Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system may include a laser and a array of single photon avalanche diodes (SPADs) that are triggered by laser light that reflects off a target scene. The LiDAR system may use the array of SPADs to assemble a raw histogram data. A histogram valid peak detector can be used to filter the raw histogram data to extract only valid histogram peak signals exceeding a threshold value. The histogram valid peak detector may include a raw histogram sum counter, a non-zero bins counter, a background noise floor generator, summing circuits, comparators, and a gating circuit, all controlled by a sequencing circuit. By filtering out noise signals in the raw histogram while only transferring the valid peak signals, data transfer rate requirements between different chips in the overall LiDAR system can be dramatically reduced.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for reducing sensing delays for a non-volatile memory reading circuit may include operations for pre-charging a plurality of bit lines coupling a memory array having multiple bit cells with a sensing amplifier. Upon receiving a read request identifying a given bit cell in the memory array, the addressed bit line is decoupled from a bias voltage. The addressed bit line corresponds to the given bit cell and is selected from the plurality of bit lines. With the decoupling from the bias voltage, the addressed bit lines are coupled to the sensing amplifier. After a sensing circuit delay, data stored in the given bit cell is provided to the sensing amplifier via the addressed bit lines coupled to the sensing amplifier. The data stored in the given bit cell may then be interpreted by the sensing amplifier and a corresponding data output signal is generated.

Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a plurality of single-photon avalanche diodes (SPADs). The semiconductor device may include sensing single-photon avalanche diodes that are sensitive to incident light and dark single-photon avalanche diodes that are shielded from incident light. The dark single-photon avalanche diodes may be used to measure one or more parameters for the semiconductor device such as breakdown voltage, dark count rate, and quench resistance. Processing circuitry may optimize a bias voltage for the semiconductor device based on information regarding one or more sensor parameters obtained using the dark single-photon avalanche diodes.

Abstract: An imaging system may include a silicon photomultiplier with single-photon avalanche diodes (SPADs). The imaging system may be a LIDAR imaging system with LIDAR processing circuitry. To reduce memory requirements in the LIDAR processing circuitry, a dynamic resolution storage scheme may be used. The LIDAR processing circuitry may include autonomous dynamic resolution circuitry that receives input from a time-to-digital converter (TDC). The autonomous dynamic resolution circuitry may include a plurality of memory banks having different resolutions. Based on the magnitude of the input from the TDC, an appropriate memory bank may be selected. In parallel, an address encoder may select a memory bin based on the input from the TDC.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) imaging system may include a semiconductor device based on single-photon avalanche diodes (SPADs). The LIDAR imaging system may also include a light source configured to emit light such that the semiconductor device is exposed to both ambient light and a reflected version of the laser light. Ambient light level detection circuitry may be included to determine a brightness of the ambient light based on an output signal from the semiconductor device. The ambient light level detection circuitry may include a plurality of comparators that receive different reference signals and are coupled to respective counters. The results from the counters may be used to determine the brightness of the ambient light in the scene. The determined brightness may then be used to discriminate between the ambient light and the reflected version of the light.

Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a plurality of single-photon avalanche diodes (SPADs). The semiconductor device may include sensing single-photon avalanche diodes that are sensitive to incident light and dark single-photon avalanche diodes that are shielded from incident light. The dark single-photon avalanche diodes may be used to measure one or more parameters for the semiconductor device such as breakdown voltage, dark count rate, and quench resistance. Processing circuitry may optimize a bias voltage for the semiconductor device based on information regarding one or more sensor parameters obtained using the dark single-photon avalanche diodes.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for reducing sensing delays for a non-volatile memory reading circuit may include operations for pre-charging a plurality of bit lines coupling a memory array having multiple bit cells with a sensing amplifier. Upon receiving a read request identifying a given bit cell in the memory array, the addressed bit line is decoupled from a bias voltage. The addressed bit line corresponds to the given bit cell and is selected from the plurality of bit lines. With the decoupling from the bias voltage, the addressed bit lines are coupled to the sensing amplifier. After a sensing circuit delay, data stored in the given bit cell is provided to the sensing amplifier via the addressed bit lines coupled to the sensing amplifier. The data stored in the given bit cell may then be interpreted by the sensing amplifier and a corresponding data output signal is generated.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a transducer controller is configured to apply a damping signal to reduce energy stored in the transducer after the transducer has been driven with a drive signal to form a transmitted acoustic signal.

Abstract: An illustrative controller embodiment includes: a transmitter that causes reverberation of a piezoelectric transducer; and a linear damping module that measures characteristics of the reverberation and tunes at least one of a shunt resistance and a shunt reactance for the piezoelectric transducer based on said characteristics. An illustrative sensor embodiment includes: a piezoelectric transducer; and a transducer controller coupled to the piezoelectric transducer to transmit pulses and receive echoes for measuring distances. The controller includes a linear damping module with: a shunt resistance; a shunt inductance; and an optional switch that couples the shunt resistance and shunt inductance in parallel to the piezoelectric transducer to damp reverberation of the piezoelectric transducer after said transmit pulses. The controller measures at least one characteristic of said reverberation and responsively tunes the shunt resistance or the shunt inductance.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a transducer controller is configured to apply a damping signal to reduce energy stored in the transducer after the transducer has been driven with a drive signal to form a transmitted acoustic signal.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a transducer controller is configured to apply a damping signal to reduce energy stored in the transducer after the transducer has been driven with a drive signal to form a transmitted acoustic signal.

Abstract: An illustrative sensor controller embodiment includes: a transmitter that drives an ultrasonic transducer to produce a transmit pulse; a receiver that derives a sensor signal from the transducer; and a core logic that detects a trigger signal on an event signaling line and responsively provides one or more error reporting bits on the event signaling line before driving the event signaling line based on the sensor signal. An illustrative embodiment of a sensor control method includes: detecting a trigger signal on an event signaling line; providing at least one status bit on the event signaling line in response to the trigger signal; and after providing the at least one status bit, driving the event signaling line based upon on a sensor signal from a transducer. The transducer may be a piezoelectric element for producing and sensing ultrasonic pulses, particularly for use in parking-assist sensors and systems.

Abstract: An illustrative controller embodiment includes: a transmitter that causes reverberation of a piezoelectric transducer; and a linear damping module that measures characteristics of the reverberation and tunes at least one of a shunt resistance and a shunt reactance for the piezoelectric transducer based on said characteristics. An illustrative sensor embodiment includes: a piezoelectric transducer; and a transducer controller coupled to the piezoelectric transducer to transmit pulses and receive echoes for measuring distances. The controller includes a linear damping module with: a shunt resistance; a shunt inductance; and an optional switch that couples the shunt resistance and shunt inductance in parallel to the piezoelectric transducer to damp reverberation of the piezoelectric transducer after said transmit pulses. The controller measures at least one characteristic of said reverberation and responsively tunes the shunt resistance or the shunt inductance.

Abstract: An illustrative sensor controller embodiment includes: a transmitter that drives an ultrasonic transducer to produce a transmit pulse; a receiver that derives a sensor signal from the transducer; and a core logic that detects a trigger signal on an event signaling line and responsively provides one or more error reporting bits on the event signaling line before driving the event signaling line based on the sensor signal. An illustrative embodiment of a sensor control method includes: detecting a trigger signal on an event signaling line; providing at least one status bit on the event signaling line in response to the trigger signal; and after providing the at least one status bit, driving the event signaling line based upon on a sensor signal from a transducer. The transducer may be a piezoelectric element for producing and sensing ultrasonic pulses, particularly for use in parking-assist sensors and systems.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a transducer controller is configured to form an integrated distance measuring and diagnostic cycle that includes measuring a decay time of a transducer and to selectively adjust a period of the transmitted signal responsively to a value of a reverberation period.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a transducer controller is configured to apply a damping signal to reduce energy stored in the transducer after the transducer has been driven with a drive signal to form a transmitted acoustic signal.

Abstract: In embodiments a circuit provides a circuit for use in detecting close proximity objects in an acoustic distance sensing system. The circuit produces a close proximity zone flag when the time after transmitting an acoustic distance sensing pulse corresponds to the defined close proximity range. The circuit can also include a time of flight counter for determining the time of flight of a received echo. The circuit can further produce a close proximity time if flight valid flag indicating that echoes are being received in close proximity time frame.

Abstract: In an embodiment a semiconductor device correlates a received signal with a known pattern. A correlation output is used as a basis for forming a confidence reference level. The confidence reference level and the correlation output are compared to identify a peak in the received signal indicating that a present signal state of the received signal contains the known pattern.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a transducer controller is configured to form an integrated distance measuring and diagnostic cycle that includes measuring a decay time of a transducer and to selectively adjust a period of the transmitted signal responsively to a value of a reverberation period.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an acoustic distance measurement system can dynamically adjust its measurement frequency to a frequency that is within a preselected bandwidth of the resonant frequency of an acoustic transducer used in making acoustic distance measurements.