Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation

Sony Corporation

Sony Group Corporation

Sony Semiconductor Soltuions Corporation

Katsuhiko Hanzawa

Shizunori Matsumoto

Yohtaro Yasu

Jinsuk Kang

Selcuk Sen

Tsungling Li

Yoshikazu Nitta

Kei Nakagawa

Yuuichi Kaji

Takahisa Ueno

Daisuke Saito

Hayato Wakabayashi

Shinichi Miyake

Kazuyuki Tomida

Hirotaka Murakami

Kazumasa Nishimura

Shinichiro Futami

Bostamam Anas

Pude Mark

Christopher Moule Eric

Anas Bostamam

Futami Shinichiro

Soraya Shirini

An object recognition system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes an event detection sensor that detects, as an event, that a change in luminance of a pixel has exceeded a predetermined threshold, and a spiking neural network. The spiking neural network executes recognition processing on an object to be recognized on a basis of a result of the detection by the event detection sensor.

Object recognition system and electronic apparatus

A solid-state imaging device () includes a photoelectric conversion device (), a current-voltage conversion circuit (), and an output circuit. The photoelectric conversion device () performs photoelectric conversion of incident light. The current-voltage conversion circuit () includes a first transistor () that converts an amount of electric charge generated by photoelectric conversion into a voltage signal. The output circuit includes a second transistor having an S value smaller than an S value of the first transistor () and generates an output signal based on the voltage signal.

Solid-state imaging device and imaging apparatus

Provided is an imaging apparatus including a mode control unit. The mode control unit shifts, when a motion is detected on a motion detection mode to detect the motion on the basis of image information, the mode to a feature detection mode to detect features on the basis of image information having a higher resolution than a resolution of the image information that is used for the motion detection. The mode control unit shifts, when a specific feature is detected on the feature detection mode, the mode to an imaging mode to acquire image information having a higher resolution than the resolution of the image information that is used for the feature detection.

Imaging apparatus and imaging control method

In a sensing device that retains a code indicating access destinations, a data amount of the code is reduced. In a pixel array unit, a plurality of areas each include a predetermined number of pixels are arrayed. A reference access code retention unit retains a reference access code for designating, as access destinations, some of the pixels in a specific area among the plurality of areas. Anon-reference access code generation unit generates a non-reference access code for designating, as access destinations, the pixels in an area which does not correspond to the specific areas among the plurality of areas from the reference access code. A signal processing unit generates pixel data of pixels designated with the reference access code and the non-reference access code.

Sensing device, signal processing system, and method of controlling sensing device

Provided is an imaging device that includes a pixel array section including a plurality of dynamic vision sensor (DVS) pixels that outputs a luminance signal according to a light amount, and a detection circuit section that is disposed outside the pixel array section and outputs a detection signal indicating occurrence of an address event in a case where the luminance signal of each of the plurality of DVS pixels exceeds a predetermined threshold value. Furthermore, each of DVS pixel includes a photoelectric conversion element that outputs a signal corresponding to a light amount, a logarithmic conversion circuit that logarithmically converts the signal, a signal holding circuit that holds the luminance signal converted by the logarithmic conversion circuit, and a readout circuit that reads the luminance signal held in the signal holding circuit.

Imaging device and imaging method

Image processing with reduced power consumption is disclosed. In one example, an imaging device includes a first substrate with a pixel array that outputs a pixel signal obtained by photoelectrically converting incident light in a first direction. A second substrate includes a memory array that outputs a convolution signal indicating a result of a product-sum operation of an input signal based on the pixel signal in a second direction. The first substrate and the second substrate at least partially overlap each other.

Imaging device, electronic device, and signal processing method with pixel array and memory array respectively on first and second substrates

A solid-state imaging device includes a plurality of pixel regions. Each of the plurality of pixel regions includes a first photoelectric conversion unit and a second photoelectric conversion unit. The second photoelectric conversion unit overlaps the first photoelectric conversion unit when viewed in a light incident direction. At least one of the first photoelectric conversion unit and the second photoelectric conversion unit is an embedded unit. The first photoelectric conversion unit and the second photoelectric conversion unit are electrically connected to mutually different types of readout circuits.

Solid-state imaging device

Provided is a sensing system that includes a light emitting section, a predetermined number of pixels, a solid-state imaging element, and a counting section. In the solid-state imaging element, the light emitting section emits irradiation light in synchronization with a light emission control signal having a higher frequency than a vertical synchronization signal. Each of the predetermined number of pixels generates a pulse signal by photoelectric conversion and the counting section counts a number of pulse signals in synchronization with each of the light emission control signal and the vertical synchronization signal.

System to measure a distance to an object without addition of a distance measuring sensor

Imaging circuits, devices and methods are disclosed. In one example, an imaging circuit includes circuit blocks each including a photoelectric conversion element configured to photoelectrically convert incident light to generate a photocurrent and a current-voltage conversion circuit configured to convert the photocurrent into a voltage signal, a quantizer configured to generate a detection signal of an address event in accordance with a result of comparing the voltage signal supplied from at least one of the plurality of circuit blocks with a threshold, a demultiplexer connected to a subsequent stage of the quantizer, and latch circuits connected to different output terminals of the demultiplexer.

Imaging circuit, imaging device, and imaging method

A sensing device that detects whether an edge is present or absent achieves improved accuracy in detection of an edge. The sensing device includes a level control circuit, a comparison circuit, and an edge determination circuit. In this sensing device, the level control circuit amplifies or attenuates the signal level of one of a pair of pixel signals by a predetermined gain. The comparison circuit compares the pair of pixel signals with the signal level of the one pixel signal amplified or attenuated with each other, and outputs a result of the comparison. The edge determination circuit determines whether an edge is present or absent in reference to the comparison result.

Sensing device, electronic apparatus, and method for controlling sensing device

A solid-state image capturing element includes a pair of first floating diffusion layers arranged in a direction perpendicular to a predetermined direction and a pair of second floating diffusion layers arranged in the perpendicular direction and adjacent to the pair of first floating diffusion layers in the predetermined direction. The element includes a first connection circuit configured to select at least one of the pair of first floating diffusion layers and to connect the selected first floating diffusion layer to a predetermined first wire; a second connection circuit configured to select at least one of the pair of second floating diffusion layers and to connect the selected second floating diffusion layer to the first wire; and an output circuit configured to output a signal according to an amount of charge of at least one of the pair of first floating diffusion layers or the pair of second floating diffusion layers.

Solid-state image capturing element with floating diffusion layers processing a signal undergoing pixel addition

A pixel circuit, a method for performing a pixel-level background light subtraction, and an imaging device are disclosed. In one example of the present disclosure, the pixel circuit includes an overflow gate transistor, a photodiode, and two taps. Each tap of the two taps is configured to store a background signal that is integrated by the photodiode, subtract the background signal from a floating diffusion, store a combined signal that is integrated by the photodiode at the floating diffusion, and generate a demodulated signal based on a subtraction of the background signal from the floating diffusion and a storage of the combined signal that is integrated at the floating diffusion.

Pixel-level background light subtraction

[Object] To execute online calibration without using a light source. [Solution] An image sensor includes: a pixel array portion in which a plurality of pixels are disposed and which generates a pixel signal; a reference signal generation unit configured to generate a reference signal for calibration; an analog digital (AD) conversion unit configured to execute AD conversion on the pixel signal and the reference signal to generate pixel data and reference data; and a correction processing unit configured to correct the pixel data on a basis of the reference data. The present technology can be applied to, for example, an image sensor performing online calibration.

Image sensor, signal processing device, signal processing method, and electronic device

The present technology relates to a signal processing apparatus, a control method, an image pickup element, and an electronic device which make it possible to suppress RTS noise. The signal processing apparatus of the present technology may include an amplifying transistor and a short-circuit unit. The amplifying transistor amplifies a signal input to a gate, and the short-circuit unit is capable of short-circuiting the gate of the amplifying transistor to a potential which reduces a gate-to-source voltage of the amplifying transistor. For example, it is determined whether the amplifying transistor is in a period of a non-operating state, and when the amplifying transistor is determined to be in the period of a non-operating state, the gate of the amplifying transistor may be short-circuited. The present technology can be applied, for example, to an image pickup element and an electronic device.

Growing community of inventors

Kanagawa, Japan

Katsuhiko Hanzawa