HIGH RESOLUTION, HIGH FRAME RATE, LOW POWER IMAGE SENSOR

摘要

An apparatus and method for determining a distance to an object using a binary, event-based image sensor. In one aspect, the image sensor includes memory circuitry and address decode circuitry. In one aspect, activation of a photodiode of the image sensor array by receipt of one or more photons is able to be used directly as an input to logic circuitry. In one embodiment, the image sensor includes photodiodes operating in an avalanche photodiode mode or Geiger mode. In one embodiment, the imaging sensor includes photodiodes operating as thresholded integrating pixels. The imaging sensor can be fabricated from one or more substrates having at least a first and a second voltage portion.

主权项

1. A method of detecting an optical event, the method comprising:
interrogating an object with a photonic interrogation beam; activating an array of pixels substantially concurrent with activation of the photonic interrogation beam, the pixels comprising avalanche photodiodes, a voltage bias level of avalanche photodiodes corresponding to pixel operation in one of Geiger mode and avalanche mode; receiving a reflected beam from the interrogating the object, at the array; generating a signal corresponding to a location of incidence of the reflected beam on the array, the signal corresponding to at least one of a pixel array address and a time-of-flight (TOF) of the photonic interrogation beam and the reflected beam; and determining a distance to the object based upon the signal.