Abstract: A camera includes an optical filter for a sensor array of the camera. The optical filter includes a plurality of liquid crystal layers switchable between a reflection state and a transmission state. Each liquid crystal layer is configured to block spectral light in a different spectral light sub-band and transmit spectral light outside of the spectral light sub-band in the reflection state, and to transmit spectral light in the spectral light sub-band in the transmission state. An active illuminator of the camera is configured to emit active light in a selected spectral light sub-band. One or more of the plurality of liquid crystal layers is switched from the transmission state to the reflection state to tune the optical filter to block spectral light in all but the selected spectral light sub-band. The sensors of the sensor array are addressed to measure spectral light in the selected spectral light sub-band.

Abstract: A camera includes a time-of-flight illuminator configured to emit active IR light and a plurality of spectral illuminators, each spectral illuminator configured to emit active spectral light in a different spectral light sub-band. The camera further includes a sensor array that includes a plurality of differential sensors. Each differential sensor is configured to differentially measure both 1) the active IR light, and 2) the active spectral light in each of the different spectral light sub-bands. The camera further includes an output machine operatively connected to the sensor array. The output machine is configured to output a matrix of pixels based on time-multiplexed measurements of the sensor array. Each pixel of the matrix includes 1) a depth value, and 2) a plurality of spectral values. Each of the plurality of spectral values corresponds to a spectral light sub-band of one of the plurality of spectral illuminators.

Abstract: A camera includes an optical filter for a sensor array of the camera. The optical filter includes a plurality of liquid crystal layers switchable between a reflection state and a transmission state. Each liquid crystal layer is configured to block spectral light in a different spectral light sub-band and transmit spectral light outside of the spectral light sub-band in the reflection state, and to transmit spectral light in the spectral light sub-band in the transmission state. An active illuminator of the camera is configured to emit active light in a selected spectral light sub-band. One or more of the plurality of liquid crystal layers is switched from the transmission state to the reflection state to tune the optical filter to block spectral light in all but the selected spectral light sub-band. The sensors of the sensor array are addressed to measure spectral light in the selected spectral light sub-band.

Abstract: Pixel arrangements in time-of-flight sensors are presented that include sensing elements that establish charges related to incident light, charge storage elements that accumulate integrated charges transferred from the sensing elements, and diffusion nodes configured to establish measurement voltages representative of the integrated charges that are dumped from the charge storage elements. The pixel arrangement includes analog domain output circuitry comprising a measurement capacitance element that stores the measurement voltage, and a reset capacitance element that stores a reset voltage established at the diffusion node during a reset phase performed prior to a measurement phase. The analog domain output circuitry subtracts the stored reset voltage from the stored measurement voltage for processing into a pixel output voltage that at least partially reduces readout voltage uncertainty of the pixel arrangement.

Abstract: An optical filter for a camera is switchable between a reflection state and a transmission state. The optical filter includes a first plurality of liquid crystals configured to dynamically form cholesteric phase structures in the reflection state that block right-handed circularly polarized light in a spectral light sub-band and transmit light outside of the spectral light sub-band. The first plurality of liquid crystals dynamically forms a nematic phase arrangement in the transmission state that transmits light in the spectral light sub-band. The optical filter further includes a second plurality of liquid crystals configured to dynamically form cholesteric phase structures in the reflection state that block left-handed circularly polarized light in the spectral light sub-band and transmit light outside of the spectral light sub-band. The second plurality of liquid crystals dynamically form a nematic phase arrangement in the transmission state that transmits light in the spectral light sub-band.

Abstract: An active illumination range camera comprising illumination and imaging systems that is operable to provide a range image of a scene in the imaging system's field of view (FOV) by partitioning the range camera FOV into sub-FOVs, and controlling the illumination and imaging systems to sequentially illuminate and image portions of the scene located in the respective sub-FOVs.

Abstract: Pixel arrangements in time-of-flight sensors are presented that include sensing elements that establish charges related to incident light, charge storage elements that accumulate integrated charges transferred from the sensing elements, and diffusion nodes configured to establish measurement voltages representative of the integrated charges that are dumped from the charge storage elements. The pixel arrangement includes analog domain output circuitry comprising a measurement capacitance element that stores the measurement voltage, and a reset capacitance element that stores a reset voltage established at the diffusion node during a reset phase performed prior to a measurement phase. The analog domain output circuitry subtracts the stored reset voltage from the stored measurement voltage for processing into a pixel output voltage that at least partially reduces readout voltage uncertainty of the pixel arrangement.

Abstract: An imaging sensor array comprises an epitaxial germanium layer disposed on a silicon layer, and an electrically biased photoelectron collector arranged on the silicon layer, on a side opposite the germanium layer.

Abstract: An active illumination range camera comprising illumination and imaging systems that is operable to provide a range image of a scene in the imaging system's field of view (FOV) by partitioning the range camera FOV into sub-FOVs, and controlling the illumination and imaging systems to sequentially illuminate and image portions of the scene located in the respective sub-FOVs.

Abstract: Pixel arrangements in time-of-flight sensors or other imaging sensors are presented that include a sensing element configured to accumulate charges related to incident light, and two transfer gates proximate to the sensing element and configured to selectively control transfer of the charges in the pixel arrangement. During an integration phase, a charge storage element for a global shutter stores first charges received from the sensing element based on activation of a first transfer gate and inactivation of a second transfer gate. During a reset phase, a diffusion node receives second charges received from the sensing element based on inactivation of the first transfer gate and activation of the second transfer gate. During a pixel readout phase, the diffusion node receives the first charges received from the charge storage element based on activation of the first transfer gate and activation of the second transfer gate.

Abstract: Pixel arrangements in time-of-flight sensors are presented that include sensing elements that establish charges related to incident light, charge storage elements that accumulate integrated charges transferred from the sensing elements, and diffusion nodes configured to establish measurement voltages representative of the integrated charges that are dumped from the charge storage elements. The pixel arrangement includes analog domain output circuitry comprising a measurement capacitance element that stores the measurement voltage, and a reset capacitance element that stores a reset voltage established at the diffusion node during a reset phase performed prior to a measurement phase. The analog domain output circuitry subtracts the stored reset voltage from the stored measurement voltage for processing into a pixel output voltage that at least partially reduces readout voltage uncertainty of the pixel arrangement.