Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for imaging and sensing vibrations of an object. In one implementation, a system is provided for detecting vibrations that comprises a sensor with a plurality of pixels, each pixel including at least one photosensitive element. The sensor is configured to output signals related to illumination on each pixel. The system also includes at least one processor configured to receive the output signals from the sensor and detect, based on the output signals, one or more polarities. The at least one processor is also configured to determine timestamps associated with the output signals, analyze the timestamps and the polarities to detect vibrations of an object in the field of view of the sensor, and determine one or more frequencies of the detected vibrations.

Abstract: For processing a signal from an event-based sensor having an array of sensing elements facing a scene, the method comprises: receiving the signal including, for each sensing element, successive events originating from said sensing element depending on variations of incident light from the scene; analyzing the signal to detect a frequency pattern in a light profile sensed by at least one sensing element; and extracting information from the scene in response to detection of the frequency pattern.

Abstract: A system (1) for detecting dynamic secondary objects (55) that have a potential to intersect the trajectory (51) of a moving primary object (50), comprising a vision sensor (2) with a light-sensitive area (20) that comprises event-based pixels (21), so that a relative change in the light intensity impinging onto an event-based pixel (21) of the vision sensor (2) by at least a predetermined percentage causes the vision sensor (2) to emit an event (21a) associated with this event-based pixel (21), wherein the system (1) further comprises a discriminator module (3) that gets both the stream of events (21a) from the vision sensor (2) and information (52) about the heading and/or speed of the motion of the primary object (50) as inputs, and is configured to identify, from said stream of events (21a), based at least in part on said information (52), events (21b) that are likely to be caused by the motion of a secondary object (55), rather than by the motion of the primary object (50).

Abstract: A method for sampling data from pixels of an event vision sensor is disclosed. The method comprises receiving, with a selection circuit, an activation signal from an active pixel of the plurality of pixels of the line, generating, with the selection circuit, an acknowledge signal in response to receiving the activation signal, and sending the acknowledge signal to the plurality of pixels of the line, wherein each pixel of the line is configured to generate a request-reading signal when that pixel is active when receiving the acknowledge signal.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to image sensors and methods for image sensing. More specifically, and without limitation, this disclosure relates to systems and methods for providing super-pixels, and implementing and using image sensors with super-pixels. In one implementation, an image sensor includes a plurality of super-pixels.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a plurality of pixels, each pixel including a photosensitive element, and a photo-signal converter adapted to provide, on a first output, a current signal linearly proportional to the intensity of light impinging on the photosensitive element and to provide, on a second output, a voltage signal logarithmic with the intensity of light impinging on the photosensitive element. Each pixel further includes a detector adapted to generate a trigger signal when a signal of the detector proportional to the voltage signal of the second output of the photo-signal converter exceeds a threshold, and a light-to-time converter adapted to measure and encode, in the time domain, light intensity on the photosensitive element. A light-to-time conversion cycle may be initiated by the light-to-time converter in response to receipt of the trigger signal.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for imaging and sensing vibrations of an object. In one implementation, a system is provided for detecting vibrations that comprises a sensor with a plurality of pixels, each pixel including at least one photosensitive element. The sensor is configured to output signals related to illumination on each pixel. The system also includes at least one processor configured to receive the output signals from the sensor and detect, based on the output signals, one or more polarities. The at least one processor is also configured to determine timestamps associated with the output signals, analyze the timestamps and the polarities to detect vibrations of an object in the field of view of the sensor, and determine one or more frequencies of the detected vibrations.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to image sensors and methods for image sensing. More specifically, and without limitation, this disclosure relates to systems and methods for providing super-pixels, and implementing and using image sensors with super-pixels. In one implementation, an image sensor includes a plurality of super-pixels.

Abstract: For processing a signal from an event-based sensor having an array of sensing elements facing a scene, the method comprises: receiving the signal including, for each sensing element, successive events originating from said sensing element depending on variations of incident light from the scene; analyzing the signal to detect a frequency pattern in a light profile sensed by at least one sensing element; and extracting information from the scene in response to detection of the frequency pattern.

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: For processing a signal from an event-based sensor having an array of sensing elements facing a scene, the method comprises: receiving the signal including, for each sensing element, successive events originating from said sensing element depending on variations of incident light from the scene; analyzing the signal to detect a frequency pattern in a light profile sensed by at least one sensing element; and extracting information from the scene in response to detection of the frequency pattern.

Abstract: The invention relates to pixel circuit and an operating method thereof, comprising—a front-end circuit (1) comprising a single photodiode (PD) and having an output (4), said front-end circuit (1) being configured for delivering on said output a photoreceptor signal derived from a light exposure of said single photodiode (PD);—a transient detector circuit (2) configured for detecting a change in said photoreceptor signal delivered on said output (4);—an exposure measurement circuit (3) configured for measuring said photoreceptor signal delivered on said output (4) upon detection by the transient detector circuit (2) of a change in the photoreceptor signal.

Abstract: A circuit includes a selection circuit electrically coupled to pixels of a line of an event vision sensor. The selection circuit is configured to receive an activation signal from an active pixel of the line, generate an acknowledge signal in response to receiving the activation signal, and send the acknowledge signal to the pixels of the line. The circuit also includes a control circuit that is electrically coupled to a pixel having a largest distance to the selection circuit among the pixels of the line. The control circuit is configured to receive the acknowledge signal from the selection circuit, and generate a process-reading signal in response to receiving the acknowledge signal. The circuit also includes an interface circuit electrically coupled to the pixels of the line and configured to cause a reset of the selection circuit, the control circuit, and the pixels of the line after receiving the process-reading signal.

Abstract: A circuit includes a selection circuit electrically coupled to pixels of a line of an event vision sensor. The selection circuit is configured to receive an activation signal from an active pixel of the line, generate an acknowledge signal in response to receiving the activation signal, and send the acknowledge signal to the pixels of the line. The circuit also includes a control circuit that is electrically coupled to a pixel having a largest distance to the selection circuit among the pixels of the line. The control circuit is configured to receive the acknowledge signal from the selection circuit, and generate a process-reading signal in response to receiving the acknowledge signal. The circuit also includes an interface circuit electrically coupled to the pixels of the line and configured to cause a reset of the selection circuit, the control circuit, and the pixels of the line after receiving the process-reading signal.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a plurality of pixels, each pixel including a photosensitive element, and a photo-signal converter adapted to provide, on a first output, a current signal linearly proportional to the intensity of light impinging on the photosensitive element and to provide, on a second output, a voltage signal logarithmic with the intensity of light impinging on the photosensitive element. Each pixel further includes a detector adapted to generate a trigger signal when a signal of the detector proportional to the voltage signal of the second output of the photo-signal converter exceeds a threshold, and a light-to-time converter adapted to measure and encode, in the time domain, light intensity on the photosensitive element. A light-to-time conversion cycle may be initiated by the light-to-time converter in response to receipt of the trigger signal.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to image sensors and methods for image sensing. More specifically, and without limitation, this disclosure relates to systems and methods for providing super-pixels, and implementing and using image sensors with super-pixels. In one implementation, an image sensor includes a plurality of super-pixels.

Abstract: A system (1) for detecting dynamic secondary objects (55) that have a potential to intersect the trajectory (51) of a moving primary object (50), comprising a vision sensor (2) with a light-sensitive area (20) that comprises event-based pixels (21), so that a relative change in the light intensity impinging onto an event-based pixel (21) of the vision sensor (2) by at least a predetermined percentage causes the vision sensor (2) to emit an event (21a) associated with this event-based pixel (21), wherein the system (1) further comprises a discriminator module (3) that gets both the stream of events (21a) from the vision sensor (2) and information (52) about the heading and/or speed of the motion of the primary object (50) as inputs, and is configured to identify, from said stream of events (21a), based at least in part on said information (52), events (21b) that are likely to be caused by the motion of a secondary object (55), rather than by the motion of the primary object (50).

Abstract: For processing a signal from an event-based sensor having an array of sensing elements facing a scene, the method comprises: receiving the signal including, for each sensing element, successive events originating from said sensing element depending on variations of incident light from the scene; analyzing the signal to detect a frequency pattern in a light profile sensed by at least one sensing element; and extracting information from the scene in response to detection of the frequency pattern.

Abstract: This invention relates to a pixel circuit comprising a photo-sensor stage (10) comprising a photodiode (1) delivering a photoreceptor current (Iph), a comparison stage (30) configured for detecting a change in a signal voltage (Vph) derived from said photoreceptor current, a sample-and-hold circuit (50) connected to the converting stage (20) and to the comparison stage (30), said comparison stage (30) configured to output an input signal for the sample-and-hold circuit (50), and for emitting a sampling signal to a control terminal of the sample-and-hold circuit (50) when a change is detected in the signal voltage (Vph).

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.