US 12,302,006 B2
Event-based computational pixel imagers
Michael W. Kelly, North Reading, MA (US); Curtis Colonero, Shrewsbury, MA (US); Christopher David, Chelmsford, MA (US); Justin Baker, Andover, MA (US); and William Ross, Westford, MA (US)
Assigned to Anduril Industries, Inc., Costa Mesa, CA (US)
Filed by Anduril Industries, Inc., Irvine, CA (US)
Filed on Sep. 15, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/945,406.
Application 17/945,406 is a continuation of application No. 17/425,747, granted, now 11,863,876, previously published as PCT/US2020/016586, filed on Feb. 4, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/800,685, filed on Feb. 4, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/807,683, filed on Feb. 19, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0007162 A1, Jan. 5, 2023
Int. Cl. H04N 23/741 (2023.01); G06T 3/40 (2024.01); G06T 7/194 (2017.01); G06T 7/60 (2017.01); H01L 27/146 (2006.01); H04N 23/11 (2023.01); H04N 23/51 (2023.01); H04N 23/56 (2023.01); H04N 23/71 (2023.01); H04N 23/74 (2023.01); H04N 23/957 (2023.01); H04N 25/75 (2023.01); H04N 25/767 (2023.01); H04N 25/772 (2023.01)
CPC H04N 23/741 (2023.01) [G06T 3/40 (2013.01); G06T 7/194 (2017.01); G06T 7/60 (2013.01); H04N 23/11 (2023.01); H04N 23/51 (2023.01); H04N 23/56 (2023.01); H04N 23/71 (2023.01); H04N 23/74 (2023.01); H04N 23/957 (2023.01); H04N 25/75 (2023.01); H04N 25/767 (2023.01); H04N 25/772 (2023.01); H01L 27/14681 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A computational pixel imaging apparatus, comprising:
a plurality of pixels, each pixel comprising a detector configured to generate an analog signal when exposed to radiation and a pixel integrated circuit configured to convert the analog signal into at least one digital signal with at least one counter, wherein the pixel integrated circuit comprises a signal converter configured to convert the analog signal to a sequence of pulses, and a first counter configured to, in response to the sequence of pluses, accumulate a first digital number, and wherein the plurality of pixels are configured to:
acquire a plurality of key frames at a first frequency in response to exposure of the detectors of the plurality of pixels for a first-type exposure, wherein when acquiring a key frame of the plurality of key frames, the first counter increments the first digital number for the first-type exposure; and
acquire a plurality of delta frames at a second frequency in response to exposure of the detectors of the plurality of pixels for a second-type exposure, wherein when acquiring a delta frame of the plurality of delta frames, the first counter increments the first digital number for a first portion of the second-type exposure and decrements the first digital number for a second portion of the second-type exposure, and wherein the second frequency is higher than the first frequency.