Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device includes an avalanche multiplying photodiode, a signal generation unit that includes a control unit configured to control an applied voltage to the photodiode and generates a photon detection pulse based on an output generated by incidence of a photon to the photodiode, and a counter that counts the photon detection pulse output from the signal generation unit, and the counter outputs a setting value detection signal when a count value of the photon detection pulse reaches a predetermined setting value, and in response to receiving the setting value detection signal, the control unit controls the applied voltage to the photodiode so as to stop generation of an avalanche current in the photodiode.

Abstract: An optical sensor includes at least one photodetector configured to be reverse biased at a voltage exceeding a breakdown voltage by an excess bias voltage. At least one control unit is configured to adjust the reverse bias of the at least one photodetector. A method of operating an optical sensor is also disclosed.

Abstract: Examples of capturing and processing image data are described. A device may include a camera including a camera sensor that includes a plurality of tiles that each include four sub-tiles. The camera may also include a color filter array coupled to the camera sensor and including a plurality of red, blue, and green color filters. A first sub-tile of each tile may include a phase detection pixel coupled to a microlens shared with at least one other pixel of the tile and an imaging pixel not coupled to a second microlens different from the first microlens. The device may also include a processor coupled to the camera and configured to control one or more first exposure settings of the phase detection pixel and control one or more second exposure settings of the non-phase detection pixel. Control of the second exposure settings is independent from control of the first exposure settings.

Abstract: A receiving circuit and an optical receiver including the receiving circuit are disclosed. The receiving circuit includes first and second input terminals, a FET, first and second TIA circuits, and a control circuit. The first and second input terminals each receive a current signal. The FET has first and second current terminals respectively connected to the first and second input terminals, and a control terminal. The first and second TIA circuits respectively are connected to the first and second current terminals, and convert the current signals to first and second voltage signals. The control circuit generates a control signal for application to the FET control terminal in accordance with a difference between the first and second voltage signals. The optical receiver includes the receiving circuit and each of first and second photodetectors for respectively supplying first and second current signals to the first and second input terminals of the receiver.

Abstract: An imaging element according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a first photoelectric conversion section and a second photoelectric conversion section that are stacked in order from light incident side and that selectively detect and photoelectrically convert light beams of different wavelength bands, and the second photoelectric conversion section is disposed at an interval narrower than a pixel pitch of the first photoelectric conversion section.

Abstract: A barristor-based photodetector is disclosed. The photodetector according to an embodiment comprises: a substrate; a gate electrode which is laminated on the substrate; a first electrode and a second electrode which are laminated on the substrate and spaced apart from the gate electrode; a graphene layer which is formed between the substrate and the second electrode and extends toward the first electrode; and a gate insulating layer which is formed between the gate electrode and the graphene layer.

Abstract: An example circuit includes a light detector and a biasing capacitor having (i) a first terminal that applies to the light detector an output voltage that can either bias or debias the light detector and (ii) a second terminal for controlling the output voltage. The circuit includes a first transistor connected to the second terminal of the biasing capacitor and configured to drive the output voltage to a first voltage level above a biasing threshold of the light detector and thereby biasing the light detector. The circuit includes a second transistor connected to the second terminal of the biasing capacitor and configured to drive the output voltage to a second voltage level below the biasing threshold of the light detector and thereby debiasing the light detector. The second voltage is a non-zero voltage that corresponds to a charge level of the biasing capacitor.

Abstract: An optical module includes a beam-tilting light source enclosure. The enclosure is coupled to a substrate that includes a light emitter connected thereto. The enclosure has a geometry such that the enclosure has a first surface configured to couple substantially flat to the substrate and a second surface tilted with respect to the first surface and configured to couple substantially flat to a component of an electronic device through which the light is to project. The enclosure is optically transmissive and covers the light source when coupled to the substrate. In this way, the enclosure may be assembled and used in the electronic device by coupling the first surface to the substrate and coupling the second surface to the component.

Abstract: To calculate received light quantity even when part of noise component's discharge probability is unknown, a light detection system includes a discharge probability calculating portion that calculates discharge probabilities for a first state in which a source's light with known light quantity impinges on an optical sensor, a second state in which the source's turning-on/turning-off state is the same as the first state with a drive pulse width applied to the optical sensor different from the first state, a third state in which the source's turning-on/turning-off state is different from the first and second states with the same pulse width as the first state, and a fourth state in which the source's turning-on/turning-off state is the same as the third state with the same pulse width as the second state, another discharge probability calculating portion that calculates regular and irregular discharges' probabilities, and a received light quantity calculating portion.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement for an optical monitoring system comprises a driver circuit which is configured to generate at least one driving signal for driving the light source. A detector terminal is arranged for receiving a detector current from an optical detector. A gain stage is connected at its input side to the driver circuit for receiving the driving signal and generates a noise signal depending on the driving signal. A processing unit is configured to generate an output signal depending on the detector current and the noise signal.

Abstract: A waveguide structure includes a first surface having a first width, a second surface having a second width, the second surface being opposite to the first surface, and a sidewall surface connecting the first surface and the second surface. The first width is greater than the second width.

Abstract: A light detection system is provided for association with a light source. The light detection system includes a light detector and circuitry. The light detector includes semiconductor film and phototube devices and is disposed with at least one line-of-sight (LOS) to the light source. The circuitry is coupled to the light detector and the light detector and the circuitry are configured to cooperatively identify a presence and a characteristic of a light emission event at the light source.

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: A light sensing device is provided, which includes a photodiode, a capacitor circuit and an ADC. The ADC includes a comparator, a counter, a reset switch, a logic circuit and a reference voltage switching circuit. The reference voltage switching circuit is controlled by the logic circuit to a determination reference voltage. When a primary integration time ends, a first node has a residual voltage that does not reach a reference voltage, the logic circuit controls the reference voltage switching circuit to provide the determination reference voltage to the comparator or the capacitor circuit within a secondary integration time, and the comparator outputs a comparison signal, the logic circuit receives the comparison signal within the secondary integration time, and determines the secondary value and outputs to the counter. The counter generates a primary value within the primary integration time, and the primary value is combined with the secondary value.

Abstract: A light receiver (22) is provided having a plurality of avalanche photodiode elements (24) that can each be biased above a breakdown voltage by a bias voltage and can thus be operated in a Geiger mode, wherein the avalanche photodiode elements (24) form a plurality of groups, and having a control unit (30) to change the sensitivity of the avalanche photodiode elements (24) of a respective group. In this respect, the control unit (30) is configured to respectively change the sensitivity of the avalanche photodiode elements (24) of a group at at least one point in time assigned to the group, with different points in time being assigned to the groups.

Abstract: An electronic device has pixels that form an active area of a display for displaying images for a user. A layer of black ink or other opaque material may be formed on an inner surface of a display cover layer in an inactive area of the display that does not overlap pixels. The housing may have sidewalls such as a rear housing wall that faces away from the display. Ambient light sensor windows may be formed from tapered holes or other holes. The tapered holes may be formed in the opaque material on the display cover layer, may be formed in a rear housing wall or other hosing structure, or may be formed in other portions of the electronic device. Non-tapered holes may also form windows. Tapered holes may have sidewalls with portions that run parallel to their longitudinal axes and portions that are angled relative to their longitudinal axes.

Abstract: There is provided a circuit to improve the sensing efficiency of pixels that uses the induction effect of a capacitor to duplicate a voltage deviation caused by additional electrons and uses a circuit to cancel out the voltage deviation during reading pixel data thereby improving the sensing efficiency.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a noise-model based sensor converter configured to map a sensor measurement output to discrete, nonlinear steps of constant uncertainty. In a non-limiting embodiment of the invention, the sensor converter receives an output signal from a sensor. The output signal can include a measurement. The sensor converter can also receive a noise model. The output signal is mapped to a discrete set of steps based on the noise model. The discrete set of steps are nonlinearly spaced to provide constant uncertainty between adjacent steps. The sensor converter generates an output based on the discrete set of steps.

Abstract: An imaging device may include single-photon avalanche diodes (SPADs). Positioning SPADs close together in an imaging device (such as a silicon photomultiplier) may have benefits such as improved sensitivity. However, as the SPADs get closer together, the SPADS may become susceptible to crosstalk. Crosstalk is typically undesirable due to reduced dynamic range and reduced signal accuracy. To reduce crosstalk, a capacitor or other component may be coupled between adjacent SPADs. When an avalanche occurs on a given SPAD, the bias voltage may drop below the breakdown voltage. The capacitor may cause a corresponding voltage drop on a neighboring SPAD. The voltage drop on the neighboring SPAD reduces the over-bias of that SPAD, reducing the sensitivity of the SPAD and therefore mitigating the chance of crosstalk occurring.

Abstract: A measuring device for time-resolved measurement of a measurement signal and for temporal separation of at least a first portion of the measurement signal, having a light source for emitting a pulsed excitation signal, at least one detector for receiving the measurement signal, the detector generating a detector signal from the measurement signal, at least one first forming unit for generating a first comparison signal, and at least one evaluation unit, the first comparison signal correlating with the excitation signal. At least one first logic function is provided which links at least the first comparison signal with a signal dependent on the detector signal so that the output of the logic function provides a measure of the intensity of the first portion of the measurement signal or of the detector signal. The output of the first logic function is connected to the at least one evaluation unit.