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公开(公告)号:US11956560B2
公开(公告)日:2024-04-09
申请号:US17496712
申请日:2021-10-07
Applicant: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Inventor: Tsung-Hsun Tsai , Song Chen , Xinqiao Liu
IPC: H04N5/3745 , H03M1/56 , H04N5/355 , H04N5/369 , H04N25/59 , H04N25/709 , H04N25/771 , H04N25/772 , H04N25/778
CPC classification number: H04N25/772 , H03M1/56 , H04N25/59 , H04N25/709 , H04N25/771 , H04N25/778
Abstract: In some examples, a sensor apparatus comprises: 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.
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公开(公告)号:US20230092325A1
公开(公告)日:2023-03-23
申请号:US17931001
申请日:2022-09-09
Applicant: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
Inventor: Tsung-Hsun Tsai , Song Chen , Lyle David Bainbridge , Xinqiao Liu
IPC: H01L27/146 , H04N5/378 , H04N5/355 , H04N5/3745 , G02B27/01
Abstract: In one example, an apparatus comprises a first photodiode, a second photodiode, a first floating diffusion, a second floating diffusion, a quantizer, and a controller. The controller can enable the first photodiode and the second photodiode to generate and accumulate photo charge within an exposure period, and use the quantizer to quantize reset voltages at the first floating diffusion and at the second floating diffusion to generate a first digital reset value and a second digital reset value. After the exposure period ends, the controller can transfer the photo charge from the first photodiode and the second photodiode to, respectively, the first floating diffusion and the second floating diffusion to generate a first signal voltage and a second signal voltage, and quantize the signal voltages into digital signal values using the quantizer. Digital representations can be generated based on the digital reset values and the digital signal values.
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公开(公告)号:US20240223919A1
公开(公告)日:2024-07-04
申请号:US18531154
申请日:2023-12-06
Applicant: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
Inventor: Song Chen , Xinqiao Liu , Tsung-Hsun Tsai , Qing Chao , Michael Hall , David Maurice Moore , Sharvil Shailesh Talati
IPC: H04N25/616 , H04N25/131 , H04N25/53 , H04N25/67 , H04N25/771
CPC classification number: H04N25/616 , H04N25/131 , H04N25/53 , H04N25/67 , H04N25/771
Abstract: Systems and methods of the present disclosure include a digital image sensor pixel configured to perform digital correlated double-sampling (D-CDS) operations to compensate for fixed pattern noise (FPN) induced by comparator propagation delay variation across a digital pixel array. The pixel and D-CDS operations also support quantization of incident light using two pixel memory banks. The pixel includes data retention logic coupled to selectively lock and unlock the output of a comparator. The output of the comparator is combined with memory bank write enable signals to convert photodiode charge into digital pixel values stored in the two memory banks. The digital pixel values stored in the memory banks may be added or subtracted to generate an FPN compensated digital pixel value.
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公开(公告)号:US12022218B2
公开(公告)日:2024-06-25
申请号:US17554896
申请日:2021-12-17
Applicant: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Inventor: Song Chen , Xinqiao Liu , Tsung-Hsun Tsai
IPC: H04N25/75 , G06F3/14 , H04N25/771
CPC classification number: H04N25/75 , G06F3/14 , H04N25/771
Abstract: One example described herein includes the digital image sensor having a pixel cell with a photodiode and a quantizer circuit coupled to the pixel cell. The quantizer circuit includes a charge storage device that generates a voltage based on electric charge from the photodiode. The quantizer circuit also includes a single-input comparator that can switch from a first output state to a second output state in response to a ramp signal provided by a ramp generator. The quantizer circuit further includes a memory switch that can cause a counter value from a digital counter to be stored in a digital memory in response to the single-input comparator switching from the first output state to the second output state. The counter value can serve as a digital pixel value associated with the pixel cell.
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公开(公告)号:US11974044B2
公开(公告)日:2024-04-30
申请号:US17180207
申请日:2021-02-19
Applicant: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
Inventor: Xinqiao Liu , Andrew Samuel Berkovich , Song Chen
IPC: H01L27/146 , F21V8/00 , G02B27/01 , G06V10/143 , G06V10/147 , G06V20/20 , G06V40/19 , H04N23/73 , H04N25/583 , H04N25/59 , H04N25/771 , H04N25/772
CPC classification number: H04N23/73 , G02B27/0172 , G06V10/143 , G06V10/147 , G06V40/19 , H01L27/14605 , H01L27/14612 , H04N25/583 , H04N25/59 , H04N25/771 , H04N25/772 , G02B6/0016 , G02B6/0036 , G02B2027/0112 , G02B2027/0118 , G02B2027/0138 , G02B2027/0178 , G02B27/0179 , G02B2027/0187 , G06V20/20 , H01L27/14621 , H01L27/14627 , H01L27/14636 , H01L27/1465 , H01L27/14652
Abstract: In one example, a method comprises: exposing a first photodiode to incident light to generate first charge; exposing a second photodiode to the incident light to generate second charge; converting, by a first charge sensing unit, the first charge to a first voltage; converting, by a second charge sensing unit, the second charge to a second voltage; controlling an ADC to detect, based on the first voltage, that a quantity of the first charge reaches a saturation threshold, and to measure a saturation time when the quantity of the first charge reaches the saturation threshold; stopping the exposure of the first photodiode and the second photodiode to the incident light based on detecting that the quantity of the first charge reaches the saturation threshold; and controlling the ADC to measure, based on the second voltage, a quantity of the second charge generated by the second photodiode before the exposure ends.
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公开(公告)号:US11956413B2
公开(公告)日:2024-04-09
申请号:US16550851
申请日:2019-08-26
Applicant: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Inventor: Song Chen , Xinqiao Liu , Lyle David Bainbridge , Andrew Samuel Berkovich
IPC: H04N5/355 , H04N5/378 , H04N13/286
CPC classification number: H04N13/286 , H04N5/3559 , H04N5/378
Abstract: In one example, an apparatus comprises: a first photodiode to generate a first charge; a second photodiode to generate a second charge; a quantizer; a first memory bank and a second memory bank; and a controller configured to: control the quantizer to perform a first quantization operation and a second quantization operation of the first charge to generate, respectively, a first digital output and a second digital output, the first and second quantization operations being associated with different intensity ranges; store one of the first digital output or the second digital output in the first memory bank; control the quantizer to perform a third quantization operation of the second charge to generate a third digital output, the third quantization operation being associated with a different intensity range from at least one of the first or second quantization operations; and store the third digital output in the second memory bank.
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公开(公告)号:US20230032925A1
公开(公告)日:2023-02-02
申请号:US17729951
申请日:2022-04-26
Applicant: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Inventor: Ziyun Li , Barbara De Salvo , Xinqiao Liu , Lyle David Bainbridge , Andrew Samuel Berkovich , Syed Shakib Sarwar , Song Chen , Tsung-Hsun Tsai
Abstract: The disclosed system may include a first layer that includes multiple digital pixel sensors configured to detect light. The system may also include a second layer that includes various image processing components configured to process the light detected by the digital pixel sensors. Still further, the system may include a third layer that includes machine learning (ML) hardware processing components. The image processing components of the second layer may be communicatively connected to the ML hardware processing components of the third layer via multiple micro through-silicon vias (uTSVs). Various other methods of manufacturing, apparatuses, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
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公开(公告)号:US11595602B2
公开(公告)日:2023-02-28
申请号:US16672427
申请日:2019-11-01
Applicant: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
Inventor: Wei Gao , Andrew Samuel Berkovich , Song Chen , Tsung-Hsun Tsai , Xinqiao Liu
Abstract: Methods and systems for quantizing a physical quantity, such as light, are provided. In one example, an apparatus comprises an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter configured to generate raw digital outputs based on performing at least one of: (1) a first quantization operation to quantize a physical stimulus within a first intensity range based on a first A/D conversion relationship, or (2) a second quantization operation to quantize the physical stimulus within a second intensity range based on a second A/D conversion relationship; and a raw output conversion circuit configured generate a refined digital output based on a raw digital output obtained from the A/D converter and at least one predetermined conversion parameter. The at least one conversion parameter compensates for a discontinuity between the first A/D conversion relationship and the second A/D conversion relationship.
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公开(公告)号:US11906353B2
公开(公告)日:2024-02-20
申请号:US16435451
申请日:2019-06-07
Applicant: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
Inventor: Xinqiao Liu , Song Chen , Andrew Samuel Berkovich , Wei Gao
IPC: G01J1/44
CPC classification number: G01J1/44 , G01J2001/446
Abstract: In one example, an apparatus comprises a photodiode, a charge storage unit, and a processing circuits configured to: transfer overflow charge from the photodiode to the charge storage unit to develop a first voltage; compare the first voltage against a first ramping threshold voltage to generate a first decision; generate, based on the first decision, a first digital value; transfer residual charge from the photodiode to the charge storage unit to develop a second voltage; compare the second voltage against a static threshold voltage to determine whether the photodiode saturates to generate a second decision; compare the second voltage against a second ramping threshold voltage to generate a third decision; generate, based on the third decision, a second digital value; and output, based on the second decision, one of the first digital value or the second digital value to represent an intensity of light received by the photodiode.
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公开(公告)号:US11877080B2
公开(公告)日:2024-01-16
申请号:US17538092
申请日:2021-11-30
Applicant: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
Inventor: Xinqiao Liu , Song Chen , Tsung-Hsun Tsai
IPC: H04N25/75 , H01L27/146 , H04N23/73 , H04N25/77 , G02B27/01
CPC classification number: H04N25/75 , H01L27/14643 , H04N23/73 , H04N25/77 , G02B27/0172 , G02B2027/0178
Abstract: An apparatus comprises a first photodiode, a second photodiode, a quantizer, a memory, and a controller configured to: set a first exposure period in which the first photodiode generates a first charge; set a second exposure period in which the second photodiode generates a second charge, the second exposure period being set based on the first exposure period and at least one of: a first time associated with a read out operation of the memory to a second apparatus, or a second time associated with a quantization operation by the quantizer; perform, using the quantizer, the first quantization operation of the first charge to generate a first digital output; and perform, using the quantizer, a second quantization operation of the second charge to generate a second digital output.
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