Stmicroelectronics (grenoble 2) Sas

Stmicroelectronics (research & Development) Limited

Stmicroelectronics S.a.

Sgs-thomson Microelectronics S.a.

Stmicroelectronics Gmbh

Stmicroelectronics (alps) Sas

Stmicroelectronics Sas (moroc)

Stmciroelectronics R&d Limited

Stmicroelectronics (rousset) Sas

Pascal Mellot

Stuart McLeod

Jeffrey M Raynor

Marc A Drader

Jean-Jacques Rouger

John Kevin Moore

Donald Baxter

Bruce Rae

Gregory Roffet

Sam Lee

Kenneth Dargan

Sophie Taupin

Francois Roy

Neale Dutton

Arnaud Laflaquiere

Graeme Storm

Cedric Tubert

Christopher Townsend

Lindsay Grant

Salim Bouchene

Laurent Plaza

Jeannie Chinal

Abdelouahid Zakriti

Stephane Vivien

Arnaud Glais

Cedric Grospellier

Mickael Guene

Ivelina Hristova

Jeff M Raynor

Stuart Mcleod

A method includes receiving a histogram output from a detector sensor, and calculating a median point of a pulse waveform within the histogram. The pulse waveform has an even probability distribution over at least one quantization step of the histogram around the median point. A corresponding apparatus can include a detector sensor and a co-processor coupled to the detector sensor.

Method and apparatus for processing a histogram output from a detector sensor

The image sensor includes an array of photosensitive pixels comprising at least two sets of at least one pixel, control circuit configured to generate at least two different timing signals and adapted to control an acquisition of an incident optical signal by the pixels of the array, and distribution circuit configured to respectively distribute the at least two different timing signals in the at least two sets of at least one sensor, during the same acquisition of the incident optical signal.

Image sensors with different charge-to-voltage conversion factors and methods thereof

An optical sensor includes pixels. Each pixel has a photodetector. A readout circuit performs a process over an exposure time where the photodetector is connected to a reverse bias voltage supply to reset a voltage across the photodetector, and the photodetector is disconnected from the reverse bias voltage supply until that the voltage across the photodetector decreases in response to received ambient light. An ambient light level is then determine an based on a number of times the voltage across the photodetector is reset over the exposure time.

Optical sensor and apparatus comprising an optical sensor

A method includes counting a first set of photons having times of flight that falls within a first time range and being detected during a first time period, determining a second time range based on the first set of photons, the second time range being smaller than the first time range, counting a second set of photons having times of flight that fall within the second time range and being detected during a second time period, and determining a third time range based on the second set of photons, the third time range being smaller than the second time range.

Methods and devices for peak signal detection

Described herein is a time-of-flight ranging system and methods for its operation. The system includes an array of single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) pixels and control circuitry. The control circuitry simultaneously accumulates integrated SPAD event data from one cluster of SPAD pixels while integrating SPAD event data from another cluster during different target illuminations. The system also includes first and second VCSEL clusters, each responsible for a different target illumination. By processing and managing the data in this manner, the system can effectively reduce the time used to gather and analyze the event data, leading to faster and more accurate distance measurements.

SPAD based indirect time of flight sensing from solid state transmitter scanning

A depth map sensor includes a first array of first pixels, each first pixel having a first photodetector associated with a pixel circuit that comprises a plurality of first bins for accumulating events. A clock source is configured to generate a plurality of phase-shifted clock signals. A first circuit has a plurality of first output lines coupled to the first array of first pixels. The first circuit is configured to receive the plurality of phase-shifted clock signals. The first circuit includes a first block and a second block. The first block is configured to propagate the plurality of phase-shifted clock signals to the second block during a first period determined by a first enable signal and the second block configured to select to which of the plurality of first output lines each of the plurality of phase-shifted clock signals is applied.

Depth map sensor with bin rotation

The present disclosure relates to a device and method for measuring a flicker frequency of a light source configured to implement at least one phase lock loop.

Device and method for measuring of a flickering frequency

Optical sensor and apparatus comprising an optical sensor having a readout circuit to determine an ambient light level based on voltage across a photodetector at the end of an exposure time

The image sensor includes an array of photosensitive pixels comprising at least two sets of at least one pixel, control circuit configured to generate at least two different timing signals and adapted to control an acquisition of an incident optical signal by the pixels of the array, and distribution circuit configured to respectively distribute said at least two different timing signals in said at least two sets of at least one sensor, during the same acquisition of the incident optical signal.

A time-of-flight ranging system includes an array of single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) pixels, and control circuitry that causes the array of SPAD pixels to integrate SPAD event data received from each SPAD pixel of a first cluster of SPAD pixels during a first illumination of a target, the first cluster of SPAD pixels being a subset of the array of SPAD pixels, and integrate SPAD event data received from each SPAD pixel of a second cluster of SPAD pixels during a second illumination of the target, the second cluster of SPAD pixels being a subset of the array of SPAD pixels. At a start of integration of the SPAD event data received from each SPAD pixel of the second cluster of SPAD pixels, the integrated SPAD event data that was received from each SPAD of the first cluster of SPAD pixels is accumulated.

A method, for determining the real distance separating an object and an optical detection system, includes, from several so-called reported distances respectively less than or equal to individual reference distances dependent respectively on modulation frequencies: in a first step, determining an initial deviation coefficient between the reported distances and incrementing the smallest of the reported distances with the corresponding individual reference distance; then in a second step, determining a current deviation coefficient between the current distances obtained in the preceding step and incrementing the smallest of the current distances with the corresponding individual reference distance; and in a third step, repeating the second step until all the current distances exceed a common reference distance greater than the individual reference distances.

Method for determining the distance separating an object and an optical detection system, and corresponding system

The present disclosure relates to a method of laser safety verification for a depth map sensor, comprising illuminating, during a first illumination phase, using a laser illumination system, a first cluster of one or more first pixels of a pixel array of the depth map sensor, while not illuminating a second cluster, different from the first cluster, of one or more second pixels of the pixel array of the depth map sensor; and detecting, during the first illumination phase, a level of illumination of the second cluster.

Method and device for laser safety verification

The present disclosure relates to a depth map sensor including a light source for transmitting light pulses into an image scene; an array of pixel circuits, where each pixel circuit has a photodetector and three asynchronous counters; and a control circuit to control each of a plurality of groups of the pixel circuits of the array to generate a histogram of detection events by accumulating events during eight distinct time intervals between consecutive light pulses transmitted by the light source, such that the histogram comprises eight or more histogram bins.

Depth map sensor based on dToF and iToF

Growing community of inventors

Lans en Vercors, France

Pascal Mellot