公开(公告)号：US20200278429A1

公开(公告)日：2020-09-03

申请号：US16877121

申请日：2020-05-18

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Shingo Mandai ,  Cristiano L. Niclass

IPC: G01S7/4863 ,  G01J1/44 ,  G01S7/4865 ,  G01S17/10

Abstract: A single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) detector includes a pixel array comprising multiple pixels and a memory operably connected to the pixel array. Each pixel includes a SPAD. Various techniques for accumulating signals received from the same SPAD over multiple scans and storing the accumulated signals in the memory are disclosed.

公开(公告)号：US20200158831A1

公开(公告)日：2020-05-21

申请号：US16714739

申请日：2019-12-15

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Cristiano L. Niclass ,  Alexander Shpunt ,  Gennadiy A. Agranov ,  Matthew C. Waldon ,  Mina A. Rezk ,  Thierry Oggier

IPC: G01S7/481 ,  G01S17/89 ,  G01S7/4863 ,  G01S17/42 ,  G01S7/4865 ,  G01S17/10

Abstract: An electro-optical device includes a laser light source, which is configured to emit at least one beam of light. A beam steering device is configured to transmit and scan the at least one beam across a target scene. In an array of sensing elements, each sensing element is configured to output a signal indicative of incidence of photons on the sensing element. Light collection optics are configured to image the target scene scanned by the transmitted beam onto the array, wherein the beam steering device scans the at least one beam across the target scene with a spot size and scan resolution that are smaller than a pitch of the sensing elements. Circuitry is coupled to actuate the sensing elements only in a selected region of the array and to sweep the selected region over the array in synchronization with scanning of the at least one beam.

公开(公告)号：US20190018119A1

公开(公告)日：2019-01-17

申请号：US16034250

申请日：2018-07-12

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Moshe Laifenfeld ,  Cristiano L. Niclass ,  Shingo Mandai ,  Tal Kaitz

IPC: G01S7/486 ,  G01S17/10 ,  G01S7/481

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and devices for light emitting depth sensors such as scanning depth sensors and LIDARS. Methods, devices and systems disclose tracking a beam of reflected light pulses on an array of light sensing pixels. The tracking can dynamically update a location of the beam or an expected on-center time of the reflected light pulses at a pixel of the array. Counts of detected reflected pulses in time periods before and after the expected on-center time at a pixel are used to detect offsets in initial estimates of the beam location or timing.

公开(公告)号：US20180090526A1

公开(公告)日：2018-03-29

申请号：US15713520

申请日：2017-09-22

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Shingo Mandai ,  Cristiano L. Niclass ,  Nobuhiro Karasawa ,  Xiaofeng Fan ,  Arnaud Laflaquiere ,  Gennadiy A. Agranov

IPC: H01L27/146 ,  H04N5/378 ,  H04N5/369

CPC classification number: H01L27/14665 ,  G01S7/4861 ,  G01S7/4863 ,  H01L27/14603 ,  H01L27/14609 ,  H01L27/1461 ,  H01L27/14616 ,  H01L27/14623 ,  H01L27/14627 ,  H01L27/14629 ,  H01L27/1463 ,  H01L27/14632 ,  H01L27/14634 ,  H01L27/1464 ,  H01L27/14643 ,  H01L31/02027 ,  H01L31/03529 ,  H01L31/107 ,  H04N5/35572 ,  H04N5/3577 ,  H04N5/3698 ,  H04N5/37452 ,  H04N5/3765 ,  H04N5/378

Abstract: A back-illuminated single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) image sensor includes a sensor wafer stacked vertically over a circuit wafer. The sensor wafer includes one or more SPAD regions, with each SPAD region including an anode gradient layer, a cathode region positioned adjacent to a front surface of the SPAD region, and an anode avalanche layer positioned over the cathode region. Each SPAD region is connected to a voltage supply and an output circuit in the circuit wafer through inter-wafer connectors. Deep trench isolation elements are used to provide electrical and optical isolation between SPAD regions.

公开(公告)号：US20180081041A1

公开(公告)日：2018-03-22

申请号：US15586300

申请日：2017-05-04

Applicant: APPLE INC.

Inventor： Cristiano L. Niclass ,  Alexander Shpunt ,  Gennadiy A. Agranov ,  Thierry Oggier

IPC: G01S7/486 ,  G01S17/10 ,  G01B11/22 ,  G01S17/89

CPC classification number: G01S7/4863 ,  G01B11/22 ,  G01S17/10 ,  G01S17/102 ,  G01S17/89

Abstract: Depth-sensing apparatus includes a laser, which is configured to emit pulses of optical radiation toward a scene, and one or more detectors, which are configured to receive the optical radiation that is reflected from points in the scene and to output signals indicative of respective times of arrival of the received radiation. Control and processing circuitry is coupled to drive the laser to emit a sequence of the pulses in a predefined temporal pattern that specifies irregular intervals between the pulses in the sequence, and to correlate the output signals with the temporal pattern in order to find respective times of flight for the points in the scene.

公开(公告)号：US20170176579A1

公开(公告)日：2017-06-22

申请号：US15372411

申请日：2016-12-08

Applicant: APPLE INC.

Inventor： Cristiano L. Niclass ,  Alexander Shpunt ,  Gennadiy A. Agranov ,  Matthew C. Waldon ,  Mina A. Rezk ,  Thierry Oggier

IPC: G01S7/486 ,  G01S17/10 ,  G01S7/481

CPC classification number: G01S7/4863 ,  G01S7/4817 ,  G01S17/10 ,  G01S17/42

Abstract: An electro-optical device includes a laser light source, which emits at least one beam of light pulses, a beam steering device, which transmits and scans the at least one beam across a target scene, and an array of sensing elements. Each sensing element outputs a signal indicative of a time of incidence of a single photon on the sensing element. Light collection optics image the target scene scanned by the transmitted beam onto the array. Circuitry is coupled to actuate the sensing elements only in a selected region of the array and to sweep the selected region over the array in synchronization with scanning of the at least one beam.