Abstract: An image sensor configured to capture imagery with mitigated noise includes a plurality of image sensing pixels arranged to form a sensor array. Each image sensing pixel of the plurality of image sensing pixels comprises an active area configured to receive photons to facilitate image capture. Each active area comprises a length and a width. For at least one image sensing pixel of the plurality of image sensing pixels, the length or the width of the active area is smaller than about 80% of a pixel pitch measurement between the at least one image sensing pixel and an adjacent image sensing pixel. A size of the active area relative to the pixel pitch measurement contributes to mitigating sensor noise for the image sensor.

Abstract: Techniques for using motion data to generate a high resolution output color image from multiple images having sparse color information are disclosed. A camera generates multiple images. The camera's sensor is configured to have a sparse Bayer pattern. While the camera is generating the images, IMU data for each image is acquired. The IMU data indicates a corresponding pose the camera was in while the camera generated each image. The images and the IMU data are fed as input into a motion model. The motion model performs temporal filtering on the images and uses the IMU data to generate a red-only image, a green-only image, and a blue-only image. A high resolution output color image is generated by combining the red-only image, the green-only image, and the blue-only image.

Abstract: Techniques for aligning images generated by two cameras are disclosed. This alignment is performed by computing a relative 3D orientation between the two cameras. A first gravity vector for a first camera and a second gravity vector for a second camera are determined. A first camera image is obtained from the first camera, and a second camera image is obtained from the second camera. A first alignment process is performed to partially align the first camera’s orientation with the second camera’s orientation. This process is performed by aligning the gravity vectors, thereby resulting in two degrees of freedom of the relative 3D orientation being eliminated. Visual correspondences between the two images are identified. A second alignment process is performed to fully align the orientations. This process is performed by using the identified visual correspondences to identify and eliminate a third degree of freedom of the relative 3D orientation.

Abstract: A system for structured light depth computation using single photon avalanche diodes (SPADs) is configurable to, over a frame capture time period, selectively activate the illuminator to perform interleaved structured light illumination operations. The interleaved structured light illumination operations comprise alternately emitting at least a first structured light pattern from the illuminator and emitting at least a second structured light pattern from the illuminator. The system is also configurable to, over the frame capture time period, perform a plurality of sequential shutter operations to configure each SPAD pixel of the SPAD array to enable photon detection. The plurality of sequential shutter operations generates, for each SPAD pixel of the SPAD array, a plurality of binary counts indicating whether a photon was detected during each of the plurality of sequential shutter operations.

Abstract: A system for updating continuous image alignment of separate cameras identifies a previous alignment matrix associated with a previous frame pair captured at one or more previous timepoints by a reference camera and a match camera. The previous alignment matrix is based on visual correspondences in the previous frame pair. The system also identifies a current matrix associated with a current frame pair captured at one or more current timepoints by the reference camera and the match camera. The current matrix is based on visual correspondences in the current frame pair. The system also identifies a difference value associated with the reference camera or the match camera relative to the one or more previous timepoints and the one or more current timepoints. The system also generates an updated alignment matrix by using the previous alignment matrix, the current matrix, and the difference value as inputs.

Abstract: A method for estimating human body temperature includes receiving, via a thermal camera, a thermal image captured of a real-world environment, the thermal image including thermal intensity values for each of a plurality of pixels of the thermal image. A position of a first human face is identified within the thermal image, the first human face corresponding to a first human subject. A skin tone of the first human face is identified. Based on the identified skin tone, a skin tone correction factor is applied to one or more thermal intensity values of one or more pixels corresponding to the first human face to give one or more tone-corrected thermal intensity values. Based on the one or more tone-corrected thermal intensity values an indication of a body temperature of the first human subject is reported.

Abstract: A system for obtaining color imagery using SPADs includes a SPAD array that has a plurality of SPAD pixels. Each of the plurality of SPAD pixels includes a respective color filter positioned thereover. The system is configurable to capture an image frame using the SPAD array and generate a filtered image by performing a temporal filtering operation using the image frame and at least one preceding image frame. The at least one preceding image frame is captured by the SPAD array at a timepoint that temporally precedes a timepoint associated with the image frame. The system is also configurable to, after performing the temporal filtering operation, generate a color image by demosaicing the filtered image.

Abstract: A system for single photon avalanche diode image capture is configurable to, over a frame capture time period, selectively activate an illuminator to alternately emit light from the illuminator and refrain from emitting light from the illuminator. The system is configurable to, over the frame capture time period, perform a plurality of sequential shutter operations to configure each SPAD pixel of the SPAD array to enable photon detection. The plurality of sequential shutter operations generates, for each SPAD pixel of the SPAD array, a plurality of binary counts indicating whether a photon was detected during each of the plurality of sequential shutter operations. The system is configurable to, based on a first set of binary counts of the plurality of binary counts, generate an ambient light image. The system is configurable to, based on a second set of binary counts of the plurality of binary counts, generate an illuminated image.

Abstract: Techniques for using motion data to generate a high resolution output color image from multiple images having sparse color information are disclosed. A camera generates multiple images. The camera's sensor is configured to have a sparse Bayer pattern. While the camera is generating the images, IMU data for each image is acquired. The IMU data indicates a corresponding pose the camera was in while the camera generated each image. The images and the IMU data are fed as input into a motion model. The motion model performs temporal filtering on the images and uses the IMU data to generate a red-only image, a green-only image, and a blue-only image. A high resolution output color image is generated by combining the red-only image, the green-only image, and the blue-only image.

Abstract: Techniques for generating a high resolution full color output image from lower resolution sparse color input images are disclosed. A camera generates images. The camera's sensor has a sparse Bayer pattern. While the camera is generating the images, IMU data for each image is acquired. The IMU data indicates a corresponding pose the camera was in while the camera generated each image. The images and IMU data are fed into a motion model, which performs temporal filtering on the images and uses the IMU data to generate a red-only image, a green-only image, a blue-only image, and a monochrome image. The color images are up-sampled to match the resolution of the monochrome image. A high resolution output color image is generated by combining the up-sampled images and the monochrome image.

Abstract: A system for dark current compensation in SPAD imagery is configurable to capture an image frame with the SPAD array and generate a temporally filtered image by performing a temporal filtering operation using the image frame and at least one preceding image frame. The at least one preceding image frame is captured by the SPAD array at a timepoint that temporally precedes a timepoint associated with the image frame. The system is also configurable to obtain a dark current image frame. The dark current image frame includes data indicating one or more SPAD pixels of the plurality of SPAD pixels that detect an avalanche event without detecting a corresponding photon. The system is also configurable to generate a dark current compensated image by performing a subtraction operation on the temporally filtered image or the image frame based on the dark current image frame.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are techniques for providing an illumination system that emits illumination into an environment while also enabling that system to be undetectable to certain types of external light detection systems. The system includes a single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) low light (LL) detection device and a light emitting device. The light emitting device provides illumination having a wavelength of at least 950 nanometers (nm). An intensity of the illumination is set to a level that causes the illumination to be undetectable from a determined distance away based on the roll off rate of the light. While the light emitting device is providing the illumination, the SPAD LL detection device generates an image of an environment in which the illumination is being provided.

Abstract: A system for HDR image capture is configurable to perform a split long exposure operation by applying a first set of long exposure shutter operations to configure each sensor pixel of the image sensor array to enable photon detection and applying a second set of long exposure shutter operations to configure each sensor pixel to enable photon detection. A time period intervenes between the first and second sets of long exposure shutter. The system is configurable to perform a short exposure operation by applying a set of short exposure shutter operations to configure each sensor pixel to enable photon detection. The short exposure operation occurs during the time period that intervenes between the first and second sets of long exposure shutter operations. The system is also configurable to generate an image based on the split long exposure operation and the short exposure operation.

Abstract: Systems are configured for performing GPS-based and sensor-based relocalization. During the relocalization, the systems are configured to obtain radio-based positioning data indicating an estimated position of the system within a mapped environment. The systems are also configured to identify, based on the estimated position, a subset of keyframes of a map of the mapped environment, wherein the map of the mapped environment includes a plurality of keyframes captured from a plurality of locations within the mapped environment, and the plurality of keyframes are associated with anchor points identified within the mapped environment. The systems are further configured to perform relocalization within the mapped environment based on the subset of keyframes.

Abstract: Techniques for using motion data to generate a high resolution output color image from multiple images having sparse color information are disclosed. A camera generates multiple images. The camera's sensor is configured to have a sparse Bayer pattern. While the camera is generating the images, IMU data for each image is acquired. The IMU data indicates a corresponding pose the camera was in while the camera generated each image. The images and the IMU data are fed as input into a motion model. The motion model performs temporal filtering on the images and uses the IMU data to generate a red-only image, a green-only image, and a blue-only image. A high resolution output color image is generated by combining the red-only image, the green-only image, and the blue-only image.

Abstract: A near-eye display device comprises a pupil-expansion optic, first and second lasers, a drive circuit coupled operatively to the first and second lasers, a beam combiner, a spatial light modulator (SLM), and a computer. The first and second lasers are configured to emit in respective first and second wavelength bands. The beam combiner is configured to geometrically combine emission from the first and second lasers into a collimated beam. The SLM is configured to receive the collimated beam and to direct the emission in spatially modulated form to the pupil-expansion optic. The computer is configured to parse a digital image, trigger the emission from the first and second lasers by causing the drive circuit to drive current through the first and second lasers, and control the SLM such that the spatially modulated form of the emission projects an optical image corresponding to the digital image.

Abstract: A system for structured light depth computation using single photon avalanche diodes (SPADs) is configurable to, over a frame capture time period, selectively activate the illuminator to perform interleaved structured light illumination operations. The interleaved structured light illumination operations comprise alternately emitting at least a first structured light pattern from the illuminator and emitting at least a second structured light pattern from the illuminator. The system is also configurable to, over the frame capture time period, perform a plurality of sequential shutter operations to configure each SPAD pixel of the SPAD array to enable photon detection. The plurality of sequential shutter operations generates, for each SPAD pixel of the SPAD array, a plurality of binary counts indicating whether a photon was detected during each of the plurality of sequential shutter operations.

Abstract: A system for low compute high-resolution depth map generation using low-resolution cameras is configured to obtain a stereo pair of images and generate a depth map by performing stereo matching on the stereo pair of images. The system is also configured to obtain a first image comprising first texture information for the environment that has a first image resolution that is higher than an image resolution of images of the stereo pair of images. The system is further configured to generate a reprojected first image by reprojecting the first image to correspond to an image capture perspective associated with the depth map. The reprojection of the first image is based on depth information from the depth map and includes reprojected first texture information for the environment. The system is also configured to generate an upsampled depth map based on the depth map.

Abstract: A system for updating continuous image alignment of separate cameras identifies a previous alignment matrix associated with a previous frame pair captured at one or more previous timepoints by a reference camera and a match camera. The previous alignment matrix is based on visual correspondences in the previous frame pair. The system also identifies a current matrix associated with a current frame pair captured at one or more current timepoints by the reference camera and the match camera. The current matrix is based on visual correspondences in the current frame pair. The system also identifies a difference value associated with the reference camera or the match camera relative to the one or more previous timepoints and the one or more current timepoints. The system also generates an updated alignment matrix by using the previous alignment matrix, the current matrix, and the difference value as inputs.

Abstract: Techniques to temporally filter images via a filtering weight computation are disclosed. A first image having a first timestamp and a second image having a second timestamp are acquired. These images are generated by a camera, and the first timestamp is before the second timestamp. A motion compensation (MC) operation is performed on the first image to produce an MC image. A difference image is generated using the MC image and the second image. The difference image reflects differences in intensities that exist between the two images. A local weight map is generated based on those differences. A global weight map is generated based on certain IMU data. A final weight map is generated based on a combination of the local weight map and the global weight map. The final weight map is used to generate a filtered image.