Abstract: In some examples, a sensor apparatus comprises: an array of pixel cells each including one or more photodiodes configured to generate a charge in response to light, and a charge storage device to convert the charge to output a voltage of an array of voltages, one or more an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) configured the convert the array of voltages to first pixel data, and an on-sensor controller configured to input the first pixel data into a machine-learning model to generate output data comprising prediction data associated with one or more features of the first pixel data, generate, based on the prediction data, second pixel data, the second pixel data associated with one or more transformed features of the first pixel data, and send, from the sensor apparatus to a separate receiving apparatus, the second pixel data.

Abstract: Imaging systems, cameras, and image sensors of this disclosure include imaging pixels that include subpixels. Diffractive optical elements such as a metasurface lens layers or a liquid crystal polarization hologram (LCPH) are configured to focus image light to the subpixels of the imaging pixels.

Abstract: Imaging signals are generated in response to image light. Event signals are generated in response to receive the imaging signals from imaging pixels. A Region of Interest (ROI) of the imaging pixels is identified from a spatial concentration of event signals in the ROI of imaging pixels within a time period. An ROI portion of the imaging pixels in the ROI are driven to capture an ROI image frame.

Abstract: An eyebox region is illuminated with a fringe illumination pattern. An event sensor is configured to generate event-signals. Eye motion is determined from the event-signals. Eye-features are extracted from data generated by the event sensors and a predicted gaze vector is generated from the eye-features.

Abstract: Methods and systems for performing light measurement are disclosed. In one example, an apparatus comprises an array of pixel cells, each pixel cell of the array of pixel cells configured to perform a light measurement operation and to generate a digital output of the light measurement operation. The apparatus further includes a peripheral circuit configured to: receive a pixel array programming map including programming data targeted at each pixel cell of the array of pixel cells, and configure the light measurement operation at the each pixel cell based on the programming data targeted at the each pixel cell. The apparatus further includes an image processor configured to generate an image frame based on the digital outputs of at least some of the array of pixel cells.

Abstract: Systems and methods of the present disclosure include a digital image sensor pixel configured to perform digital correlated double-sampling (D-CDS) operations to compensate for fixed pattern noise (FPN) induced by comparator propagation delay variation across a digital pixel array. The pixel and D-CDS operations also support quantization of incident light using two pixel memory banks. The pixel includes data retention logic coupled to selectively lock and unlock the output of a comparator. The output of the comparator is combined with memory bank write enable signals to convert photodiode charge into digital pixel values stored in the two memory banks. The digital pixel values stored in the memory banks may be added or subtracted to generate an FPN compensated digital pixel value.

Abstract: One example described herein includes the digital image sensor having a pixel cell with a photodiode and a quantizer circuit coupled to the pixel cell. The quantizer circuit includes a charge storage device that generates a voltage based on electric charge from the photodiode. The quantizer circuit also includes a single-input comparator that can switch from a first output state to a second output state in response to a ramp signal provided by a ramp generator. The quantizer circuit further includes a memory switch that can cause a counter value from a digital counter to be stored in a digital memory in response to the single-input comparator switching from the first output state to the second output state. The counter value can serve as a digital pixel value associated with the pixel cell.

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: 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: In one example, a mobile device comprises: a physical link; a plurality of image sensors, each image sensor being configured to transmit image data via the physical link; and a controller coupled to the physical link, whereby the physical link, the plurality of image sensors, and the controller form a multi-drop network. The controller is configured to: transmit a control signal to configure image sensing operations at the plurality of image sensors; receive, via the physical link, image data from at least a subset of the plurality of image sensors; combine the image data from the at least a subset of the plurality of image sensors to obtain an extended field of view (FOV); determine information of a surrounding environment of the mobile device captured within the extended FOV; and provide the information to an application to generate content based on the information.

Abstract: A projector sequentially generates light pulses to form a sparse grid array. The light pulses reflect off objects in an environment and are reflected towards a sensor array. The sensor array sequentially senses the reflected light pulses across pixels of the sensor array. A depth sensing system calculates depth information of objects in the environment based on the sequential nature of the pulse generation and the pulse sensing. The depth sensing system calculates depth information based on both the positional and temporal information of generated light pulses, and the positional and temporal information of sensed light pulses. The depth sensing system may generate a representation of the environment based on the depth information.

Abstract: In some examples, a sensor apparatus comprises: a pixel cell configured to generate a voltages, the pixel cell including a photodiode configured to generate charge in response to incoming light, and a charge storage device to convert the charge to a voltage; an integrated circuit configured to: determine a first captured voltage converted by the charge storage device during a first time period; compare the first captured voltage to a threshold voltage value; and in response to determining that the first captured voltage meets or exceeds the threshold voltage value: determine first time data corresponding to the first time period; and prevent the charge storage device from further generating a charge; and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) configured to generate a digital pixel value based on the first captured voltage, and a memory to store the digital pixel value and the first time data.

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: An image-sensing system includes multiple sensing modules. Each of the multiple sensing modules includes multiple optical sensors arranged in an array. Each of the multiple sensors is configured to be switched on and off to generate analog sensing data. The image-sensing system also includes an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) shared by the multiple optical sensors configured to convert analog sensing data generated by the multiple optical sensors into digital data. The image-sensing system also includes a processor configured to control the multiple sensing modules.

Abstract: In one example, an apparatus comprises: a photodiode to generate a charge in response to light within an exposure period having a first duration; a charge sensing unit to accumulate at least a part of the charge within the exposure period; a quantizer; and a controller to: determine, using the quantizer and within a measurement period having a second duration, whether a first quantity of the at least a part of the charge accumulated at the charge sensing unit exceeds a threshold, and a time it takes for the first quantity to exceed the threshold, wherein the first duration and the second duration are individually programmable; and based on whether the first quantity exceeds the threshold, output a first value representing the time or a second value representing a second quantity of the charge generated by the photodiode within the exposure period to represent an intensity of the light.

Abstract: An example apparatus having a heterogenous memory system includes a first sensor layer, of a plurality of stacked sensor layers, including an array of pixels; and one or more semiconductor layers of the plurality of stacked sensor layers located beneath the first sensor layer, the one or more semiconductor layers configured to process pixel data output by the array of pixels, the one or more semiconductor layers including a first memory to store most significant bits (“MSBs”) of data involved in the processing of the pixel data; a second memory to store least significant bits (“LSBs”) of the data; and wherein the first memory has a lower bit error rate (“BER”) than the second memory.

Abstract: In one example, an apparatus comprises: a photodiode configured to generate a charge in response to light within an exposure period, a charge sensing unit configured to accumulate at least a part of the charge as an overflow charge, a quantizer, and a controller configured to: within a first time within the exposure period, control the quantizer to perform a first quantization operation to quantize the overflow charge accumulated at the charge sensing unit to generate a first measurement output; within a second time after the first time, and within the exposure period, control the quantizer to perform a second quantization operation to quantize the overflow charge accumulated at the charge sensing unit to generate a second measurement output; and generate a digital output to represent an intensity of the light based on at least one of the first measurement output or the second measurement output.

Abstract: In one example, a mobile device comprises: a physical link; a plurality of image sensors, each image sensor being configured to transmit image data via the physical link; and a controller coupled to the physical link, whereby the physical link, the plurality of image sensors, and the controller form a multi-drop network. The controller is configured to: transmit a control signal to configure image sensing operations at the plurality of image sensors; receive, via the physical link, image data from at least a subset of the plurality of image sensors; combine the image data from the at least a subset of the plurality of image sensors to obtain an extended field of view (FOV); determine information of a surrounding environment of the mobile device captured within the extended FOV; and provide the information to an application to generate content based on the information.

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 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.