Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to image sensors and methods for image sensing. More specifically, and without limitation, this disclosure relates to systems and methods for providing super-pixels, and implementing and using image sensors with super-pixels. In one implementation, an image sensor includes a plurality of super-pixels.

Abstract: A pixel circuit is provided for use in an image sensor. The pixel circuit includes a photosensitive element configured to generate a current signal in response to brightness of light impinging on the photosensitive element, and a converter configured to receive the current signal from the photosensitive element and generate a voltage signal based on the received current signal. The pixel circuit also includes a capacitor electrically coupled to the converter in series and configured to receive the voltage signal from the converter, and an amplifier electrically coupled, at an input, to the capacitor in series and configured to generate, at an output, an amplified signal based on an output signal from the capacitor, wherein there is no feedback between the output and the input of the amplifier. Further, the pixel circuit includes a reset device configured to reset the amplifier in response to a trigger signal being generated.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for imaging and sensing vibrations of an object. In one implementation, a system is provided for detecting vibrations that comprises a sensor with a plurality of pixels, each pixel including at least one photosensitive element. The sensor is configured to output signals related to illumination on each pixel. The system also includes at least one processor configured to receive the output signals from the sensor and detect, based on the output signals, one or more polarities. The at least one processor is also configured to determine timestamps associated with the output signals, analyze the timestamps and the polarities to detect vibrations of an object in the field of view of the sensor, and determine one or more frequencies of the detected vibrations.

Abstract: The method processes a series of events received asynchronously from an array of pixels of an event-based light sensor. Each event of the series comprises an address of a pixel of the array from which the event is received, and an attribute value depending on incident light sensed by that pixel. The method comprises: storing a data structure in a first memory, the data structure including event data for at least some of the pixels of the array, the event data for a pixel being related to at least one event most recently received from said pixel; during a timeslot, building, in a second memory having a faster access than the first memory, a map for the pixels of the array as the events of the series are received, the map including an information element for each pixel of the array, the information element having one of a plurality of values including a nil value indicating an absence of event during the timeslot; and updating the data structure after the timeslot using the map.

Abstract: For processing a signal from an event-based sensor having an array of sensing elements facing a scene, the method comprises: receiving the signal including, for each sensing element, successive events originating from said sensing element depending on variations of incident light from the scene; analyzing the signal to detect a frequency pattern in a light profile sensed by at least one sensing element; and extracting information from the scene in response to detection of the frequency pattern.

Abstract: A system (1) for detecting dynamic secondary objects (55) that have a potential to intersect the trajectory (51) of a moving primary object (50), comprising a vision sensor (2) with a light-sensitive area (20) that comprises event-based pixels (21), so that a relative change in the light intensity impinging onto an event-based pixel (21) of the vision sensor (2) by at least a predetermined percentage causes the vision sensor (2) to emit an event (21a) associated with this event-based pixel (21), wherein the system (1) further comprises a discriminator module (3) that gets both the stream of events (21a) from the vision sensor (2) and information (52) about the heading and/or speed of the motion of the primary object (50) as inputs, and is configured to identify, from said stream of events (21a), based at least in part on said information (52), events (21b) that are likely to be caused by the motion of a secondary object (55), rather than by the motion of the primary object (50).

Abstract: An image enhancement method, comprising: obtaining a reference image frame from of a scene, by a frame-based sensor, wherein the reference image contains artifacts and has an exposure duration; obtaining a stream of events, by an event-based sensor which is synchronized with the frame-based sensor, at least during the exposure duration, wherein the events encode brightness changes of the scene corresponding to the reference image; and deriving a corrected image frame without the artifacts from the reference image frame using the stream of events.

Abstract: A light source for structured light, comprising a plurality of light source elements arranged in an array, wherein the light source elements are configured to be driven in the following two modes:—a calibration mode, wherein only a part of light source elements are adapted to be driven; and—a normal mode, wherein the rest of the light source elements are adapted to be driven.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include an event-based image sensor and an event filtering method for use with an event-based image sensor. The event-based image sensor comprises a plurality of pixel circuits forming a pixel array, each pixel circuit comprising a photoreceptor circuit configured to generate a photoreceptor signal derived from a photocurrent generated by a light impinging on a light-sensitive element of the photoreceptor circuit, and a detector configured to detect a change in the photoreceptor signal and to generate an event in response to the detected change in the photoreceptor signal. The event-based image sensor further includes a processing chain and an event filter that is configured to receive the generated event and to accept the received event based on a plurality of conditions.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include an event-based image sensor and an event filtering method for use with an event-based image sensor. The event-based image sensor comprises a plurality of pixel circuits forming a pixel array, each pixel circuit comprising a photoreceptor circuit configured to generate a photoreceptor signal derived from a photocurrent generated by a light impinging on a light-sensitive element of the photoreceptor circuit, and a detector configured to detect a change in the photoreceptor signal and to generate an event in response to the detected change in the photoreceptor signa. The event-based image sensor further includes a processing chain and an event filter that is configured to receive the generated event and to accept the received event based on a plurality of conditions.

Abstract: An event-based sensor having a sensing part that produces events asynchronously. The output signal includes information relating to at least some of the produced events. The method comprises: estimating a rate of production of events by the sensing part; while the estimated rate is less than a threshold, transmitting the signal having a variable rate; and when the estimated rate is above the threshold, transmitting the signal including information relating to only some of the produced events, such that a rate of events for which information is included in the signal remains within the threshold.

Abstract: A method for sampling data from pixels of an event vision sensor is disclosed. The method comprises receiving, with a selection circuit, an activation signal from an active pixel of the plurality of pixels of the line, generating, with the selection circuit, an acknowledge signal in response to receiving the activation signal, and sending the acknowledge signal to the plurality of pixels of the line, wherein each pixel of the line is configured to generate a request-reading signal when that pixel is active when receiving the acknowledge signal.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to image sensors and methods for image sensing. More specifically, and without limitation, this disclosure relates to systems and methods for providing super-pixels, and implementing and using image sensors with super-pixels. In one implementation, an image sensor includes a plurality of super-pixels.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a plurality of pixels, each pixel including a photosensitive element, and a photo-signal converter adapted to provide, on a first output, a current signal linearly proportional to the intensity of light impinging on the photosensitive element and to provide, on a second output, a voltage signal logarithmic with the intensity of light impinging on the photosensitive element. Each pixel further includes a detector adapted to generate a trigger signal when a signal of the detector proportional to the voltage signal of the second output of the photo-signal converter exceeds a threshold, and a light-to-time converter adapted to measure and encode, in the time domain, light intensity on the photosensitive element. A light-to-time conversion cycle may be initiated by the light-to-time converter in response to receipt of the trigger signal.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for imaging and sensing vibrations of an object. In one implementation, a system is provided for detecting vibrations that comprises a sensor with a plurality of pixels, each pixel including at least one photosensitive element. The sensor is configured to output signals related to illumination on each pixel. The system also includes at least one processor configured to receive the output signals from the sensor and detect, based on the output signals, one or more polarities. The at least one processor is also configured to determine timestamps associated with the output signals, analyze the timestamps and the polarities to detect vibrations of an object in the field of view of the sensor, and determine one or more frequencies of the detected vibrations.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to image sensors and methods for image sensing. More specifically, and without limitation, this disclosure relates to systems and methods for providing super-pixels, and implementing and using image sensors with super-pixels. In one implementation, an image sensor includes a plurality of super-pixels.

Abstract: An event-based image sensor is provided that includes a plurality of pixel circuits. Each pixel circuit includes a photoreceptor circuit with a light-sensitive element configured for delivering at an output a photoreceptor current, an analog bus, and a bank of current memory cells connected to the analog bus. An output of the photoreceptor circuit is selectively connected to the analog bus. Each current memory cell is adapted to store an electric current flowing in the analog bus and to deliver an electric current stored within the current memory cell. Each pixel circuit may further include a current comparator including a current sign detector connected to the analog bus and configured for comparing a value of a compared electric current resulting from a difference between the photoreceptor current and a previous photoreceptor current stored in a current memory cell. At least one storage cell may also be provided that has a state conditioned by the output of the current sign detector.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for three-dimensional image sensing. More specifically, and without limitation, this disclosure relates to systems and methods for detecting three-dimensional images, and using asynchronous image sensors for detecting the same.

Abstract: For processing a signal from an event-based sensor having an array of sensing elements facing a scene, the method comprises: receiving the signal including, for each sensing element, successive events originating from said sensing element depending on variations of incident light from the scene; analyzing the signal to detect a frequency pattern in a light profile sensed by at least one sensing element; and extracting information from the scene in response to detection of the frequency pattern.

Abstract: In one implementation, a three-dimensional image sensing system is provided that includes at least one processor that detects, from an image sensor, one or more first events based on reflections caused by electromagnetic pulses associated with a plurality of projected line patterns and corresponding to one or more first pixels of the image sensor. The at least one processor also detects, from the image sensor, one or more second events based on the reflections and corresponding to one or more second pixels of the image sensor, identifies a line corresponding to the one or more second events and the one or more first events, calculates three-dimensional rays for the one or more first pixels and the one or more second pixels based on the identified line, and calculates three-dimensional image or more first pixels and the one or more second pixels based on the three-dimensional rays and a plane equation.