Abstract: An image sensor architecture provides an SNR in excess of 100 dB, without requiring the use of a mechanical shutter. The circuit components for an active pixel sensor array are separated and arranged vertically in at least two different layers in a hybrid chip structure. The top layer is preferably manufactured using a low-noise PMOS manufacturing process, and includes the photodiode and amplifier circuitry for each pixel. A bottom layer is preferably manufactured using a standard CMOS process, and includes the NMOS pixel circuit components and any digital circuitry required for signal processing. By forming the top layer in a PMOS process optimized for forming low-noise pixels, the pixel performance can be greatly improved, compared to using CMOS. In addition, since the digital circuitry is now separated from the imaging circuitry, it can be formed using a standard CMOS process, which has been optimized for circuit speed and manufacturing cost.

Abstract: An image device including a pixel array and a controller, The pixel array having first pixels and second pixels and corresponding channel drivers. The controller may perform operations of a dynamic vision sensor (DVS), an ambient light sensor (ALS) and a proximity sensor (PS).

Abstract: A counter circuit includes a first counter and a second counter. The first counter is configured to count a first counter clock signal which toggles with a first frequency to generate upper (N?M)-bit signals of N-bit counter output signals, in response to a first counting enable signal based on a first comparison signal during a coarse counting interval. N and M are natural numbers, N is greater than M, and M is greater than or equal to 3. The second counter is configured to count a second counter clock signal which toggles with a second frequency which is higher than the first frequency to generate lower M-bit signals of the N-bit counter output signals, in response to a second counting enable signal based on the first comparison signal and a second comparison signal during a fine counting interval which follows the coarse counting interval.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus having pixels is provided. Each pixel includes a photoelectric conversion unit including a charge accumulation region, an output unit configured to output a signal based on a potential of a node electrically connected to the charge accumulation region, and a connection unit configured to electrically connect a capacitance to the node. The charge accumulation region includes a first portion and a second portion. Charge is configured to be first accumulated in the first portion, and, after the first portion is saturated, be accumulated in the second portion. The output unit is configured to output a first signal based on the potential of the node before the capacitance is connected thereto, and, then a second signal based on the potential of the node after the capacitance is connected thereto.

Abstract: There is provided a solid-state imaging device including a substrate having a surface over which a plurality of photodiodes are formed, and a protection film that is transparent, has a water-proofing property, and includes a side wall part vertical to the surface of the substrate and a ceiling part covering a region surrounded by the side wall part, the side wall part and the ceiling part surrounding a region where the plurality of photodiodes are arranged over the substrate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a test apparatus of accelerated photo-degradation measuring a degradation caused by photo-degradation in a material or a product by light containing UV light and visible light that simulate the solar light-inducing degradation. The apparatus includes a light irradiating unit configured to irradiate light using at least one electrodeless plasma lamp; a light condensing unit configured to collect light emitted from the light irradiating unit and irradiate the light uniformly into the surface of the specimen for the material or the product; and a specimen holder configured to fix the specimen, and the specimen holder being fixed at a predetermined position or rotated. Further, the at least one electrodeless plasma lamp generates light having a light power spectrum similar to a solar light in a region of UV light and short-wavelength visible light corresponding to a range of about 300-500 nm.

Abstract: A back side illuminated image sensor may be provided with an array of image sensor pixels. Each image sensor pixel may include a substrate having a front surface and a back surface. The image sensor pixels may have a charge storage region formed at the back surface and a charge readout node formed at the front surface of the substrate. The image sensor pixels may receive image light at the back surface of the substrate. Photo-generated charge may be accumulated at the charge storage region during a charge integration cycle. Upon completion of the charge integration cycle, a transfer gate formed at the front surface may be pulsed high to move the charge from the charge storage region to the charge readout node. The charge may be converted to a voltage at the charge readout node and may be read out using a rolling shutter readout mode.

Abstract: A sensor assembly is disclosed that includes a hollow casing having a radiation entrance opening. A radiation-transmissive optic is at the radiation entrance opening. A substrate is inside and sealed against the hollow casing. An optical sensing element is coupled to the substrate and configured to sense radiation that has passed through the radiation-transmissive optic. A method of manufacturing the sensor assembly also is disclosed.

Abstract: An imager may include depth sensing pixels that provide an asymmetrical angular response to incident light. The depth sensing pixels may each include a substrate region formed from a photosensitive portion and a non-photosensitive portion. The depth sensing pixels may include mechanisms that prevent regions of the substrate from receiving incident light. Depth sensing pixel pairs may be formed from depth sensing pixels that have different asymmetrical angular responses. Each of the depth sensing pixel pairs may effectively divide the corresponding imaging lens into separate portions. Depth information for each depth sensing pixel pair may be determined based on the difference between output signals of the depth sensing pixels of that depth sensing pixel pair. The imager may be formed from various combinations of depth sensing pixel pairs and color sensing pixel pairs arranged in a Bayer pattern or other desired patterns.

Abstract: A radiation image pickup apparatus capable of setting an optimum threshold value used for instantaneously and highly accurately detecting the presence/absence of irradiation includes a pixel array having a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, where each of the pixels includes a conversion element and a switch element, a drive circuit for supplying a drive signal for controlling the switch element between a conducting state and a non-conducting state, a detection unit for outputting a detection signal varying with the intensity of irradiation of the pixel array, and an arithmetic unit for calculating an end threshold value used to detect end of irradiation on the basis of the signal output from the detection unit during a period of time during which irradiation is applied to the pixel array in which the switch elements of the pixels are set in a non-conducting state by the drive circuit.

Abstract: Techniques for using photo detectors as tunable proximity sensors for detection of target objects and ascertaining their distance from the proximity sensors are disclosed. In one embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a proximity sensor system including a photo detector having a first doped region, a gate, a second doped region and a light absorbing region, a control circuitry for generating a plurality of control signals to be applied to the photo detector, and a signal detector to detect an output signal from the photo detector.

Abstract: An improved light to frequency converter optical sensor and method using electronic bias. Adjustable gain also may be provided. A summing circuit sums electrical current from a photo detector and electrical current from a bias current circuit and provides the summed current to an integrator. A threshold detector comparator circuit has an input coupled to the output of the integrator and an output providing a series of pulses. The series of pulses has a frequency based on the light received by the photo detector and the electrical current from the bias current circuit.

Abstract: A contact-type image sensor is designed to prevent, in an effective manner, dust from entering into a space between a rod lens array and a light receiving sensor. A rod lens array includes a large number of rod lenses between two flat substrates and between spacers located at left and right ends; one row of the rod lenses is arranged in such a way that central axes of the rod lenses become parallel to each other. At an emission side of a rod lens in an axis line direction, each substrate includes an extension portion, whose length is determined based on an operating distance of the rod lens. A lower end of the extension portion of each substrate is in contact with an upper surface of a sensor substrate. In this manner, the rod lens array is positioned with high accuracy with respect to the light receiving sensor.

Abstract: A motion trajectory capturing module includes a light-emitting element, a light-splitting element, a first light-reflecting element, a second light-reflecting element, a lens assembly and a motion trajectory sensing element, characterized in that: a projection light beam generated by the light-emitting element is reflected by the light-splitting element and the first light-reflecting element in sequence to form an illumination light beam passing through a light-transmitting element and projected onto an object moving on the light-transmitting element, the illumination light beam is reflected by the object to form an image light beam reflected by the first light-reflecting element, the image light beam sequentially passes through the light-splitting element and the lens assembly and is projected onto the motion trajectory sensing element through the second light-reflecting element, and the motion trajectory sensing element receives the image light beam to obtain a motion trajectory of the object moving on the

Abstract: A pixel array for imaging comprises an array of pixels of a first pixel type and a second pixel type. Each pixel of the first pixel type comprises a first photo-sensitive element having a first area. Each pixel of the second pixel type comprises a second photo-sensitive element and a third photo-sensitive element. The second photo-sensitive element has a second area, which is smaller than the first area. Only the second photo-sensitive element in the pixel of the second pixel type is connected to a readout circuit. The third photo-sensitive element is connected to a charge drain via a permanent connection or a switchable connection. Outputs of the second photo-sensitive elements can be used to perform phase detect autofocussing.

Abstract: Imaging systems may be provided with stacked-chip image sensors. A stacked-chip image sensor may include a vertical chip stack that includes an array of image pixels, analog control circuitry and storage and processing circuitry. The array of image pixels, the analog control circuitry, and the storage and processing circuitry may be formed on separate, stacked semiconductor substrates or may be formed in a vertical stack on a common semiconductor substrate. The image pixel array may be coupled to the control circuitry using vertical metal interconnects. The control circuitry may route pixel control signals and readout image data signals over the vertical metal interconnects. The control circuitry may provide digital image data to the storage and processing circuitry over additional vertical conductive interconnects coupled between the control circuitry and the storage and processing circuitry. The storage and processing circuitry may be configured to store and/or process the digital image data.

Abstract: An imaging system has an imager comprising a plurality of jots. A readout circuit is in electrical communication with the imager. The readout circuit can be configured to facilitate the formation of an image by defining neighborhoods of the jots, wherein a local density of exposed jots within a neighborhood is used to generate a digital value for a pixel of the image.

Abstract: A head mounted display (“HMD”) includes a display module, an eyepiece, a switchable hologram, and a controller. The display module is configured for launching CGI light along a forward propagating path. The eyepiece is optically coupled to receive the CGI light and direct the CGI light to an eye-ward region of the eyepiece. The switchable hologram is disposed along a surface of the eyepiece and the switchable hologram is configured to redirect ambient light propagating toward the eyepiece, when activated. The controller is coupled to the switchable hologram to activate and deactivate the switchable hologram.

Abstract: A light sensor is provided that includes an exposed light transducer for accumulating charge in proportion to light incident thereon over an integration period; and a light-to-pulse circuit in communication with the exposed light transducer, the light-to-pulse circuit operative to output a pulse having a pulse width based on the charge accumulated by the exposed light transducer. The light-to-pulse circuit may include a one shot logic circuit that contributes to generation of the pulse. The light sensor may include an input/output pad, a capacitor provided at the input/output pad for blocking static electricity, an input low pass filter provided at the input/output pad for blocking electromagnetic interference, and/or a bandgap voltage reference circuit connected to a power source having a supply voltage level in a range of about 3.3V to about 5.0V, and for generating a set of stable reference voltages throughout the supply voltage level range.

Abstract: A tomographic scanning apparatus for scanning an object under test and retrieving projection-related data of the object with a light/radiation source and a detector operating in conjunction therewith includes an object carrier, a light/radiation source carrier, a detector carrier, a control module, a processing module, and a rail system (or rotating arm). The object carrier is disposed at a center of the rail system or a center of rotating tracks of the rotating arm. The light/radiation source carrier and the detector carrier move along a rail of the rail system or along the rotating tracks of the rotating arm. The carriers have a rotating mechanism, moving mechanism, and/or height adjusting mechanism for performing rotation, horizontal movement, and/or height adjustment. Accordingly, the tomographic scanning apparatus operates in various ways to suit various applications, respectively.