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US 2024/0406597 A1Published application
Intensity imaging and depth sensing with histogram overflow prevention
AssigneeMeta Platforms Technologies, LLC
InventorsHod Finkelstein, Gregory Cohoon, Harish Venkataraman, Lei Zhu
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Abstract
Depth and imaging pixels include Single-Photon Avalanche Diode (SPAD) micropixels. A memory stores histogram data and intensity data. Timed memory selection logic is configured to generate the histogram data and the intensity data.
Claims20
A depth and imaging macropixel comprising:
- Single-Photon Avalanche Diode (SPAD) micropixels;
- a depth memory array configured to store photon times-of-arrival histogram data;
- an intensity memory array configured to store intensity data;
- and
- timed memory selection logic configured to:
- generate the photon times-of-arrival histogram data by incrementing memory locations in the depth memory array in response to avalanche events generated by the SPAD micropixels;
- and
- increment the intensity memory array in response to the avalanche events in the depth and imaging macropixel.
5 more elements
An imaging and depth sensing device comprising:
- Single-Photon Avalanche Diode (SPAD) micropixels;
- a memory array configured to store photon times-of-arrival histogram data and intensity data;
- timed memory selection logic configured to:
- generate the time-of-arrival histogram data during a depth mode, wherein the photon times-of-arrival histogram data is generated in the memory array in response to first avalanche events generated by the SPAD micropixels;
- and
- generate the intensity data during an intensity mode, wherein the intensity data is generated in the memory array in response to second avalanche events generated by the SPAD micropixels in a non-overlapping time period from the first avalanche events.
3 more elements
A method of generating a histogram, the method comprising:
- emitting light pulses;
- incrementing histogram bins in response to avalanche events from light becoming incident on a Single-Photon Avalanche Diode (SPAD);
- and
- ceasing the incrementing of the histogram bins in response to saturation of any of the histogram bins, the saturation occurring when a maximum bin value of any of the histogram bins is reached.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.