Abstract: The present description concerns a system for determining a depth image of a scene, configured to project a spot pattern onto the scene and acquire an image of the scene; determining I and Q values of the image pixels; determining, for each pixel, at least one confidence value to form a confidence image; determining the local maximum points of the confidence image having a confidence value greater than a first threshold; selecting, for each local maximum point, pixels around the local maximum point having a confidence value greater than a second threshold; determining a value Imoy equal to the average of the I values of the selected pixels and a value Qmoy equal to the average of the Q values of the selected pixels; and determining the depth of the local maximum point based on values Imoy and Qmoy.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a read-out circuit comprising N inputs configured to be connected to N respective outputs of a pixel array of an image sensor, with N being an integer strictly greater than 1; and N analog-to-digital converters organized in K groups, with K being an integer strictly greater than 1 and strictly less than N, and each having a first input coupled to a respective one of the N inputs and a second input. In each group, the second inputs of the analog-to-digital converters of the group are connected together, electrically decoupled from the second inputs of the analog-to-digital converters of the other groups, and configured to receive a first reference signal that is identical for all the analog-to-digital converters of the group.

Abstract: The present description concerns a sensor and method. Each pixel of the sensor comprises assemblies each including a memory area and a transfer device coupling the memory area to a photoconversion area, and a device for resetting the memory areas. The sensor includes a first circuit controlling the transfer devices and a second circuit controlling the reset devices. During each integration phase, the second circuit orders the end of a phase of reset of the memory areas of first pixels at the beginning of the integration phase and the end of a phase of reset of the memory areas of second pixels at a time subsequent to the beginning of the integration phase.

Abstract: In an embodiment a method for acquiring a depth map by indirect time of flight in a network of photosensitive pixels segmented into groups of pixels includes performing at least one capture during which the pixels of the network are controlled by a demodulation signal and introducing phase shifts into the demodulation signal at different values distributed in each group of pixels.

Abstract: An embodiment device for synchronizing the emission and the reception of a light signal for a time-of-flight sensor comprises a power-control circuit configured to generate and transmit a power signal based on a control signal for controlling the sensor, the power signal being configured to supply power to an array of pixels of the sensor, a production module for producing a synchronization signal, which module is configured to produce the synchronization signal based on the control signal, and a switch configured to supply power to a light source of a device for emitting the light signal, the production module being further configured to transmit the synchronization signal to the switch such that the time taken to produce and transmit the synchronization signal and the time taken to generate and transmit the power signal are identical.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method includes: receiving data signals from a plurality of pixels of an array of pixels; generating a plurality of signal-to-noise ratios by determining signal-to-noise ratios for each respective pixel of the plurality of pixels on the basis of the data signals received from the respective pixel; and filtering the data signals received from each pixel of the plurality of pixels by using an adaptive filter configured on the basis of the plurality of the signal-to-noise ratios to generate filtered data signals.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device including: first and second detectors of the phase and/or of the frequency of an input signal with respect to first and second reference signals; and a Sigma/Delta converter interpreting outputs of the first or of the second phase and/or frequency detector to determine a propagation time of the input signal.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device including: first and second detectors of the phase and/or of the frequency of an input signal with respect to first and second reference signals; and a Sigma/Delta converter interpreting outputs of the first or of the second phase and/or frequency detector to determine a propagation time of the input signal.

Abstract: A circuit includes a pixel structure having a photo sensitive element and a read transistor. The read transistor includes a first load path terminal coupled to the photo sensitive element, and a second load path terminal coupled to a voltage bus. The circuit also includes a first transistor having a third load path terminal coupled to a power supply node, and a fourth load path terminal configured to be coupled to a current source. The circuit further includes a first control switch coupled between the voltage bus and the fourth load path terminal of the first transistor.

Abstract: A circuit includes a pixel structure having a photo sensitive element and a read transistor. The read transistor includes a first load path terminal coupled to the photo sensitive element, and a second load path terminal coupled to a voltage bus. The circuit also includes a first transistor having a third load path terminal coupled to a power supply node, and a fourth load path terminal configured to be coupled to a current source. The circuit further includes a first control switch coupled between the voltage bus and the fourth load path terminal of the first transistor.

Abstract: A counter circuit includes a first Johnson counter circuit and a second Johnson counter circuit coupled in cascade. Each Johnson counter circuit includes a clock input, a data input, a first clock data output, a second clock data output and a feedback from the second clock data input to first data input. The clock input of the first Johnson counter circuit is configured to receive an input clock signal. The clock input of the second Johnson counter circuit is connected to the second clock data output of the first Johnson counter circuit. A ripple counter circuit has a clock input and additional clock data outputs. The clock input of the ripple counter circuit is connected to the second clock data output of the preceding Johnson counter circuit.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a first photodiode with associated first sense node and a second photodiode with associated second sense node. A first transistor has its control node coupled to the first sense node and a second transistor has its control node coupled to the second sense node. The conduction paths (for example, source-drain paths) of the first and second transistors are coupled in series between first and second column lines associated with a column of the image sensor array. Switches control connection of the first and second column lines in two modes: one mode where a voltage is applied to the first column line and data from one of the photodiodes is read out by the second column line; and another mode where a voltage is applied to the second column line and data from the other of the photodiodes is read out by the first column line.

Abstract: A device for transferring charges photogenerated in a portion of a semiconductor layer delimited by at least two parallel trenches, each trench including, lengthwise, at least a first and a second conductive regions insulated from each other and from the semiconductor layer, including the repeating of a first step of biasing of the first conductive regions to a first voltage to form a volume accumulation of holes in the area of this portion located between the first regions, while the second conductive regions are biased to a second voltage greater than the first voltage, and of a second step of biasing of the first regions to the second voltage and of the second regions to the first voltage.

Abstract: A counter circuit includes a first Johnson counter circuit and a second Johnson counter circuit coupled in cascade. Each Johnson counter circuit includes a clock input, a data input, a first clock data output, a second clock data output and a feedback from the second clock data input to first data input. The clock input of the first Johnson counter circuit is configured to receive an input clock signal. The clock input of the second Johnson counter circuit is connected to the second clock data output of the first Johnson counter circuit. A ripple counter circuit has a clock input and additional clock data outputs. The clock input of the ripple counter circuit is connected to the second clock data output of the preceding Johnson counter circuit.

Abstract: A method of acquisition of an image may include accumulating electrical charges by a photosensitive element of a pixel circuit of an image sensor during a first period, transferring the electrical charges accumulated during the first period to a first electrical charge storage region of the pixel circuit, and at the end of the transfer of the electrical charges, accumulating the electrical charges by the photosensitive element during a second period. The method may further include transferring the electrical charges accumulated during the second period to a second electrical charge storage region of the pixel circuit, successively transferring the electrical charges stored in the first and second storage regions to a common reading node of the pixel circuit, acquiring two images from electrical charges transferred to the reading node from the first and second storage regions, respectively, and combining the two images acquired into a resultant image.

Abstract: A method of acquisition of an image may include accumulating electrical charges by a photosensitive element of a pixel circuit of an image sensor during a first period, transferring the electrical charges accumulated during the first period to a first electrical charge storage region of the pixel circuit, and at the end of the transfer of the electrical charges, accumulating the electrical charges by the photosensitive element during a second period. The method may further include transferring the electrical charges accumulated during the second period to a second electrical charge storage region of the pixel circuit, successively transferring the electrical charges stored in the first and second storage regions to a common reading node of the pixel circuit, acquiring two images from electrical charges transferred to the reading node from the first and second storage regions, respectively, and combining the two images acquired into a resultant image.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for adjusting a bias voltage of a SPAD photodiode, comprising successive steps of: applying to the photodiode a first test bias voltage lower than a normal bias voltage applied to the photodiode in a normal operating mode, subjecting the photodiode to photons, reading a first avalanche triggering signal of the photodiode, applying to the photodiode a second test bias voltage, different from the first test bias voltage, subjecting the photodiode to photons, reading a second avalanche triggering signal of the photodiode, increasing the normal bias voltage if the first and second signals indicate that the photodiode did not avalanche trigger, and reducing the normal bias voltage if the first and second signals indicate that the photodiode did avalanche trigger.

Abstract: A method for reading a pixel, including at least two integration periods, at least one of said periods including at least one integration sub-period, wherein an output value of the pixel is determined by taking into account the amounts of photogenerated charges contained in the pixel at the end of each of said periods and the amount of photogenerated charges stored in a photodiode of the pixel beyond a threshold during said at least one sub-period.

Abstract: A method for detecting an attack, such as by laser, on an electronic microcircuit from a backside of a substrate includes forming the microcircuit on the semiconductor substrate, the microcircuit comprising a circuit to be protected against attacks, forming photodiodes between components of the circuit to be protected, forming a circuit for comparing a signal supplied by each photodiode with a threshold value, and forming a circuit for activating a detection signal when a signal at output of one of the photodiodes crosses the threshold value.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a first photodiode with associated first sense node and a second photodiode with associated second sense node. A first transistor has its control node coupled to the first sense node and a second transistor has its control node coupled to the second sense node. The conduction paths (for example, source-drain paths) of the first and second transistors are coupled in series between first and second column lines associated with a column of the image sensor array. Switches control connection of the first and second column lines in two modes: one mode where a voltage is applied to the first column line and data from one of the photodiodes is read out by the second column line; and another mode where a voltage is applied to the second column line and data from the other of the photodiodes is read out by the first column line.