公开(公告)号：US09523765B2

公开(公告)日：2016-12-20

申请号：US14330212

申请日：2014-07-14

Applicant: OMNIVISION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： Tianjia Sun ,  Rui Wang ,  Tiejun Dai

IPC: G01C3/08 ,  G01S7/486 ,  G01S17/10 ,  G01S17/89

CPC classification number: G01S7/4865 ,  G01S7/4863 ,  G01S17/105 ,  G01S17/89

Abstract: A time of flight pixel cell includes a photosensor to sense photons reflected from an object. Pixel support circuitry including charging control logic is coupled to the photosensor to detect when the photosensor senses the photons reflected from the object, and coupled to receive timing signals representative of when light pulses are emitted from a light source. A controllable current source is coupled to receive a time of flight signal form the charging control logic to provide a charge current when a light pulse emitted from the light source until the photosensor senses a respective one of the photons reflected from the object. A capacitor is coupled to receive the charge current, and a voltage on the capacitor is representative of a round trip distance to the object. A reset circuit is coupled to reset the voltage on the capacitor after being charged a plurality number of times.

Abstract translation: 飞行时间像素单元包括用于感测从物体反射的光子的光电传感器。 包括充电控制逻辑的像素支持电路耦合到光传感器以检测何时光传感器感测从物体反射的光子，并耦合以接收表示从光源发出光脉冲的定时信号。 耦合可控电流源以从充电控制逻辑接收飞行时间信号，以在从光源发射的光脉冲直到光敏传感器感测从物体反射的相应的一个光子时提供充电电流。 电容器被耦合以接收充电电流，并且电容器上的电压代表到物体的往返距离。 复位电路被耦合以在多次充电之后复位电容器上的电压。

公开(公告)号：US09313476B2

公开(公告)日：2016-04-12

申请号：US14454542

申请日：2014-08-07

Applicant: OMNIVISION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： Tianjia Sun ,  Rui Wang ,  Tiejun Dai

IPC: H04N5/3745 ,  H04N13/02

CPC classification number: H04N13/271 ,  G01S7/4863 ,  G01S17/89 ,  H04N13/254

Abstract: A pixel cell includes a latch having an input terminal and an output terminal. The latch is coupled to provide a latched output signal at the output terminal responsive to the input terminal. A first precharge circuit is coupled to precharge the input terminal of the latch to a first level during a reset of the pixel cell. A single photon avalanche photodiode (SPAD) is coupled to provide a SPAD signal to the input terminal of the latch in response to a detection of a photon incident on the SPAD.

Abstract translation: 像素单元包括具有输入端和输出端的锁存器。 锁存器被耦合以响应于输入端在输出端提供锁存的输出信号。 第一预充电电路被耦合以在像素单元的复位期间将锁存器的输入端子预充电到第一电平。 耦合单个光子雪崩光电二极管（SPAD）以响应于对入射在SPAD上的光子的检测而向锁存器的输入端提供SPAD信号。

公开(公告)号：US20160044296A1

公开(公告)日：2016-02-11

申请号：US14454542

申请日：2014-08-07

Applicant: OMNIVISION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： Tianjia Sun ,  Rui Wang ,  Tiejun Dai

IPC: H04N13/02

CPC classification number: H04N13/271 ,  G01S7/4863 ,  G01S17/89 ,  H04N13/254

Abstract: A pixel cell includes a latch having an input terminal and an output terminal. The latch is coupled to provide a latched output signal at the output terminal responsive to the input terminal. A first precharge circuit is coupled to precharge the input terminal of the latch to a first level during a reset of the pixel cell. A single photon avalanche photodiode (SPAD) is coupled to provide a SPAD signal to the input terminal of the latch in response to a detection of a photon incident on the SPAD.

Abstract translation: 像素单元包括具有输入端和输出端的锁存器。 锁存器被耦合以响应于输入端在输出端提供锁存的输出信号。 第一预充电电路被耦合以在像素单元的复位期间将锁存器的输入端子预充电到第一电平。 耦合单个光子雪崩光电二极管（SPAD）以响应于对入射在SPAD上的光子的检测而向锁存器的输入端提供SPAD信号。

公开(公告)号：US20160010986A1

公开(公告)日：2016-01-14

申请号：US14330212

申请日：2014-07-14

Applicant: OMNIVISION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： Tianjia Sun ,  Rui Wang ,  Tiejun Dai

IPC: G01C3/08

CPC classification number: G01S7/4865 ,  G01S7/4863 ,  G01S17/105 ,  G01S17/89

Abstract: A time of flight pixel cell includes a photosensor to sense photons reflected from an object. Pixel support circuitry including charging control logic is coupled to the photosensor to detect when the photosensor senses the photons reflected from the object, and coupled to receive timing signals representative of when light pulses are emitted from a light source. A controllable current source is coupled to receive a time of flight signal form the charging control logic to provide a charge current when a light pulse emitted from the light source until the photosensor senses a respective one of the photons reflected from the object. A capacitor is coupled to receive the charge current, and a voltage on the capacitor is representative of a round trip distance to the object. A reset circuit is coupled to reset the voltage on the capacitor after being charged a plurality number of times.

Abstract translation: 飞行时间像素单元包括用于感测从物体反射的光子的光电传感器。 包括充电控制逻辑的像素支持电路耦合到光传感器以检测何时光传感器感测从物体反射的光子，并耦合以接收表示从光源发出光脉冲的定时信号。 耦合可控电流源以从充电控制逻辑接收飞行时间信号，以在从光源发射的光脉冲直到光传感器感测从物体反射的相应的一个光子时提供充电电流。 电容器被耦合以接收充电电流，并且电容器上的电压代表到物体的往返距离。 复位电路被耦合以在多次充电之后复位电容器上的电压。

公开(公告)号：US09210350B2

公开(公告)日：2015-12-08

申请号：US14100941

申请日：2013-12-09

Applicant: OMNIVISION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： Tiejun Dai ,  Rui Wang

IPC: H04N5/235 ,  H04N5/228 ,  H04N5/225 ,  H04N5/378 ,  H04N5/355 ,  H04N5/353

CPC classification number: H04N5/378 ,  H04N5/3535 ,  H04N5/35545 ,  H04N5/35554 ,  H04N5/35572 ,  H04N5/37455

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.

Abstract translation: 成像系统包括包括多个像素的像素阵列。 每个像素包括耦合以响应于入射光检测光子的单个光子雪崩二极管（SPAD）。 包括在耦合到每个像素的读出电路中的光子计数器以对由每个像素检测的多个光子进行计数。 当达到每个像素的阈值光子计数时，光子计数器被耦合以停止计数每个像素中的光子。 控制电路耦合到像素阵列以控制像素阵列的操作。 控制电路包括曝光时间计数器，其被耦合以对每个像素检测到阈值光子计数之前经过的曝光次数进行计数。 对像素阵列的每个像素组合相应的曝光时间计数和光子计数。