Abstract: A depth camera assembly is used to obtain depth information describing a local area. The depth camera assembly includes a sensor having a plurality of pixels. Some or all of the pixels are divided into groups that are coupled to respective multi-purpose time-to-digital converters. Each multi-purpose time-to-digital converter comprises an oscillator and a counter. Each pixel in a group is associated with a multiplexer that is configured to select between inputs coupled to the pixel, the oscillator, or a counter associated with a different pixel. The multiplexer outputs the signal to the counter for the time-to-digital converter associated with the pixel. A time-of-flight measurement is taken during a first portion of an image frame. During a second portion of the image frame, the sensor may be used as an intensity counter. During a third portion of the image frame, the depth sensor may be calibrated.

Abstract: A projector for illuminating a target area is presented. The projector includes an array of emitters having a plurality of subarrays and an optical assembly. Each subarray includes one or more independently addressable channels emitting light in accordance with emission instructions. At least two of the subarrays are adjacent to each other and do not overlap. The optical assembly is configured to tile portions of the emitted light to form a light pattern for projection to a target area. The light pattern has a first plurality of sections and a second plurality of sections. Each section of the first plurality represents a first respective portion of the light pattern emitted from a corresponding subarray. Each section of the second plurality represents a second respective portion of the light pattern formed by tiling light emitted from two or more of the subarrays.

Abstract: A depth camera assembly (DCA) includes a direct time of flight system for determining depth information for a local area. The DCA includes an illumination source, a camera, and a controller. In some embodiments, the controller uses previous image frames to determine confidence measurements, and selectively adjusts a number of pulses from the illuminator in a subsequent frame based on the determined confidence values. In some embodiments, the sensor uses autonomous gating, and the depth system includes a depth recovery pipeline which provide depth map estimates from the autonomous gated measurements.

Abstract: A depth camera assembly (DCA) includes a direct time of flight system for determining depth information for a local area. The DCA includes an illumination source, a camera, and a controller. The illumination source projects light (e.g., pulse of light) into the local area. The camera detects reflections of the projected light from objects in the local area. The camera includes a detector where pixels are grouped into multiple macropixels that are coupled to an output bus. Specific macropixels from which information describing light detected by pixels in the specific macropixels is obtained. In come configurations, each macropixel includes a counter that is incremented based on detection of light by pixels in the macropixels. The counter may be used to select macropixels from which data is obtained.

Abstract: A depth camera assembly (DCA) includes a direct time of flight system for determining depth information for a local area. The DCA includes an illumination source, a camera, and a controller. The illumination source projects light (e.g., pulse of light) into the local area. The camera detects reflections of the projected light from objects in the local area. Using an internal gating selection procedure, the controller selects a gate window that is likely to be associated with reflection of a pulse of light from an object. The selected gate may be used for depth determination. The internal gating selection procedures may be achieved through external target location and selection or through internal self-selection.

Abstract: A direct time of flight depth system includes an addressable illumination source, an active depth sensor, and a controller. The addressable illumination source includes an array of emitters and an optical assembly that is used to generate an array of dots emitted into a local area. Each emitter is independently addressable, allowing selective illumination of different portions of the local area. The addressable illumination source is aligned with the active depth sensor so each dot maps to a corresponding macropixel (e.g., 4×4 array of SPADs) on the active depth sensor. Data from the active depth sensor is readout and used to determine depth information.

Abstract: A depth camera assembly (DCA) for multimode time-of-flight based depth sensing is presented herein. The DCA includes a projector, a detector, and a controller. The projector illuminates a target area with outgoing light comprising a plurality of light pulses. The detector includes an array of unit cells. Each unit cell includes a macropixel with a plurality of pixels that captures portions of the outgoing light reflected from the target area, and an array of memory cells coupled to the macropixel. At least one of the memory cells stores information about the captured portions of the reflected outgoing light received from the macropixel. The controller determines depth information for the target area based in part on data read from the at least one memory cell.

Abstract: A depth camera assembly is used to obtain depth information describing a local area. The depth camera assembly includes a sensor having a plurality of pixels. Some or all of the pixels are divided into groups that are coupled to respective multi-purpose time-to-digital converters. Each multi-purpose time-to-digital converter comprises an oscillator and a counter. Each pixel in a group is associated with a multiplexer that is configured to select between inputs coupled to the pixel, the oscillator, or a counter associated with a different pixel. The multiplexer outputs the signal to the counter for the time-to-digital converter associated with the pixel. A time-of-flight measurement is taken during a first portion of an image frame. During a second portion of the image frame, the sensor may be used as an intensity counter. During a third portion of the image frame, the depth sensor may be calibrated.

Abstract: A depth camera assembly is used to obtain depth information describing a local area. The depth camera assembly includes a sensor having a plurality of pixels. Some or all of the pixels are divided into groups that are coupled to respective multi-purpose time-to-digital converters. Each multi-purpose time-to-digital converter comprises an oscillator and a counter. Each pixel in a group is associated with a multiplexer that is configured to select between inputs coupled to the pixel, the oscillator, or a counter associated with a different pixel. The multiplexer outputs the signal to the counter for the time-to-digital converter associated with the pixel. A time-of-flight measurement is taken during a first portion of an image frame. During a second portion of the image frame, the sensor may be used as an intensity counter. During a third portion of the image frame, the depth sensor may be calibrated.

Abstract: A direct time of flight depth system includes an addressable illumination source, an active depth sensor, and a controller. The addressable illumination source includes an array of emitters and an optical assembly that is used to generate an array of dots emitted into a local area. Each emitter is independently addressable, allowing selective illumination of different portions of the local area. The addressable illumination source is aligned with the active depth sensor so each dot maps to a corresponding macropixel (e.g., 4×4 array of SPADs) on the active depth sensor. Data from the active depth sensor is readout and used to determine depth information.

Abstract: A depth camera assembly is used to obtain depth information describing a local area. The depth camera assembly includes a sensor having a plurality of pixels. Some or all of the pixels are divided into groups that are coupled to respective multi-purpose time-to-digital converters. Each multi-purpose time-to-digital converter comprises an oscillator and a counter. Each pixel in a group is associated with a multiplexer that is configured to select between inputs coupled to the pixel, the oscillator, or a counter associated with a different pixel. The multiplexer outputs the signal to the counter for the time-to-digital converter associated with the pixel. A time-of-flight measurement is taken during a first portion of an image frame. During a second portion of the image frame, the sensor may be used as an intensity counter. During a third portion of the image frame, the depth sensor may be calibrated.

Abstract: The invention relates to a photon detecting 3D imaging sensor device for detecting a distance information for pixels in an image, comprising: an array of detector units, wherein each detector unit is configured to receive a light signal pulse and to provide a detection signal pulse on receipt of a light signal pulse; a pulse selection unit including a decision tree with one or more stages, wherein each of the stages has one or more decision makers which are cascaded to propagate the earliest detection signal pulse of one of a respective detector unit as a timing signal; a time-to-digital converter configured to receive the timing signal and to provide a time stamp depending on the timing signal wherein the time stamp indicates the distance information for a pixel of the image.

Abstract: A depth camera assembly (DCA) includes a direct time of flight system for determining depth information for a local area. The DCA includes an illumination source, a camera, and a controller. The illumination source projects light (e.g., pulse of light) into the local area. The camera detects reflections of the projected light from objects in the local area. Using an internal gating selection procedure, the controller selects a gate window that is likely to be associated with reflection of a pulse of light from an object. The selected gate may be used for depth determination. The internal gating selection procedures may be achieved through external target location and selection or through internal self-selection.

Abstract: An oscillator arrangement for time-to-digital converters for a 3D image sensor device includes a plurality of oscillators arranged as an array each oscillator being associated to one time-to-digital converter, and at least one coupling unit respectively arranged between at least two of the oscillators, so that oscillation in the at least two oscillators at a fundamental frequency is synchronized between the at least two coupled oscillators.

Abstract: An oscillator arrangement for time-to-digital converters for a 3D image sensor device includes a plurality of oscillators arranged as an array each oscillator being associated to one time-to-digital converter, and at least one coupling unit respectively arranged between at least two of the oscillators, so that oscillation in the at least two oscillators at a fundamental frequency is synchronized between the at least two coupled oscillators.

Abstract: A novel and useful look-ahead time to digital converter (TDC) that is applied to an all digital phase locked loop (ADPLL) as the fractional phase error detector. The deterministic nature of the phase error during frequency/phase lock is exploited to achieve a reduction in power consumption of the TDC. The look-ahead TDC circuit is used to construct a cyclic DTC-TDC pair which functions to reduce fractional spurs of the output spectrum in near-integer channels by randomly rotating the cyclic DTC-TDC structure so that it starts from a different point every reference clock thereby averaging out the mismatch of the elements. Associated rotation and dithering methods are also presented. The ADPLL is achieved using the look-ahead TDC and/or cyclic DTC-TDC pair circuit.

Abstract: A novel and useful look-ahead time to digital converter (TDC) that is applied to an all digital phase locked loop (ADPLL) as the fractional phase error detector. The deterministic nature of the phase error during frequency/phase lock is exploited to achieve a reduction in power consumption of the TDC. The look-ahead TDC circuit is used to construct a cyclic DTC-TDC pair which functions to reduce fractional spurs of the output spectrum in near-integer channels by randomly rotating the cyclic DTC-TDC structure so that it starts from a different point every reference clock thereby averaging out the mismatch of the elements. Associated rotation and dithering methods are also presented. The ADPLL is achieved using the look-ahead TDC and/or cyclic DTC-TDC pair circuit.

Abstract: A novel and useful LC-tank digitally controlled oscillator (DCO) incorporating a split transformer configuration. The LC-tank oscillator exhibits a significant reduction in area such that it is comparable in size to conventional ring oscillators (ROs) while still retaining its salient features of excellent phase noise and low sensitivity to supply variations. The oscillator incorporates an ultra-compact split transformer topology that is less susceptible to common-mode electromagnetic interference than regular high-Q LC tanks which is highly desirable in SoC environments. The oscillator, together with a novel dc-coupled buffer, can be incorporated within a wide range of circuit applications, including clock generators and an all-digital phase-locked loop (ADPLL) intended for wireline applications.

Abstract: A novel and useful LC-tank digitally controlled oscillator (DCO) incorporating a split transformer configuration. The LC-tank oscillator exhibits a significant reduction in area such that it is comparable in size to conventional ring oscillators (ROs) while still retaining its salient features of excellent phase noise and low sensitivity to supply variations. The oscillator incorporates an ultra-compact split transformer topology that is less susceptible to common-mode electromagnetic interference than regular high-Q LC tanks which is highly desirable in SoC environments. The oscillator, together with a novel dc-coupled buffer, can be incorporated within a wide range of circuit applications, including clock generators and an all-digital phase-locked loop (ADPLL) intended for wireline applications.

Abstract: A novel and useful LC-tank digitally controlled oscillator (DCO) incorporating a split transformer configuration. The LC-tank oscillator exhibits a significant reduction in area such that it is comparable in size to conventional ring oscillators (ROs) while still retaining its salient features of excellent phase noise and low sensitivity to supply variations. The oscillator incorporates an ultra-compact split transformer topology that is less susceptible to common-mode electromagnetic interference than regular high-Q LC tanks which is highly desirable in SoC environments. The oscillator, together with a novel dc-coupled buffer, can be incorporated within a wide range of circuit applications, including clock generators and an all-digital phase-locked loop (ADPLL) intended for wireline applications.