A 220 M-Range Direct Time-of-Flight 688 × 384 CMOS Image Sensor with Sub-Photon Signal Extraction (SPSE) Pixels Using Vertical Avalanche Photo-Diodes and 6 KHz Light Pulse Counters

Koyama, Shinzo; Ishii, Motonori; Saito, Shigeru; Takemoto, Masato; Nosé, Yukihiko; Inoue, Akito; Sakata, Yusuke; Sugiura, Yuki; Usuda, Manabu; Konishi, Tatsuya; Kasuga, Shigetaka; Mori, M.; Hirose, Yutaka; Odagawa, Akihiro; Tanaka, Tsuyoshi

doi:10.1109/vlsic.2018.8502408

Cited by 5 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 1 publication

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“…9(a)). In a conventional VAPD-TOF system [2], [21], the sub-ranges are measured sequentially by pairs of emission and detection pulses with fixed delay (T d ) for each sub-range (Fig. 9(b)).…”

Section: B Concept Of Sub-range-synthesis (Srs) Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…L ONG range time-of-flight (TOF) sensors are highly expected for various applications such as automotive, surveillance and space systems [1], [2], [3], [4]. In these systems, a spatial (2D) resolution of 10 cm at 250 m, a depth (3D) resolution of about <10 cm in near range and a real time (30 fps or faster) imaging capabilities are fundamental requirements [2]. Also, the system performances should be guaranteed under severe environmental conditions such as at high/low temperatures and high background (sunlight ∼100 klux) conditions [5], [6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Nearly Interference-Free and Depth-Resolution-Configurable Time-of-Flight System Based on a Mega-Pixel Vertical Avalanche Photodiodes CMOS Image Sensor

Yamada

Ishii

Kasuga

et al. 2022

IEEE Open J. Circuits Syst.

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We present a long range (∼250 m) time-of flight (TOF) system with suppressed (nearly-free) mutual-interference. The system is based on a 1296 × 960 pixels vertical avalanche photodiodes (VAPD) CMOS image sensor (CIS). Real-time long-range 3D-imaging with 30 fps speed (450 fps for 2D imaging) is demonstrated. Designs and operation principles of the core circuits, i.e., a photon counting circuit and a global shutter driver, are fully described. The ranging method is based on a sub-range synthesis (SRS) where a range is set by the phase of exposure pulses with respect to that of the light source of the system. The depth resolution is configurable in that the minimum sub-range width limited by the light source pulse width of 10 ns or 1.5 m can be reduced to a 10 cm by introducing an indirect-TOF operation. Furthermore, by employing a random flight timing (RFT), mutual-interference in raw signal level is suppressed by 35 dB when 2 cameras are simultaneously operated. By simulation, the present system is estimated to be tolerant up to a case of 27 cameras operation.INDEX TERMS Avalanche photodiode, vertical avalanche photodiode, time-of-flight, CMOS image sensor, photon counting, ranging, interference.

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Section: B Concept Of Sub-range-synthesis (Srs) Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Nearly Interference-Free and Depth-Resolution-Configurable Time-of-Flight System Based on a Mega-Pixel Vertical Avalanche Photodiodes CMOS Image Sensor

Yamada

Ishii

Kasuga

et al. 2022

IEEE Open J. Circuits Syst.

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“…In this paper, we demonstrate a direct time-of-flight (TOF) backside illuminated (BSI) CMOS image sensor (CIS) based on a vertical avalanche photodiode (VAPD) pixels [ 5 ]. The pixel circuit employs a VAPD, a charge transfer gate connected to a charge accumulation capacitor, enabling one to extract sub-photon level signals [ 6 ], and a source follower output amplifier. A 44 m × 24 m wide scene at 250 m ahead is illuminated by a high power (1.2 kW peak) light pulses through diffusing optics at a repetition rate of 6 kHz, well beyond the CIS frame rate (60 fps).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A 250 m Direct Time-of-Flight Ranging System Based on a Synthesis of Sub-Ranging Images and a Vertical Avalanche Photo-Diodes (VAPD) CMOS Image Sensor

Hirose

Koyama

Ishii

et al. 2018

Sensors

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We have developed a direct time-of-flight (TOF) 250 m ranging Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor (CIS) based on a 688 × 384 pixels array of vertical avalanche photodiodes (VAPD). Each pixel of the CIS comprises VAPD with a standard four transistor pixel circuit equipped with an analogue capacitor to accumulate or count avalanche pulses. High power near infrared (NIR) short (<50 ns) and repetitive (6 kHz) laser pulses are illuminated through a diffusing optics. By globally gating the VAPD, each pulse is counted in the in-pixel counter enabling extraction of sub-photon level signal. Depth map imaging with a 10 cm lateral resolution is realized from 1 m to 250 m range by synthesizing subranges images of photon counts. Advantages and limitation of an in-pixel circuit are described. The developed CIS is expected to supersede insufficient resolution of the conventional light detection and ranging (LiDAR) systems and the short range of indirect CIS TOF.

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5.2 A 1200×900 6µm 450fps Geiger-Mode Vertical Avalanche Photodiodes CMOS Image Sensor for a 250m Time-of-Flight Ranging System Using Direct-Indirect-Mixed Frame Synthesis with Configurable-Depth-Resolution Down to 10cm

Okino

Yamada

Sakata

et al. 2020

2020 IEEE International Solid- State Circuits Conference - (ISSCC)

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A 220 M-Range Direct Time-of-Flight 688 × 384 CMOS Image Sensor with Sub-Photon Signal Extraction (SPSE) Pixels Using Vertical Avalanche Photo-Diodes and 6 KHz Light Pulse Counters

Cited by 5 publications

References 1 publication

A Nearly Interference-Free and Depth-Resolution-Configurable Time-of-Flight System Based on a Mega-Pixel Vertical Avalanche Photodiodes CMOS Image Sensor

A Nearly Interference-Free and Depth-Resolution-Configurable Time-of-Flight System Based on a Mega-Pixel Vertical Avalanche Photodiodes CMOS Image Sensor

A 250 m Direct Time-of-Flight Ranging System Based on a Synthesis of Sub-Ranging Images and a Vertical Avalanche Photo-Diodes (VAPD) CMOS Image Sensor

5.2 A 1200×900 6µm 450fps Geiger-Mode Vertical Avalanche Photodiodes CMOS Image Sensor for a 250m Time-of-Flight Ranging System Using Direct-Indirect-Mixed Frame Synthesis with Configurable-Depth-Resolution Down to 10cm

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