Abstract: Each of a plurality of pixels includes a light receiving element that generates an electric charge in response to received light, a pixel circuit that outputs an analog signal in accordance with the electric charge, and a conversion circuit that converts the analog signal into a digital signal based on a reference signal whose voltage changes stepwise. A generation unit that generates, as reference signals, a first reference signal to be supplied to a first pixel of the plurality of pixels and a second reference signal to be supplied to a second pixel of the plurality of pixels different from the first pixel. The first reference signal is supplied to the first pixel of the plurality of pixels via a first wiring, and the second reference signal is supplied to the second pixel of the plurality of pixels different from the first pixel via a second wiring.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image sensor. Each of a plurality of pixels includes a photo diode, a transfer transistor connected between the photo diode and a floating diffusion node, a reset transistor connected between the floating diffusion node and a first power node to which a first power supply voltage is applied, a first source follower transistor including a gate connected to the floating diffusion node, a first terminal connected to a second power node to which a second power supply voltage is applied, and a second terminal connected to a first node, a precharge transistor connected between the first node and a floating node, a first precharge select transistor connected between the floating node and a ground node, a second precharge select transistor connected between the first node and a second node, and a first capacitor connected between a gate of the precharge transistor and the floating node.

Abstract: A readout circuit of a single photon avalanche focal plane includes a pixel array circuit, a serial bus circuit, a clock and timing control circuit, a working mode control circuit, a clock generation circuit, temperature sensing circuits, data processing and storage circuits, I/O driving circuits, and a uniformity correction circuit. The pixel array circuit includes pixel unit circuits arranged in an array. The uniformity correction circuit is configured to improve imaging uniformity by performing regional offset adjustment on the pixel array circuit. By adjusting pixels in abnormal areas or a global bias voltage through uniformity correction, a scale of an array of the pixel array circuit is improved, and an SPAD array chip is protected from strong light, so that the readout circuit well meets application scenarios with complex environmental information, high spatial resolution ratio and high imaging frame rate.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device according to one embodiment includes: a first substrate including a pixel that includes a photoelectric conversion element; and a second substrate including a first control unit that includes a first signal processing unit configured to process a signal from the pixel, the second substrate being stacked together with the first substrate. The signal from the pixel is output to a second signal processing unit disposed at a position different from a position of the first signal processing unit, a path through which the signal from the pixel is output to the first signal processing unit is different from a path through which the signal from the pixel is output to the second signal processing unit, and the first control unit is configured to control the pixel on the basis of the signal processed by the first signal processing unit.

Abstract: Photoelectric conversion apparatus includes pixel array having effective pixel, a readout circuit configured to read out signal of the pixel array, and signal processing unit configured to perform correlated double sampling process and correction process on signals read out from the effective pixel by the readout circuit. The readout circuit has function of reading out signal of the pixel array with first gain, and function of reading out signal of the pixel array with second gain. Correction value for the correction process is generated based on difference between signal read out from the pixel array with the first gain when noise level is output from the pixel array, and signal read out from the pixel array with the second gain when noise level is output from the pixel array.

Abstract: A lighting device comprising a lighting module including an optical output configured to emit a light beam having an angular spread. The module has a light source configured to generate the light beam and an optical diffuser arranged to receive and diffuse the beam towards the optical output, such that the downstream value is greater than the upstream value of the angular spread. A control module emits a control signal having an alarm value when the value of the angular spread of the light beam emitted by the optical output passes below a first threshold, the control module comprising a photoreceptor optically coupled to the optical output and configured to measure a light intensity. The control module outputs the control signal having the alarm value when the value of the light intensity falls below a second threshold. A control circuit deactivates the light source upon reception of the control signal.

Abstract: A fluorescence imaging control system may direct an imaging system to detect, over a period of time, first fluorescence emitted from a first fluorescing region illuminated with fluorescence excitation illumination. The first fluorescing region includes a first population of fluorophores that emit the first fluorescence. The fluorescence imaging control system may also direct the imaging system to detect, over the period of time, second fluorescence emitted from a second fluorescing region illuminated with the fluorescence excitation illumination. The second fluorescing region includes a second population of fluorophores that emit the second fluorescence. The first fluorescing region photobleaches at a first photobleaching rate and the second fluorescing region photobleaches at a second photobleaching rate that is different than the first photobleaching rate.

Abstract: There is provided an image sensor employing an avalanche diode. The image sensor includes a plurality of pixel circuits arranged in a matrix, a plurality of pulling circuits, a plurality of output circuits and a global current source circuit. Each of the plurality of pixel circuits includes a single photon avalanche diode and a P-type or N-type select switch transistor. Each of the plurality of pulling circuits is arranged corresponding to one pixel circuit column. The global current source circuit is used to form a current mirror with each of the plurality of pulling circuits. Each of the plurality of output circuits is shared by at least two pixel circuits.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a logic die, including column readout circuits, and a sensor die, overlaid on the logic die and including bitlines connected to the column readout circuits and an array of detector elements. Each detector element includes a photodiode having cathode and anode terminals and a floating diffusion node connected to one of the terminals of the photodiode. A first reset transistor is coupled between the floating diffusion node and a reset voltage. A source follower transistor has an input connected to the floating diffusion node and an output connect to a first terminal of an output capacitor having first and second terminals, with the first terminal. A second reset transistor is coupled between a second terminal of the output capacitor and the reset voltage. A select transistor is coupled between the second terminal of the output capacitor and one of the bitlines.

Abstract: Methods and system for signal sampling using spatial dispersion are disclosed. In an example, a system includes a time-to-wavelength dispersion system configured to generate a wavelength dispersed optical pulse that is modulated according to an input signal, a wavelength-to-space dispersion system configured to spatially disperse the wavelength dispersed optical pulse by wavelength to produce a spatially dispersed optical pulse, a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) optical system configured to transform the spatially dispersed optical pulse into a frequency domain transformed optical pulse, a sensor system configured to convert the frequency domain transformed optical pulse to electrical signals, the sensor system including a two-dimensional (2D) array of photodetectors, and a processor configured to determine frequency information about the input signal from the electrical signals.

Abstract: An imaging device, according to one embodiment of the present invention, comprises: an input unit for receiving first Bayer data having a first resolution and a noise level; and a convolutional neural network for outputting second Bayer data having a second resolution by using the noise level and the first Bayer data.

Abstract: A computational pixel imaging device that includes an array of pixel integrated circuits for event-based detection and imaging. Each pixel may include a digital counter that accumulates a digital number, which indicates whether a change is detected by the pixel. The counter may count in one direction for a portion of an exposure and count in an opposite direction for another portion of the exposure. The imaging device may be configured to collect and transmit key frames at a lower rate, and collect and transmit delta or event frames at a higher rate. The key frames may include a full image of a scene, captured by the pixel array. The delta frames may include sparse data, captured by pixels that have detected meaningful changes in received light intensity. High speed, low transmission bandwidth motion image video can be reconstructed using the key frames and the delta frames.

Abstract: Fixed pattern noise (FPN) reduction techniques in image sensors operated with pulse illumination are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method includes, during a first sub-exposure period of a frame, (a) operating a first tap of a pixel to capture a first signal corresponding to first charge at a first floating diffusion, the first charge corresponding to first light incident on a photosensor, and (b) operating a second tap of the pixel to capture a first parasitic signal corresponding to FPN at a second floating diffusion. The method further includes, during a second sub-exposure period of the frame, (a) operating the second tap to capture a second signal corresponding to second charge at the second floating diffusion, the second charge corresponding to second light incident on the photosensor, and (b) operating the first tap to capture a second parasitic signal corresponding to FPN at the first floating diffusion.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a logic die, including column readout circuits and bitlines connected to the column readout circuits. A sensor die is overlaid on the logic die. The image sensor includes an array of detector elements, each including a sensing circuit on the sensor die, which includes a photodiode, a floating diffusion node a charge sharing transistor coupled between the photodiode and the floating diffusion node, a reset transistor coupled to the floating diffusion node, and a source follower transistor. In each detector element, a pixel circuit on the logic die includes a select transistor, which has an input coupled to the output of the source follower and an output coupled to one of the bitlines. Two current memory circuits are coupled to the input of the select transistor and are configured to sense and output respective signals indicative of levels of noise in the detector element.

Abstract: Solid-state imaging devices are disclosed. In one example, a solid-state imaging device includes a pixel array with unit pixels that accumulate charge in a floating diffusion (FD) region. A pixel signal reading circuit reads a pixel signal based on the charge from the FD region of a unit pixel. The pixel signal reading circuit includes an AD converter that performs AD conversion on the pixel signal, and a determination circuit that performs brightness/darkness determination of light received by the unit pixel on the basis of the pixel signal. The determination circuit selectively controls executing or stopping of the AD conversion on a pixel signal to be subsequently read according to a result of the brightness/darkness determination.

Abstract: There is provided an image sensor employing an avalanche diode. The image sensor includes a plurality of pixel circuits arranged in a matrix, a plurality of pulling circuits and a global current source circuit. Each of the plurality of pixel circuits includes a single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) and a floating diffusion. Each of the plurality of pulling circuits is arranged corresponding to one pixel circuit column. The global current source circuit is used to form a current mirror with each of the plurality of pulling circuits. The floating diffusion is used to record a voltage of one photon event detected by the SPAD in an exposure period.

Abstract: A ramp signal generating device and an image sensor for decreasing the latency of a ramp signal are provided. The ramp signal generating device may include a first circuit configured to detect a capacitance of a parasitic capacitor, a second circuit configured to charge the parasitic capacitor with a first voltage, and a third circuit configured to receive the capacitance as an input to generate a load current causing the ramp signal with a predetermined slope.

Abstract: Provided is a solid-state imaging element provided with a sample-and-hold circuit, the solid-state imaging element improving the image quality of image data. A first pixel generates a predetermined first reset level and a first signal level according to an exposure amount. A second pixel generates a predetermined second reset level and a second signal level according to an exposure amount. A sample-and-hold circuit performs reset level sampling processing of causing a first individual capacitor to hold the first reset level and causing a second individual capacitor to hold the second reset level, and correlated double sampling processing of causing a common capacitor and the first individual capacitor to hold a first output level according to a difference between the first reset level and the first signal level and causing the common capacitor and the second individual capacitor to hold a second output level according to a difference between the second reset level and the second signal level.

Abstract: A system may have electronic devices with wireless communications circuitry. Devices may have cameras for capturing images. Images may be shared between nearby devices. A first device may wirelessly send an image capture request to a second device. In response to assent to the image capture request, a camera application may be launched on the second device. Upon capturing an image with a camera in the second device in response to user input to the camera application or receipt of a remote image capture command from the first device, the second device may automatically send the captured image to the first device and delete the captured image from the second device. Arrangements in which users are provided with images from a public camera system on a stationary or mobile platform and in which users at an event share images from their cameras are also provided.

Abstract: A camera is provided for reconstructing the surface of the object. The camera includes an optical module configured to spatially separate photons reflected from an object in a scene to form at least two focused and distinctly polarized images on a sensor, wherein the sensor is configured to receive the at least two polarized images on pixels the sensor and generate intensity values of the pixels, and a computing module including a processor and a memory having instructions stored thereon. According to the instructions, the processor computes depth values at points of a surface of the object based on a ratio of the intensity values of the pixels with respect to the at least two polarized images and reconstructs the surface of the object from the computed depth values.