知搜-全球专利检索

  1. Login
  2. Sign Up

Search Results

36 records (took 0.019 seconds)

    FMCW LiDAR using single-photon detectors
    2.
    发明申请
    FMCW LiDAR using single-photon detectors 有权

    公开(公告)号：US20250035760A1

    公开(公告)日：2025-01-30

    申请号：US18623080

    申请日：2024-04-01

    Applicant: Apple Inc.

    Inventor： Shingo Mandai ,  Cristiano L. Niclass ,  Vyshakh Sanjeev

    IPC: G01S7/4912 ,  G01S7/481 ,  G01S7/4915 ,  G01S17/34

    Abstract: Optical sensing apparatus includes a transmitter, which is configured to transmit outgoing frequency-modulated (FM) coherent optical radiation toward a target scene. A receiver includes an array of single-photon detectors, which are configured to output electrical pulses in response to photons that are incident on the detectors. Optics image the target scene onto the array while diverting a part of the outgoing FM coherent optical radiation to form a local beam, which mixes with incoming optical radiation from the target scene. Processing circuitry is configured to compute counts of the electrical pulses output as a function of time by the single-photon detectors in response to the mixed optical radiation, to extract beat frequencies from the computed counts, and to measure ranges of points in the target scene responsively to the beat frequencies.

    SPAD-Based Photon Detectors with Multi-Phase Sampling TDCS
    3.
    发明申请
    SPAD-Based Photon Detectors with Multi-Phase Sampling TDCS 有权

    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.

    Transistor Integration with Stacked Single-Photon Avalanche Diode (SPAD) Pixel Arrays
    4.
    发明申请
    Transistor Integration with Stacked Single-Photon Avalanche Diode (SPAD) Pixel Arrays 有权

    公开(公告)号：US20220102404A1

    公开(公告)日：2022-03-31

    申请号：US17473855

    申请日：2021-09-13

    Applicant: Apple Inc.

    Inventor： Hong Wei Lee ,  Cristiano L. Niclass ,  Shingo Mandai ,  Xiaofeng Fan

    IPC: H01L27/146 ,  H01L31/107

    Abstract: Disclosed herein are photodetectors using arrays of pixels with single-photon avalanche diodes (SPADs). The pixel arrays may have configurations that include one or more control transistors for each SPAD collocated on the same chip or wafer as the pixels and located on a surface of the wafer opposite to the light gathering surface of the pixel arrays. The control transistors may be positioned or configured for interconnection with a logic chip that is bonded to the wafer of the pixel array. The pixels may be formed in a substrate having doping gradient. The control transistors may be positioned on or within the SPADs, or adjacent to, but isolated from, the SPADs. Isolation between the individual SPADs and the respective control transistors may make use of shallow trench isolation regions or deep trench isolation regions.

    SPAD-based photon detectors with multi-phase sampling TDCs
    7.
    发明授权
    SPAD-based photon detectors with multi-phase sampling TDCs 有权

    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.

    Breakdown voltage monitoring for avalanche diodes
    8.
    发明授权
    Breakdown voltage monitoring for avalanche diodes 有权

    公开(公告)号：US11233966B1

    公开(公告)日：2022-01-25

    申请号：US16688932

    申请日：2019-11-19

    Applicant: Apple Inc.

    Inventor： Cristiano L. Niclass ,  Dipayan Das

    IPC: H04N5/378 ,  H04N17/00

    Abstract: An image sensor includes an avalanche diode, an avalanche detector circuit, a sample and hold circuit, and a sample collection circuit. The avalanche diode has an output voltage that changes in response to an avalanche event in the avalanche diode. The avalanche detector circuit is configured to generate a sample capture signal in response to detecting the avalanche event. The sample and hold circuit is configured to store a sample of the output voltage in response to receiving the sample capture signal. The sample collection circuit is configured to collect the sample of the output voltage from the sample and hold circuit.

Patent Agency Ranking