17499857. SPAD IMAGE SENSOR simplified abstract (Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.)
Contents
SPAD IMAGE SENSOR
Organization Name
Inventor(s)
Kwang Oh Kim of Cerritos CA (US)
Yibing Michelle Wang of Temple City CA (US)
Chunji Wang of Pasadena CA (US)
Hongyu Wang of San Gabriel CA (US)
SPAD IMAGE SENSOR - A simplified explanation of the abstract
This abstract first appeared for US patent application 17499857 titled 'SPAD IMAGE SENSOR
Simplified Explanation
The abstract describes a LiDAR system that consists of a SPAD unit array and J read group (RG) channels. The SPAD unit array is organized in M rows and N columns of pixel read groups, with each row containing K pixel read groups. Each pixel read group generates a detection signal when it detects a light pulse. The RG channels correspond to rows of pixel read groups and include time-to-digital converters that generate timestamp information for the detection events of each pixel read group.
- The LiDAR system includes a SPAD unit array and J read group (RG) channels.
- The SPAD unit array is organized in M rows and N columns of pixel read groups.
- Each row contains K pixel read groups, and each pixel read group generates a detection signal in response to a light pulse.
- The RG channels correspond to rows of pixel read groups and include time-to-digital converters.
- The time-to-digital converters generate timestamp information for the detection events of each pixel read group.
- J is less than M, and L (the number of time-to-digital converters) is less than or equal to K.
- The timestamp information is stored in an accumulator bin of a histogram circuit based on the value of the timestamp information.
Potential Applications
- LiDAR systems for autonomous vehicles
- 3D mapping and imaging
- Robotics and drones
- Environmental monitoring and surveillance
Problems Solved
- Efficiently capturing and processing detection events in a LiDAR system
- Accurate timestamping of detection events
- Organizing and storing timestamp information in a histogram circuit
Benefits
- Improved accuracy and precision in LiDAR measurements
- Higher resolution and faster data processing
- Enhanced performance in various applications such as autonomous driving and mapping
Original Abstract Submitted
A LiDAR system is disclosed that includes a SPAD unit array and J read group (RG) channels. The SPAD unit array is arranged in M rows and N columns of pixel read groups. Each row includes K pixel read groups. Each pixel read group outputs a detection signal in response to a light pulse that is incident on the pixel read group. Each RG channel corresponds to at least one row of pixel read groups and includes L time-to-digital converters that respectively generate timestamp information corresponding to detection event signals of each of L pixel read groups in the at least one row of pixel read groups in which J<M and L≤K. Each RG channel stores the timestamp information in an accumulator bin of a histogram circuit corresponding to a value of the timestamp information using hardwired addressing based on the value of the timestamp information.
