National Research Council of Canada

Istituto Trentino Di Cultura

Ezma Visual Sense Ltd.

Fondazione Bruno Kessler

Emza Visual Sense Ltd.

Massimo Gottardi

Zeev Smilansky

J Angelo Beraldin

Lorenzo Gonzo

Andrea Simoni

Yu Zou

Disclosed is a sensor device with pixels that in addition to sensing an image, performs captured image or scene analysis. The device saves further image processing downstream, is characterized by minimal charge movements and reduces a large fraction (about 90%) of the consumed electric energy as compared to the existing devices.

Pixel design with temporal analysis capabilities for scene interpretation

A position and color detection sensor (for detecting a position of a light spot in a light distribution that can include stray light components, e.g. from other lasers, ambient lighting etc.) includes two discrete response position sensitive detectors (DRPSDs). The first DRPSD is used to calculate a raw estimate of the spot position and the second DRPSD is used to calculate the actual spot position based on information from the first DRPSD. Color is supported by further dividing each pixel of the first DRPSD into elementary photocells, each one covered with an appropriate optical filter. The use of two DRPSDs differing in pixel geometries makes them suitable for integration on the same chip using the same process. This reduces production and alignment costs. Further, analogue microelectronic processes can be used for color filter deposition and simple optics can be used for beam splitting and shaping.

System and method of light spot position and color detection

Growing community of inventors

Trento, Italy

Massimo Gottardi