A dual pixel-type array for imaging and motion centroid localization

Abstract

An imager chip has been designed, fabricated, and tested having two unique pixel types interleaved on the same array. The dual-pixel design enables optimization for two separate tasks. One type of pixel is an active pixel sensor (APS), which is used to produce a low-noise image. The other type is a custom-designed pixel optimized for computing the centroid of a moving object in the scene. The APS array is 120 columns 36 rows, with a pixel size of 14 7 14 7 m. The centroid array has 60 columns and 36 rows, with a larger pixel size of 29 4 29 4 m. The chip was fabricated using standard scalable rules on a 0.5 m 1P3M CMOS process. APS images were taken at a frame rate of 30fps-8300fps and centroid data was taken at a rate of 180-3580 ( ) coordinates per second. The chip consumed 2.6 mW.Index Terms-Active pixel sensor (APS), focal-plane processing, image motion analysis, image processing, image sensors, intelligent sensors, machine vision, optical imaging, robot vision systems, smart pixels, tracking.

A Micropower Centroiding Vision Processor

“…This expression directly links into those developed previously for algorithm-based edge detection robustness in (10) and (11). Although (24) yields at least one discrete edge signal for a moderate differential input voltage , smaller variations result in graded output levels.…”

“…Assuming and is increased to the maximum allowable level such that (10) and (11) become equalities, the optimal setting for can be determined for a given image type as described in (12): (12) However, the actual robustness to noise [eq. (11)] causing erroneous edge detection is in fact increased by the CONTOUR logic.…”

Platform motion blur image restoration system

“…A PSD array is not a new idea [47,48], but here we propose forming PSD aggregate groups to improve tracking capabilities. We did not explore this experimentally and would also require a custom fabricated device, which, to the best of our knowledge, has yet to made.…”

Sensor Integration in Autonomous Systems

“…Some work focuses on attention based tracking, using intensity as a saliency feature [32]. More recently, both motion and binocular cues have been integrated into tracking applications [33] [34].…”