Abstract: A Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) detector circuit includes a memory device comprising a non-transitory storage medium that is configured to store data indicative of detection events in respective memory bins, and at least one control circuit. The at least one control circuit is configured to receive detection signals from one or more photodetector elements, identify a presence or an absence of detection events indicated by the detection signals during a portion of time between pulses of an emitter signal output from a LIDAR emitter element, and execute one of a first memory operation or a second memory operation to update the data in the respective memory bins responsive to identification of the presence or the absence of the detection events, respectively. Related circuits and methods of operation are also discussed.

Abstract: A method of operating a time of flight system includes detecting first optical signals comprising a first frequency having a first unambiguous range, the first optical signals reflected from a target, processing the first optical signals to determine a first estimated distance to the target, and generating an output frame comprising a true distance to the target based on the first estimated distance and a second estimated distance to the target, wherein the second estimated distance was used to generate a previous output frame.

Abstract: A method of operating a tunable lens includes determining a relationship between the optical power of a tunable lens and the capacitance of a piezoelectric element configured to deform the tunable lens, measuring the capacitance of the piezoelectric element, and applying a driving voltage to the piezoelectric element based on the measured capacitance to induce a desired optical power in the tunable lens.

Abstract: An integrated detection, flow cell and photonics (DFP) device is provided that comprises a substrate having an array of pixel elements that sense photons during active periods. The substrate and pixel elements form an IC photon detection layer. At least one wave guide is formed on the IC photo detection layer as a photonics layer. An optical isolation layer is formed over at least a portion of the wave guide. A collection of photo resist (PR) walls patterned to define at least one flow cell channel that is configured to direct fluid along a fluid flow path. The wave guides align to extend along the fluid flow path. The flow cell channel is configured to receive samples at sample sites that align with the array of pixel elements.

Abstract: A Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) apparatus includes a detector having a first pixel and a second pixel configured to output respective detection signals responsive to light incident thereon, and receiver optics configured to collect the light over a field of view and direct first and second portions of the light to the first and second pixels, respectively. The first pixel includes one or more time of flight (ToF) sensors, and the second pixel includes one or more image sensors. At least one of the receiver optics or arrangement of the first and second pixels in the detector is configured to correlate the first and second pixels such that depth information indicated by the respective detection signals output from the first pixel is correlated with image information indicated by the respective detection signals output from the second pixel. Related devices and methods of operation are also discussed.

Abstract: Biosensor including a device base having a sensor array of light sensors and a guide array of light guides. The light guides have input regions that are configured to receive excitation light and light emissions generated by biological or chemical substances. The light guides extend into the device base toward corresponding light sensors and have a filter material. The device base includes device circuitry electrically coupled to the light sensors and configured to transmit data signals. A passivation layer extends over the device base and forms an array of reaction recesses above the light guides. The biosensor also includes peripheral crosstalk shields that at least partially surround corresponding light guides of the guide array to reduce optical crosstalk between adjacent light sensors.

Abstract: A LIDAR apparatus includes an emitter array having a plurality of emitter pixels configured to emit optical signals, a detector array having a plurality of detector pixels configured to output detection signals responsive to light incident thereon, and a circuit that is coupled to the detector array. The circuit is configured to perform operations including receiving the detection signals output from the detector array, where each of the detection signals includes component measurements defining a respective phase vector, generating a combined vector based on the component measurements of a plurality of the detection signals, and identifying a distance range of a target from which the optical signals were reflected based on an angle of the combined vector. Related devices and methods of operation are also discussed.

Abstract: Systems and methods can employ an emitter with adaptive active illumination in combination with a receiver that images a field of view illuminated by the emitter.

Abstract: A LIDAR system includes an emitter array configured to illuminate a field of view, a detector array configured to image the field of view, and a control circuit. The emitter array includes one or more emitter elements that are configured to emit respective optical signals responsive to respective emitter control signals. The detector array includes one or more detector elements configured to output respective detection signals responsive to light incident thereon. The control circuit is configured to generate the respective emitter control signals based on the respective detection signals and respective spatial correlations of the one or more emitter elements and the one or more detector elements with respect to the field of view. Related devices and methods of operation are also discussed.

Abstract: Depth and imaging pixels include Single-Photon Avalanche Diode (SPAD) micropixels. A memory stores histogram data and intensity data. Timed memory selection logic is configured to generate the histogram data and the intensity data.

Abstract: Biosensor including a device base having a sensor array of light sensors and a guide array of light guides. The light guides have input regions that are configured to receive excitation light and light emissions generated by biological or chemical substances. The light guides extend into the device base toward corresponding light sensors and have a filter material. The device base includes device circuitry electrically coupled to the light sensors and configured to transmit data signals. A passivation layer extends over the device base and forms an array of reaction recesses above the light guides. The biosensor also includes peripheral crosstalk shields that at least partially surround corresponding light guides of the guide array to reduce optical crosstalk between adjacent light sensors.

Abstract: An integrated detection, flow cell and photonics (DFP) device is provided that comprises a substrate having an array of pixel elements that sense photons during active periods. The substrate and pixel elements form an IC photon detection layer. At least one wave guide is formed on the IC photo detection layer as a photonics layer. An optical isolation layer is formed over at least a portion of the wave guide. A collection of photo resist (PR) walls patterned to define at least one flow cell channel that is configured to direct fluid along a fluid flow path. The wave guides align to extend along the fluid flow path. The flow cell channel is configured to receive samples at sample sites that align with the array of pixel elements.

Abstract: A LIDAR system includes an emitter array configured to illuminate a field of view, a detector array configured to image the field of view, and a control circuit. The emitter array includes one or more emitter elements that are configured to emit respective optical signals responsive to respective emitter control signals. The detector array includes one or more detector elements configured to output respective detection signals responsive to light incident thereon. The control circuit is configured to generate the respective emitter control signals based on the respective detection signals and respective spatial correlations of the one or more emitter elements and the one or more detector elements with respect to the field of view. Related devices and methods of operation are also discussed.

Abstract: A Light Detection and Ranging (lidar) system, includes an emitter configured to emit a plurality of optical signals, a detector configured to be activated to detect one of the optical signals in light that is incident on the detector and to provide count data corresponding to the one of the optical signals that were detected, a plurality of storage memory locations configured to store the count data therein, and a control circuit configured to change a location at which the count data is stored from a first storage memory location to a second storage memory location based on an elapsed time duration from an emission of the one of the optical signals.

Abstract: A Light Detection And Ranging (LIDAR) system includes an emitter unit including one or more emitter elements configured to output an emitter signal, and a detector array including a plurality of detector elements. A respective detector element of the plurality of detector elements is configured to output detection signals in response to photons incident thereon. At least one control circuit is configured receive the detection signals output from the respective detector element over one or more cycles of the emitter signal, generate a flag signal responsive to detection events indicated by the detection signals exceeding a detection threshold, and output a readout signal for the respective detector element responsive to the flag signal. Related devices and methods of operation are also discussed.

Abstract: A photodetector device includes a semiconductor material layer and at least one photodiode in the semiconductor material layer. The at least one photodiode is configured to be biased beyond a breakdown voltage thereof to generate respective electrical signals responsive to detection of incident photons. The respective electrical signals are independent of an optical power of the incident photons. A textured region is coupled to the semiconductor material layer and includes optical structures positioned to interact with the incident photons in the detection thereof by the at least one photodiode. Two or more photodiodes may define a pixel of the photodetector device, and the optical structures may be configured to direct the incident photons to any of the two or more photodiodes of the pixel.

Abstract: An integrated detection, flow cell and photonics (DFP) device is provided that comprises a substrate having an array of pixel elements that sense photons during active periods. The substrate and pixel elements form an IC photon detection layer. At least one wave guide is formed on the IC photo detection layer as a photonics layer. An optical isolation layer is formed over at least a portion of the wave guide. A collection of photo resist (PR) walls patterned to define at least one flow cell channel that is configured to direct fluid along a fluid flow path. The wave guides align to extend along the fluid flow path. The flow cell channel is configured to receive samples at sample sites that align with the array of pixel elements.

Abstract: An optical emitter device includes a plurality of emitters on a first substrate, and one or more alignment patterns on the first substrate and positioned relative to the plurality of emitters. At least one optical element is arranged to receive respective light emissions from the plurality of emitters, and is oriented based on the one or more alignment patterns, such that the at least one optical element and the plurality of emitters are self-aligned. Related devices and fabrication methods are also discussed.

Abstract: A Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) system includes a lidar emitter comprising one or more emitter elements configured to emit optical signals defining a primary field of illumination; a lidar detector comprising one or more detector pixels configured to detect light corresponding to the optical signals over a primary field of detection; and one or more reflective optical elements that are arranged to reflect one or more subsets of the optical signals into respective fields of illumination that are different than the primary field of illumination, and/or to reflect light from respective fields of view different than the primary field of detection toward the lidar detector. At least one of the respective fields of illumination or the respective fields of view does not overlap with the primary field of illumination or the primary field of detection, respectively.

Abstract: An illumination apparatus includes a first semiconductor layer comprising a plurality of emitters that are electrically interconnected in or on the first semiconductor layer, and a second semiconductor layer that is bonded to the first semiconductor layer in a stacked arrangement. The second semiconductor layer comprises a plurality of transistors that are electrically connected to respective emitters or subsets of the plurality of emitters at a bonding interface between the first and second semiconductor layers. Related systems and methods of fabrication are also discussed.