公开(公告)号：US20230015431A1

公开(公告)日：2023-01-19

申请号：US17944738

申请日：2022-09-14

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Shingo Mandai ,  Cristiano L. Niclass ,  Moshe Laifenfeld ,  Or Nahir ,  Vyshakh Sanjeev

IPC: H01L31/02 ,  H04N5/369 ,  H01L27/146 ,  H04N5/378 ,  H04N5/3745 ,  H01L31/107

Abstract: A method of building a moving average histogram of photon times of arrival includes, for each time interval in first and second subsets of time intervals, latching a time reference corresponding to a time of receipt of an avalanche timing output signal of a single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD), and advancing a count stored at a memory address corresponding to the latched time reference. The memory address corresponds to a range of time references. The method further includes reading and clearing a first set of counts after the first subset of time intervals; phase-shifting the sequence of time references with respect to a set of memory addresses after the first subset of time intervals; reading and clearing a second set of counts after the second subset of time intervals; and building the moving average histogram using at least the first and second sets of counts.

公开(公告)号：US11371833B2

公开(公告)日：2022-06-28

申请号：US17175714

申请日：2021-02-15

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Zeev Roth ,  Mendy Shoval ,  Moshe Laifenfeld ,  Sagy Zino ,  Thierry Oggier

IPC: G01B11/22 ,  H01L31/107 ,  H01S5/183 ,  G01S7/4865 ,  G01S17/10 ,  G01S17/89 ,  H01S5/32

Abstract: Depth sensing apparatus includes a radiation source, which is configured to emit a first plurality of beams of light pulses toward a target scene. An array of a second plurality of sensing elements is configured to output signals indicative of respective times of incidence of photons on the sensing element, wherein the second plurality exceeds the first plurality. Light collection optics are configured to image the target scene onto the array of sensing elements. Processing and control circuitry is coupled to receive the signals from the array and is configured to search over the sensing elements in order to identify, responsively to the signals, respective regions of the array on which the light pulses reflected from the target scene are incident, and to process the signals from the identified regions in order determine respective times of arrival of the light pulses.

公开(公告)号：US20220116544A1

公开(公告)日：2022-04-14

申请号：US17485258

申请日：2021-09-24

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Mark N. Gamadia ,  Abhishek Dhanda ,  Gregory Guyomarc'h ,  Andrew D. Fernandez ,  Moshe Laifenfeld

IPC: H04N5/232

Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein include techniques for determining autofocus for a camera on a mobile device. In some instances, depth imaging is used to assist in determining a focus position for the camera through an autofocus process. For example, a determination of depth may be used to determine a focus position for the camera. In another example, the determination of depth may be used to assist another autofocus process.

公开(公告)号：US12196860B2

公开(公告)日：2025-01-14

申请号：US17189300

申请日：2021-03-02

Applicant: APPLE INC.

Inventor： Moshe Laifenfeld ,  Zeev Roth

IPC: G01C3/08 ,  G01S17/04 ,  G01S17/10 ,  G01S17/89

Abstract: Depth sensing apparatus includes a radiation source, which emits a first array of beams of light pulses through a window toward a target scene. Objective optics image the target scene onto a second array of sensing elements, which output signals indicative of respective times of incidence of photons. A first calibration, which associates the beams in the first array with respective first locations on the second array onto which the beams reflected from the target scene are imaged, is used in processing the signals in order to measure respective times of flight of the light pulses. A second calibration indicates second locations on which stray radiation is incident on the second array due to reflection of the beams from the window. Upon detecting a change in the second locations relative to the second calibration, the first calibration is corrected so as to compensate for the detected change.

公开(公告)号：US20240169046A1

公开(公告)日：2024-05-23

申请号：US18521808

申请日：2023-11-28

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Deepti S. Prakash ,  Lucia E. Ballard ,  Jerrold V. Hauck ,  Feng Tang ,  Etai Littwin ,  Pavan Kumar Anasosalu Vasu ,  Gideon Littwin ,  Thorsten Gernoth ,  Lucie Kucerova ,  Petr Kostka ,  Steven P. Hotelling ,  Eitan Hirsh ,  Tal Kaitz ,  Jonathan Pokrass ,  Andrei Kolin ,  Moshe Laifenfeld ,  Matthew C. Waldon ,  Thomas P. Mensch ,  Lynn R. Youngs ,  Christopher G. Zeleznik ,  Michael R. Malone ,  Ziv Hendel ,  Ivan Krstic ,  Anup K. Sharma

IPC: G06F21/32 ,  G06F21/83 ,  G06V40/16 ,  G06V40/40 ,  H04L9/08 ,  H04L9/32 ,  H04L9/40 ,  H04W12/06

CPC classification number: G06F21/32 ,  G06F21/83 ,  G06V40/166 ,  G06V40/172 ,  G06V40/40 ,  H04L9/0844 ,  H04L9/085 ,  H04L9/3228 ,  H04L9/3231 ,  H04L9/3234 ,  H04L9/3247 ,  H04L63/0861 ,  H04W12/06

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to biometric authentication, e.g., facial recognition. In some embodiments, a device is configured to verify that image data from a camera unit exhibits a pseudo-random sequence of image capture modes and/or a probing pattern of illumination points (e.g., from lasers in a depth capture mode) before authenticating a user based on recognizing a face in the image data. In some embodiments, a secure circuit may control verification of the sequence and/or the probing pattern. In some embodiments, the secure circuit may verify frame numbers, signatures, and/or nonce values for captured image information. In some embodiments, a device may implement one or more lockout procedures in response to biometric authentication failures. The disclosed techniques may reduce or eliminate the effectiveness of spoofing and/or replay attacks, in some embodiments.

公开(公告)号：US20230058113A1

公开(公告)日：2023-02-23

申请号：US17838218

申请日：2022-06-12

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Moshe Laifenfeld ,  Dan Nussinson

IPC: G01S17/894 ,  G01S7/481 ,  G01S7/497 ,  G01B11/22 ,  G01S7/4865 ,  G08B21/18

Abstract: An optical sensing device includes a light source, which emits one or more beams of light pulses toward a scene. An array of single-photon detectors output electrical pulses in response to photons that are incident thereon. Light collection optics form an image of the scene on the array. Processing circuitry counts the electrical pulses output by the single-photon detectors during multiple time intervals following each of the light pulses, detects, responsively to the counted pulses, an object located less than 10 cm away from the array, makes a comparison between respective counts of the electrical pulses output by the single-photon detectors group during a specified time interval immediately following each of a plurality of the light pulses, and ascertains, responsively to the comparison, whether the object reflecting the at least one of the beams is fixed to the device or separate from the device.

公开(公告)号：US11500094B2

公开(公告)日：2022-11-15

申请号：US16885316

申请日：2020-05-28

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Thierry Oggier ,  Bernhard Buettgen ,  Cristiano L Niclass ,  Rahmi Hezar ,  Shingo Mandai ,  Darshan Shrestha ,  Gary Chung ,  Moshe Laifenfeld

IPC: G01S17/26 ,  G01S17/86 ,  G01S7/524 ,  G01S7/527 ,  G01S7/53

Abstract: Sensing apparatus includes a radiation source, which emits pulses of optical radiation toward multiple points in a target scene. A receiver receives the optical radiation that is reflected from the target scene and outputs signals that are indicative of respective times of flight of the pulses to and from the points in the target scene. Processing and control circuitry selects a first pulse repetition interval (PRI) and a second PRI, greater than the first PRI, from a permitted range of PRIs, drives the radiation source to emit a first sequence of the pulses at the first PRI and a second sequence of the pulses at a second PRI, and processes the signals output in response to both the first and second sequences of the pulses in order to compute respective depth coordinates of the points in the target scene.

公开(公告)号：US11476372B1

公开(公告)日：2022-10-18

申请号：US17318979

申请日：2021-05-12

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Shingo Mandai ,  Cristiano L. Niclass ,  Moshe Laifenfeld ,  Or Nahir ,  Vyshakh Sanjeev

IPC: H01L31/02 ,  H01L27/146 ,  H01L31/107 ,  H04N5/369 ,  H04N5/3745 ,  H04N5/378

Abstract: A method of building a moving average histogram of photon times of arrival includes, for each time interval in first and second subsets of time intervals, latching a time reference corresponding to a time of receipt of an avalanche timing output signal of a single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD), and advancing a count stored at a memory address corresponding to the latched time reference. The memory address corresponds to a range of time references. The method further includes reading and clearing a first set of counts after the first subset of time intervals; phase-shifting the sequence of time references with respect to a set of memory addresses after the first subset of time intervals; reading and clearing a second set of counts after the second subset of time intervals; and building the moving average histogram using at least the first and second sets of counts.

公开(公告)号：US10801886B2

公开(公告)日：2020-10-13

申请号：US15879365

申请日：2018-01-24

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Shingo Mandai ,  Andrew Kenneth John McMahon ,  Cristiano L. Niclass ,  Thierry Oggier ,  Tal Kaitz ,  Moshe Laifenfeld

IPC: G01J1/44 ,  G01S7/48 ,  G01J1/42 ,  G01S7/486 ,  G01S7/4863 ,  G01S7/4865 ,  G01S17/89 ,  G01S17/08

Abstract: The sensitivity of one or more single-photon avalanche diodes (SPAD) in a SPAD detector is modulated over time. The sensitivity of all of the SPADs may be modulated, or the sensitivity of one section of the SPADs can be modulated differently from another section of the SPADs. Various techniques for modulating the sensitivity are disclosed.

公开(公告)号：US20200256669A1

公开(公告)日：2020-08-13

申请号：US16532517

申请日：2019-08-06

Applicant: APPLE INC.

Inventor： Zeev Roth ,  Mendy Shoval ,  Moshe Laifenfeld ,  Sagy Zino ,  Thierry Oggier

IPC: G01B11/22 ,  H01L31/107 ,  H01S5/183

Abstract: Depth sensing apparatus includes a radiation source, which is configured to emit a first plurality of beams of light pulses toward a target scene. An array of a second plurality of sensing elements is configured to output signals indicative of respective times of incidence of photons on the sensing element, wherein the second plurality exceeds the first plurality. Light collection optics are configured to image the target scene onto the array of sensing elements. Processing and control circuitry is coupled to receive the signals from the array and is configured to search over the sensing elements in order to identify, responsively to the signals, respective regions of the array on which the light pulses reflected from the target scene are incident, and to process the signals from the identified regions in order determine respective times of arrival of the light pulses.