Sony patents image sensor that groups pixels to detect specific light changes
Sony describes an image sensor where pixels are grouped into clusters, each containing a circuit that monitors for sudden changes in light intensity. Instead of recording every pixel individually, the system only flags an event when multiple pixels in a cluster react to light changes in a specific way or timing.
In the filing’s own words
An image sensor includes a plurality of pixel clusters, wherein each pixel cluster includes a number L of pixel circuits. Each pixel circuit outputs pixel event information, wherein the pixel event information indicates whether or not a change of radiation intensity received by the pixel circuit exceeds a positive threshold value and/or whether or not the change of radiation intensity received by the pixel circuit falls below a negative threshold value. An event processing circuit receives pixel information based on the pixel event information of the pixel circuits of a pixel cluster and generates cluster event information indicating whether or not the pixel information of the L pixel circuits fulfills a predefined cluster output condition.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. An image sensor, comprising: a pixel array unit including a plurality of pixel clusters, wherein each pixel cluster includes a number L of pixel circuits, wherein each pixel circuit is configured to output pixel event information, and wherein the pixel event information indicates whether or not a change of radiation intensity received by the pixel circuit exceeds a positive threshold value and whether or not the change of the radiation intensity received by the pixel circuit falls below a negative threshold value, and an event processing circuit configured to receive pixel information based on the pixel event information of the pixel circuits of a pixel cluster and to generate cluster event information indicating whether or not the pixel information of the L pixel circuits fulfills a predefined cluster output condition, wherein the event processing circuit is configured to generate the cluster event information indicating that the pixel information fulfills the predefined cluster output condition based on a requirement that the pixel information indicates a plurality of instances of the pixel event information having at least one of (i) an origination from a predefined minimum number of different pixel circuits within the pixel cluster or (ii) a predefined relative timing.
Facts
- Company
- Sony (Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation)
- Official title
- Image sensor having pixel clusters each including an event processing circuit
- Patent number
- US12771957B2
- Application number
- 18849547
- Filed
- Mar 7, 2023
- Granted
- Oct 20, 2026
- Inventors
- 4
- Claims
- 16
Classified under
H04N 25/47 Electricity & electronicsH04N 25/77 Electricity & electronicsH04N 25/7795 Electricity & electronicsMore from Sony in Chips & hardware
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.