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SonyPatent applicationCameras & imagingInterest 4/10

Sony patents sensor circuit that tracks light changes over time

Sony has filed a patent for electronic circuitry that detects events by counting light particles, or photons, hitting a sensor. The system groups these detections into specific time slots and compares the current count to a previous measurement to identify changes.

Why it mattersThis technology could improve how cameras or sensors track movement or light changes by focusing on the timing of individual light particles rather than just total brightness.

In the filing’s own words

The present disclosure generally pertains to event detection circuitry configured to: obtain a photon detection signal, which is indicative of a photon being incident on a photo detection unit; associate the photon detection signal with a photon detection time period; and detect an event if, within a predetermined integration time period, a difference is detected between a number of associations of the photon detection signal with a photon detection time period and a number of associations of a previous event.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. Event detection circuitry configured to: obtain a photon detection signal, which is indicative of a photon being incident on a photo detection unit; associate the photon detection signal with a photon detection time period; and detect an event if, within a predetermined integration time period, a predetermined difference is detected between a number of associations of the photon detection signal with a photon detection time period and a number of associations of a previous event.

Facts

Company
Sony (Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation)
Official title
EVENT DETECTION CIRCUITRY, EVENT DETECTION SENSOR, EVENT DETECTION METHOD
Publication number
US20260270572A1
Application number
19164594
Filed
Mar 28, 2024
Published
Sep 10, 2026
Inventors
2
Claims
20

Classified under

H04N 25/47 Electricity & electronicsG01S 7/4863 Physics & computingG01S 7/4865 Physics & computingH04N 25/773 Electricity & electronics
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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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.