Spiking neural network arrangement for active spad imaging

Abstract

A spiking neural network system for single-photon imaging is disclosed. The system comprises: a light source for emitting a series of light pulses, one pulse per repetition period, for repeatedly illuminating one or more objects; a single-photon detector for detecting photons received from the one or more objects; a ring circuit connected to the single-photon detector, the ring circuit comprising a set of delay elements connected to one another thereby forming a ring structure, a respective delay element is configured to store a spike received from the single-photon detector, the ring circuit being configured to repeatedly rotate the spikes through the delay elements, a respective spike making a full rotation of the ring circuit in one rotation period such that the ring circuit is synchronized with the light source; a read-out circuit for reading out the spikes stored in the delay elements while maintaining the differences of arrival times of the spikes in the ring circuit; and a spiking neural network configured to receive the spikes from the read-out circuit to generate an image of the one or more objects.