Abstract: In certain embodiments, a method includes accessing image information for a scene in a movement path of a mobile robot. The image includes image information for each of a plurality of pixels of the scene, the image information comprising respective intensity values and respective distance values. The method includes analyzing the image information to determine whether to modify the movement path of the mobile robot. The method includes initiating, in response to determining according to the image information to modify the movement path of the mobile robot, sending of a command to a drive subsystem of the mobile robot to modify the movement path of the mobile robot.

Abstract: An optical sensor includes pixels. Each pixel has a photodetector. A readout circuit performs a process over an exposure time where the photodetector is connected to a reverse bias voltage supply to reset a voltage across the photodetector, and the photodetector is disconnected from the reverse bias voltage supply until that the voltage across the photodetector decreases in response to received ambient light. An ambient light level is then determine an based on a number of times the voltage across the photodetector is reset over the exposure time.

Abstract: An embodiment method of measuring ambient light comprises generating, by an ambient light sensor associated with a screen which alternates between first phases in which light is emitted and second phases in which no light is emitted by the screen, a first signal representative of an intensity of light received by the ambient light sensor during the first and second phases; comparing the first signal with a threshold intensity value; and controlling a timing of an ambient light measurement by the light sensor based on the comparison.

Abstract: An optical sensor includes pixels. Each pixel has a photodetector. A readout circuit performs a process over an exposure time where the photodetector is connected to a reverse bias voltage supply to reset a voltage across the photodetector, and the photodetector is disconnected from the reverse bias voltage supply until that the voltage across the photodetector decreases in response to received ambient light. An ambient light level is then determine an based on a number of times the voltage across the photodetector is reset over the exposure time.

Abstract: An input stage circuit for a sigma-delta analog-to-digital converter circuit receives a digital-to-analog converter generated feedback signal and an analog current input signal to generate a difference signal applied to an integrator circuit. A single bit quantization circuit quantizes an output of the integrator circuit to generate a bit signal that is applied to an input of the digital-to-analog converter. The input stage circuit includes a switched input capacitor controlled by first and second, non-overlapping, clock signals.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a fluidic ejection device configured to detect whether one or more nozzles of the fluidic ejection device is in a normal state, a blocked nozzle state, or an accumulated fluid state. The fluidic ejection device includes an optical blockage detector having a light emitting device configured to emit a light signal, and a light sensor configured to detect the light signal. The optical blockage detector detects the normal state, the blocked nozzle state, and the accumulated fluid state based on the detected light signal.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a secondary device comprising a first port receiving a clock signal from a first port of a primary device and a second port connected to a second port of the primary device. The clock signal determines, for each bit transmission, first, second, third and fourth successive phases. The secondary device puts its second port in a high impedance state during the first, second and fourth phases of each bit transmission. During the third phase of each transmission of a bit of data from the secondary device to the primary device, the secondary device discharges its second port when the transmitted bit has a first value and leaves its second port in a high impedance state when the transmitted bit has a second value.

Abstract: A distance from an apparatus to at least one object is determined by generating a first signal and generating light modulated by the first signal to be emitted from the apparatus. Light reflected by the at least one object is detected using a Time-of-flight detector array, wherein each array element of the Time-of-flight detector array generates an output signal from a series of photon counts over a number of consecutive non-overlapping time periods. The output signals are compared to the first signal to determine at least one signal phase difference. From this at least one signal phase difference a distance from the apparatus to the at least one object is determined.

Abstract: An embodiment method of measuring ambient light comprises generating, by an ambient light sensor associated with a screen which alternates between first phases in which light is emitted and second phases in which no light is emitted by the screen, a first signal representative of an intensity of light received by the ambient light sensor during the first and second phases; comparing the first signal with a threshold intensity value; and controlling a timing of an ambient light measurement by the light sensor based on the comparison.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a fluidic ejection device configured to detect whether one or more nozzles of the fluidic ejection device is in a normal state, a blocked nozzle state, or an accumulated fluid state. The fluidic ejection device includes an optical blockage detector having a light emitting device configured to emit a light signal, and a light sensor configured to detect the light signal. The optical blockage detector detects the normal state, the blocked nozzle state, and the accumulated fluid state based on the detected light signal.

Abstract: An embodiment method of command of an electronic device comprises controlling a screen to alternate periodically between a first phase in which the screen emits light and a second phase in which no light is emitted by the screen, and precharging a charge pump of an ambient light sensor during the first phases, the ambient light sensor comprising at least a single photon avalanche diode powered by the charge pump.

Abstract: An imaging sensor includes a pixel array containing photodiodes, the photodiodes being isolated from one another by full thickness deep trench isolations. Row control circuitry controls which rows of the pixel array operate in an imaging mode and which rows of the pixel array operate in an energy harvesting mode, on a row-by-row basis. Switch circuitry selectively connects different groups of photodiodes in rows operating in the energy harvesting mode into forward biased series configurations between a voltage output line and a ground line, or into forward biased parallel configurations between the voltage output line and the ground line. In the forward biased series configurations, the cathode of at least one photodiode of a given group of photodiodes is directly electrically connected to ground.

Abstract: An embodiment method of measuring ambient light comprises generating, by an ambient light sensor associated with a screen which alternates between first phases in which light is emitted and second phases in which no light is emitted by the screen, a first signal representative of an intensity of light received by the ambient light sensor during the first and second phases; comparing the first signal with a threshold intensity value; and controlling a timing of an ambient light measurement by the light sensor based on the comparison.

Abstract: An imaging sensor includes a pixel array containing photodiodes, the photodiodes being isolated from one another by full thickness deep trench isolations. Row control circuitry controls which rows of the pixel array operate in an imaging mode and which rows of the pixel array operate in an energy harvesting mode, on a row by row basis. Switch circuitry selectively connects different groups of photodiodes in rows operating in the energy harvesting mode into forward biased series configurations between a voltage output line and a ground line, or into forward biased parallel configurations between the voltage output line and the ground line.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a sensor having pixels, each pixel having photodiodes having each a terminal coupled to a first node associated with the photodiode; and an amplifier having a first part and, for each photodiode, a second part associated with the photodiode. The first part includes an output of the amplifier and a first MOS transistor of a differential pair. Each second part includes a second MOS transistor of the differential pair having its gate coupled to the first node associated with the photodiode the second part is associated with; a first switch coupling a source of the second transistor to the first part of the amplifier; and a second switch coupling a drain of the second transistor to the first part of the amplifier.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a method includes accessing image information for a scene in a movement path of a mobile robot. The image includes image information for each of a plurality of pixels of the scene, the image information comprising respective intensity values and respective distance values. The method includes analyzing the image information to determine whether to modify the movement path of the mobile robot. The method includes initiating, in response to determining according to the image information to modify the movement path of the mobile robot, sending of a command to a drive subsystem of the mobile robot to modify the movement path of the mobile robot.

Abstract: In an embodiment a method for measuring ambient light includes successively synchronizing optical signal acquisition phases with extinction phases of a disruptive light source, wherein the disruptive light source periodically provides illumination phases and the extinction phases, accumulating, in each acquisition phase, photo-generated charges by at least one photosensitive pixel comprising a pinned photodiode, wherein an area of the pinned photodiode is less than or equal to 1/10 of an area of the at least one photosensitive pixel, transferring, for each pixel, the accumulated photo-generated charges to a sensing node, converting, for each pixel, the transferred charges to a voltage at a voltage node and converting, for each pixel, the transferred charges to a digital number

Abstract: A method for detecting an orientation of a screen of a device includes having a two-dimensional (2D) detector array affixed to the device in a fixed orientation relative to the screen, where the 2D detector array includes a sensing area with a plurality of pixels; imaging a scene including a user in a foreground and a background onto the 2D detector array; extracting an information of the scene for each of the plurality of pixels of the sensing area, the information being extracted from the 2D detector array by an image sensor; identifying an asymmetry in a pixelated image of the scene that includes the information of the scene for each of the plurality of pixels of the sensing area; and based on the asymmetry in the image of the scene, determining the orientation of the screen relative to the user.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a fluidic ejection device configured to detect whether one or more nozzles of the fluidic ejection device is in a normal state, a blocked nozzle state, or an accumulated fluid state. The fluidic ejection device includes an optical blockage detector having a light emitting device configured to emit a light signal, and a light sensor configured to detect the light signal. The optical blockage detector detects the normal state, the blocked nozzle state, and the accumulated fluid state based on the detected light signal.

Abstract: An optical sensor includes pixels. Each pixel has a photodetector. A readout circuit performs a process over an exposure time where the photodetector is connected to a reverse bias voltage supply to reset a voltage across the photodetector, and the photodetector is disconnected from the reverse bias voltage supply until that the voltage across the photodetector decreases in response to received ambient light. An ambient light level is then determine an based on a number of times the voltage across the photodetector is reset over the exposure time.