Abstract: In one example, an apparatus comprises: a photodiode configured to generate charge in response to incident light within an exposure period; and a quantizer configured to perform at least one of a first quantization operation to generate a first digital output or a second quantization to generate a second digital output, and output, based on a range of an intensity of the incident light, one of the first digital output or the second digital output to represent the intensity of the incident light. The first quantization operation comprises quantizing at least a first part of the charge during the exposure period to generate the first digital output. The second quantization operation comprises quantizing at least a second part of the charge after the exposure period to generate the second digital output.

Abstract: A waveguide display includes a light source, a scanning mirror assembly, an output waveguide, and a controller. The light source emits image light. The scanning mirror assembly scans the image light as scanned image light to particular locations in accordance with scanning instructions. The output waveguide includes an input area and an output area. The output waveguide receives the scanned image light emitted from the scanning mirror assembly at the input area, and output expanded image light from a portion of the output area, the location of the portion of the output area based in part on a direction of the scanned image light output from the scanning mirror assembly. The controller generates the scanning instructions and provides the scanning instructions to the scanning mirror assembly.

Abstract: In one example, an apparatus comprises: an image sensor comprising an array of pixel cells, each pixel cell including a photodiode and circuits to generate image data, the photodiodes formed in a first semiconductor substrate; and a controller formed in one or more second semiconductor substrates that include the circuits of the array of pixel cells, the first and second semiconductor substrates forming a stack and housed within a semiconductor package. The controller is configured to: determine whether first image data generated by the image sensor contain features of an object; based on whether the first image data contain the features of the object, generate programming signals for the image sensor; and control, based on the programming signals, the image sensor to generate second image data.

Abstract: In one example, an apparatus includes an array of pixel cells and a peripheral circuit. Each pixel cell of the array of pixel cells includes: a memory to store pixel-level programming data and measurement data, and light measurement circuits configured to, based on the pixel-level programming data from the control memory, perform a light measurement operation to generate the measurement data, and to store the measurement data at the data memory. The peripheral circuit is configured to: receive a pixel array programming map including pixel-level programming data targeted at each pixel cell; extract the pixel-level programming data from the pixel array programming map; and transmit the pixel-level programming data to each pixel cell of the array of pixel cells for storage at the memory of the each pixel cell and to individually control the light measurement operation and a generation of the measurement data at the each pixel cell.

Abstract: Examples of an apparatus are disclosed. In some example, an apparatus may include a photodiode, a first charge storage unit configured to store charges generated by the photodiode, the first charge storage unit having a first capacity; and a second charge storage unit configured to store charges generated by the photodiode, the second charge storage unit having a second capacity greater than the first capacity. The apparatus may further include an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) circuit configured to measure a first quantity of charges stored in the first charge storage unit and a second quantity of charges stored in the second charge storage unit, and to generate a digital output representing an intensity of light incident on the photodiode based on a first count representing the first quantity of charges or a second count representing the second quantity of charges.

Abstract: In one example, a pixel cell comprises a first photodiode to generate a first charge and a second photodiode to generate a second charge. The pixel cell may include a charge sensing unit shared between the first photodiode and the second photodiode. The charge sensing unit may include a charge storage device to temporarily store a charge and convert the charge to a voltage. The pixel cell may include a quantizer to quantize the voltage output by the charge sensing unit, and a memory to store the quantization output. Depending on an operation mode, the first charge and the second charge can be controlled to flow simultaneously to the charge sensing unit for read out, or can be controlled to flow separately to the charge sensing unit for read out. The pixel cell further includes a memory to store a quantization result of the first charge and the second charge.

Abstract: A depth measurement assembly (DMA) includes a structured light emitter, an augmented camera, and a controller. The structured light emitter projects structured light into a local area under instructions from the controller. The augmented camera generates image data of an object illuminated with the structured light pattern projected by the structured light emitter in accordance with camera instructions generated by the controller. The augmented camera includes a high speed computation tracking sensor that comprises a plurality of augmented photodetectors. Each augmented photodetector converts light to data and stores the data in its own memory unit. The controller receives the image data and determines depth information of the object in the local area based in part on the image data. The depth measurement unit can be incorporated into a head-mounted display (HMD).

Abstract: A depth camera assembly (DCA) for depth sensing of a local area. The DCA includes a transmitter, a receiver, and a controller. The transmitter illuminates a local area with outgoing light in accordance with emission instructions. The transmitter includes a fine steering element and a coarse steering element. The fine steering element deflects one or more optical beams at a first deflection angle to generate one or more first order deflected scanning beams. The coarse steering element deflects the one or more first order deflected scanning beams at a second deflection angle to generate the outgoing light projected into the local area. The receiver captures one or more images of the local area including portions of the outgoing light reflected from the local area. The controller determines depth information for one or more objects in the local area based in part on the captured one or more images.

Abstract: A flowerpot made of waste tires, includes: a suspended tire, a circular bottom plate, a hose clamp, a fixed disk and a supporting tube; wherein the fixed disk is fixed on a ground, the supporting tube is set up from a center of the fixed disk, the circular bottom plate has through holes for matching with the supporting tube; the suspended tire, the circular bottom plate and the hose clamp pass through the supporting tube, and the hose clamp tightly clamps a top portion of the supporting tube on the circular plate without any slip; the suspended tire is provided above the circular plate; the suspended tire, the circular bottom plate and the hose clamp form a flowerpot body structure suspended on the supporting tube; the suspended tire is filled with soil for planting plants.

Abstract: Methods and systems for quantizing a physical quantity, such as light, are provided. In one example, an apparatus comprises an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter configured to generate raw digital outputs based on performing at least one of: (1) a first quantization operation to quantize a physical stimulus within a first intensity range based on a first A/D conversion relationship, or (2) a second quantization operation to quantize the physical stimulus within a second intensity range based on a second A/D conversion relationship; and a raw output conversion circuit configured generate a refined digital output based on a raw digital output obtained from the A/D converter and at least one predetermined conversion parameter. The at least one conversion parameter compensates for a discontinuity between the first A/D conversion relationship and the second A/D conversion relationship.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to a stacked photo sensor assembly where two substrates are stacked vertically. The two substrates are connected via interconnects at a pixel level to provide a signal from a photodiode at a first substrate to circuitry on a second substrate. The circuitry on the second substrate performs operations that were conventionally performed on first substrate. More specifically, charge storage of the first substrate is replaced with capacitors on the second substrate. A voltage signal corresponding to the amount of charge in the first substrate is generated and processed in the second substrate. By stacking the first and second substrates, the photo sensor assembly can be made more compact while increasing or at least retaining the photodiode fill factor of the photo sensor assembly.

Abstract: Two separate schemes are used for detecting light intensity in low light conditions and high light conditions. In high light conditions, two threshold voltages are set and the time between the crossing of a sensor voltage at the two threshold voltages is measured to determine the light intensity in the high light conditions. In low light conditions, a comparator is used to compare the voltage level of the sensor voltage relative to a reference voltage that increase over time. The time when the reference voltage reaches the sensor voltage level is detected to determine the light intensity in the low light conditions.

Abstract: In one example, an apparatus comprises: a semiconductor substrate including a plurality of pixel cells, each pixel cell including at least four photodiodes; a plurality of filter arrays, each filter array including a filter element overlaid on each photodiode of the pixel cell, at least two of the filter elements of the each filter array having different wavelength passbands; and a plurality of microlens, each microlens overlaid on the each filter array and configured to direct light from a spot of a scene via each filter element of the each filter array to each photodiode of the each pixel cell.

Abstract: In one example, an apparatus comprises: a first photodiode to generate a first charge; a second photodiode to generate a second charge; a quantizer; a first memory bank and a second memory bank; and a controller configured to: control the quantizer to perform a first quantization operation and a second quantization operation of the first charge to generate, respectively, a first digital output and a second digital output, the first and second quantization operations being associated with different intensity ranges; store one of the first digital output or the second digital output in the first memory bank; control the quantizer to perform a third quantization operation of the second charge to generate a third digital output, the third quantization operation being associated with a different intensity range from at least one of the first or second quantization operations; and store the third digital output in the second memory bank.

Abstract: A depth camera assembly (DCA) for depth sensing of a local area. The DCA includes a transmitter, a receiver, and a controller. The transmitter illuminates a local area with outgoing light in accordance with emission instructions. The transmitter includes a fine steering element and a coarse steering element. The fine steering element deflects one or more optical beams at a first deflection angle to generate one or more first order deflected scanning beams. The coarse steering element deflects the one or more first order deflected scanning beams at a second deflection angle to generate the outgoing light projected into the local area. The receiver captures one or more images of the local area including portions of the outgoing light reflected from the local area. The controller determines depth information for one or more objects in the local area based in part on the captured one or more images.

Abstract: In one example, a method comprises: exposing a first photodiode to incident light to generate first charge; exposing a second photodiode to the incident light to generate second charge; converting, by a first charge sensing unit, the first charge to a first voltage; converting, by a second charge sensing unit, the second charge to a second voltage; controlling an ADC to detect, based on the first voltage, that a quantity of the first charge reaches a saturation threshold, and to measure a saturation time when the quantity of the first charge reaches the saturation threshold; stopping the exposure of the first photodiode and the second photodiode to the incident light based on detecting that the quantity of the first charge reaches the saturation threshold; and controlling the ADC to measure, based on the second voltage, a quantity of the second charge generated by the second photodiode before the exposure ends.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are techniques for digital imaging. A digital pixel image sensor includes a digitizer in each pixel of a plurality of pixels, where the digitizer digitizes analog output signals from a photodiode of the pixel using a comparator, a global reference ramp signal, and a clock counter. In some embodiments, the comparator includes a pre-charging circuit, rather than a constant biasing circuit, to reduce the power consumption of each pixel. In some embodiments, each pixel includes a digital or analog correlated double sampling (CDS) circuit to reduce noise and provide a higher dynamic range.

Abstract: In one example, a method comprises: enabling a photodiode to, in response to incident light, accumulate residual charge, and to transfer overflow charge to a first charge storage device and a second charge storage device when the photodiode saturates; disconnecting the second charge storage device from the first charge storage device; enabling the photodiode to transfer the residual charge to the first charge storage device to cause the charge sensing unit to output a first voltage; quantizing the first voltage to generate a first digital value to measure the residual charge; connecting the second charge storage device with the first charge storage device to cause the charge sensing unit to output a second voltage; quantizing the second voltage to generate a second digital value to measure the overflow charge; and generating a digital representation of the incident light intensity based on the first digital value and the second digital value.

Abstract: In one example, an apparatus comprises: a plurality of photodiodes, one or more charge sensing units, one or more analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), and a controller. The controller is configured to: enable the each photodiode to generate charge in response to a different component of the incident light; transfer the charge from the plurality of photodiodes to the one or more charge sensing units to convert to voltages; receive a selection of one or more quantization processes of a plurality of quantization processes corresponding to a plurality of intensity ranges; based on the selection, control the one or more ADCs to perform the selected one or more quantization processes to quantize the voltages from the one or more charge sensing units to digital values representing components of a pixel of different wavelength ranges; and generate a pixel value based on the digital values.

Abstract: A device for vehicle hindrance and rainwater treatment including a vehicle hindrance body and a well pit. The vehicle hindrance body includes a lower sidewall, the well pit includes a top opening, and the lower sidewall encloses the top opening. The lower sidewall includes a plurality of water inlet holes. The well pit includes an upper part, a lower part, and a partition disposed between the upper part and the lower part. The partition includes a plurality of leaking holes. The upper part of the well pit includes an outer ring belt filled with a rainwater pretreatment filler, a center ring belt filled with soil, and a rainwater collection ring belt disposed between the outer ring belt and the inner ring belt. The lower part includes a water-sand separating folded plate, a water-sand discharging channel, a rainwater collecting tank, and a rainwater storage chamber.