Low power imaging system with single photon avalanche diode photon counters and ghost image reduction
US9210350B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 9, 2013 |
| Grant date | Dec 8, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 19, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N25/773
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An imaging system includes a pixel array including a plurality of pixels. Each one of the pixels includes a single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) coupled to detect photons in response to incident light. A photon counter included in readout circuitry coupled to each pixel to count a number of photons detected by each pixel. The photon counter is coupled to stop counting photons in each pixel when a threshold photon count is reached for each pixel. Control circuitry is coupled to the pixel array to control operation of the pixel array. The control circuitry includes an exposure time counter coupled to count a number of exposure times elapsed before each pixel detects the threshold photon count. Respective exposure time counts and photon counts are combined for each pixel of the pixel array.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.