US 11,956,560 B2
Digital pixel sensor having reduced quantization operation
Tsung-Hsun Tsai, Redmond, CA (US); Song Chen, Redmond, CA (US); and Xinqiao Liu, Medina, WA (US)
Assigned to Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC, Menlo Park, CA (US)
Filed by META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, Menlo Park, CA (US)
Filed on Oct. 7, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/496,712.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/089,704, filed on Oct. 9, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0116565 A1, Apr. 14, 2022
Int. Cl. H04N 5/3745 (2011.01); H03M 1/56 (2006.01); H04N 5/355 (2011.01); H04N 5/369 (2011.01); H04N 25/59 (2023.01); H04N 25/709 (2023.01); H04N 25/771 (2023.01); H04N 25/772 (2023.01); H04N 25/778 (2023.01)
CPC H04N 25/772 (2023.01) [H03M 1/56 (2013.01); H04N 25/59 (2023.01); H04N 25/709 (2023.01); H04N 25/771 (2023.01); H04N 25/778 (2023.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A sensor apparatus comprising:
a pixel cell configured to generate a voltages, the pixel cell including a photodiode configured to generate charge in response to incoming light, and a charge storage device to convert the charge to a voltage;
an integrated circuit configured to:
determine a first captured voltage converted by the charge storage device during a first time period;
compare the first captured voltage to a threshold voltage value; and
in response to determining that the first captured voltage meets or exceeds the threshold voltage value:
determine first time data corresponding to the first time period; and
prevent the charge storage device from further generating a charge;
and
an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) configured to generate a digital pixel value based on the first captured voltage, and
a memory to store the digital pixel value and the first time data.