Systems and methods for asynchronous, time-based image sensing

US11412162B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• PROPHESEE · FR

Inventors

• Thomas FINATEU · Brussels, BE
• Daniel Matolin · Freital, DE
• Christoph Posch · Bad Fischau, AT

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 30, 2019
• Grant date: Aug 9, 2022
• Expiry date: Sep 28, 2039

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04N25/78
• WIPO field: Audio-visual technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

An image sensor includes a plurality of pixels, each pixel including a photosensitive element, and a photo-signal converter adapted to provide, on a first output, a current signal linearly proportional to the intensity of light impinging on the photosensitive element and to provide, on a second output, a voltage signal logarithmic with the intensity of light impinging on the photosensitive element. Each pixel further includes a detector adapted to generate a trigger signal when a signal of the detector proportional to the voltage signal of the second output of the photo-signal converter exceeds a threshold, and a light-to-time converter adapted to measure and encode, in the time domain, light intensity on the photosensitive element. A light-to-time conversion cycle may be initiated by the light-to-time converter in response to receipt of the trigger signal.