The current source circuit provides current to the pair of column lines in a first mode of operation such that when one column line in a pair of column lines is being provided with a first current the other column line in the pair of column lines is being provided with a second current which is less than the first current.

Abstract: An electronic device disclosed herein includes a single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) configured to detect an incoming photon and to generate a first pulse signal in response thereto. Pulse shaping circuitry is configured to generate a second pulse signal from the first pulse signal by high pass filtering the first pulse signal. The pulse shaping circuitry includes a transistor drain-source coupled between a first node and a reference node, and a capacitor coupling the first node to an anode of the SPAD.

Abstract: A ranging apparatus includes an array of light sensitive detectors configured to receive light from a light source which has been reflected by an object. The array includes a number of different zones. Readout circuitry including at least one read out channel is configured to read data output from each of the zones. A processor operates to process the data output to determine position information associated with the object.

Abstract: Photoluminescence from a sample detector is detected using an array of photo-sensitive detectors. At least one first photo-sensitive detector of the array is provided with a first type of linear polarization filter and at least one second photo-sensitive detector is provided with a second type of linear polarization filter. The first type of linear polarization filter has a plane of polarization which is at angled with respect to a plane of polarization of said second type of polarization filter.