公开(公告)号：US20170179173A1

公开(公告)日：2017-06-22

申请号：US14975790

申请日：2015-12-20

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Shingo Mandai ,  Gennadiy A. Agranov ,  Matthew C. Waldon

IPC: H01L27/146 ,  H01L31/107

CPC classification number: H01L27/14609 ,  G01S7/4863 ,  G01S7/497 ,  G01S17/89 ,  H01L27/14641 ,  H01L27/14643 ,  H01L31/107

Abstract: A sensing device includes an array of sensing elements. Each sensing element includes a photodiode, including a p-n junction, and a local biasing circuit, coupled to reverse-bias the p-n junction at a bias voltage greater than a breakdown voltage of the p-n junction by a margin sufficient so that a single photon incident on the p-n junction triggers an avalanche pulse output from the sensing element. A bias control circuit is coupled to set the bias voltage in different ones of the sensing elements to different, respective values that are greater than the breakdown voltage.

公开(公告)号：US09244253B2

公开(公告)日：2016-01-26

申请号：US14804088

申请日：2015-07-20

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Xi Chen ,  David S. Gere ,  Matthew C. Waldon

IPC: G02B13/00 ,  H04N5/225 ,  H04N5/369

CPC classification number: G02B13/002 ,  G02B13/003 ,  G02B13/0035 ,  H01L27/14 ,  H01L27/14607 ,  H04N5/2253 ,  H04N5/2257 ,  H04N5/3696

Abstract: A camera including a spherically curved photosensor and a lens system. Effective focal length f of the lens system is within about 20% of the radius of curvature of the photosensor. An image is formed by the lens system at a spherically curved image plane that substantially matches the concave surface of the photosensor. The camera is diffraction-limited with small spot size, allowing small pixels to be used in the photosensor. F/number may be 1.8 or less. The spherically curved image plane formed by the lens system at the photosensor follows f*θ image height law. Chief rays of the lens system are substantially normal to the concave surface of the photosensor. Total axial length of the camera may be 2.0 mm or less. The camera may be implemented in a small package size while still capturing sharp, high-resolution images, making the camera suitable for use in small devices.

公开(公告)号：US09086558B2

公开(公告)日：2015-07-21

申请号：US13785458

申请日：2013-03-05

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Xi Chen ,  David S. Gere ,  Matthew C. Waldon

IPC: G02B13/00 ,  H01L27/14 ,  H04N5/225 ,  H04N5/369

CPC classification number: G02B13/002 ,  G02B13/003 ,  G02B13/0035 ,  H01L27/14 ,  H01L27/14607 ,  H04N5/2253 ,  H04N5/2257 ,  H04N5/3696

Abstract: A camera including a spherically curved photosensor and a lens system. Effective focal length f of the lens system is within about 20% of the radius of curvature of the photosensor. An image is formed by the lens system at a spherically curved image plane that substantially matches the concave surface of the photosensor. The camera is diffraction-limited with small spot size, allowing small pixels to be used in the photosensor. F/number may be 1.8 or less. The spherically curved image plane formed by the lens system at the photosensor follows f*θ image height law. Chief rays of the lens system are substantially normal to the concave surface of the photosensor. Total axial length of the camera may be 2.0 mm or less. The camera may be implemented in a small package size while still capturing sharp, high-resolution images, making the camera suitable for use in small devices.

Abstract translation: 包括球形弯曲光电传感器和透镜系统的照相机。 透镜系统的有效焦距f在光传感器的曲率半径的约20％内。 透镜系统在与光电传感器的凹面基本上匹配的球面弯曲图像平面上形成图像。 相机是衍射受限的小光斑尺寸，允许在光电传感器中使用小像素。 F /数可以是1.8以下。 由透镜系统在光传感器上形成的球面曲面像平面跟随着f *＆thetas; 图像高度定律。 透镜系统的主光线基本上垂直于光电传感器的凹面。 相机的总轴向长度可以为2.0 mm或更小。 相机可以以小的包装尺寸实现，同时仍然捕获清晰，高分辨率的图像，使得相机适合于在小型装置中使用。

公开(公告)号：US20140253677A1

公开(公告)日：2014-09-11

申请号：US13785458

申请日：2013-03-05

Applicant: APPLE INC.

Inventor： Xi Chen ,  David S. Gere ,  Matthew C. Waldon

IPC: G02B13/00

CPC classification number: G02B13/002 ,  G02B13/003 ,  G02B13/0035 ,  H01L27/14 ,  H01L27/14607 ,  H04N5/2253 ,  H04N5/2257 ,  H04N5/3696

Abstract: A camera including a spherically curved photosensor and a lens system. Effective focal length f of the lens system is within about 20% of the radius of curvature of the photosensor. An image is formed by the lens system at a spherically curved image plane that substantially matches the concave surface of the photosensor. The camera is diffraction-limited with small spot size, allowing small pixels to be used in the photosensor. F/number may be 1.8 or less. The spherically curved image plane formed by the lens system at the photosensor follows f*θ image height law. Chief rays of the lens system are substantially normal to the concave surface of the photosensor. Total axial length of the camera may be 2.0 mm or less. The camera may be implemented in a small package size while still capturing sharp, high-resolution images, making the camera suitable for use in small devices.

Abstract translation: 包括球形弯曲光电传感器和透镜系统的照相机。 透镜系统的有效焦距f在光传感器的曲率半径的约20％内。 透镜系统在与光电传感器的凹面基本上匹配的球面弯曲图像平面上形成图像。 相机是衍射受限的小光斑尺寸，允许在光电传感器中使用小像素。 F /数可以是1.8以下。 由透镜系统在光传感器上形成的球面曲面像平面跟随着f *＆thetas; 图像高度定律。 透镜系统的主光线基本上垂直于光电传感器的凹面。 相机的总轴向长度可以为2.0 mm或更小。 相机可以以小的包装尺寸实现，同时仍然捕获清晰，高分辨率的图像，使得相机适合于在小型装置中使用。