Alternating Visible and Infrared Pixel Sensor Array
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Solution Overview
Problem
Machine vision technologies require multiple light sensors for depth sensing, mapping, and tracking, which increases size, weight, power consumption, and cost, particularly in mobile devices like head-mounted AR/VR systems and drones.
Innovation Solution
A sensor device with an array of light-sensitive pixels configured in a predetermined pattern alternating between broadband visible light-sensitive and infrared light-sensitive pixels, each optimized for specific spectral ranges to reduce crosstalk and improve sensitivity, allowing concurrent visible and infrared light sensing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple separate light sensors are used for visible and infrared sensing, then sensing capability is improved, but device size, weight, and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines visible light sensing and infrared sensing into a single sensor array by integrating two types of photodetectors (silicon-based for visible light and InGaAs for infrared) at the same substrate. This merging approach allows the sensor to perform both visible and infrared machine vision functions simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate sensors and thereby reducing device weight, size, and power consumption while maintaining comprehensive sensing capability
2Measurement precision
If multiple separate light sensors are used for visible and infrared sensing, then sensing capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple sensing functions into a single integrated sensor array that contains both visible light photodetectors and infrared photodetectors. This integration reduces the overall system complexity by eliminating the need for multiple separate sensor modules, alignment mechanisms, and processing systems, while still providing comprehensive visible and infrared sensing capabilities for machine vision applications
3Measurement precision
If multiple separate light sensors are used for visible and infrared sensing, then sensing capability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines visible and infrared sensing into a single integrated sensor array, which reduces power consumption by eliminating redundant electronics, signal processing pathways, and data transmission systems that would be required if separate sensors were used. The shared readout circuitry and processing architecture of the integrated sensor significantly降低 overall power requirements compared to multiple independent sensor systems
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables efficient concurrent performance of machine vision tasks like SLAM, hand tracking, and spatial mapping in mobile devices, reducing the need for multiple sensors and improving image quality while minimizing size, weight, and power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
broadband visible light sensitive pixels being configured to have increased sensitivity to light of the visible light spectrum
Implementation Method 2
infrared light sensitive pixels being configured to have increased sensitivity to light of the infrared light spectrum
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor device is provided that includes an array of light sensitive pixels configured in a predetermined pattern of light sensitive pixels that alternates between broadband visible light sensitive pixels and infrared light sensitive pixels, each broadband visible light sensitive pixel being configured to have increased sensitivity to light of the visible light spectrum and to have reduced sensitivity to light of the infrared light spectrum compared to each infrared light sensitive pixel, and each infrared light sensitive pixel being configured to have increased sensitivity to light of the infrared light spectrum and to have reduced sensitivity to light of the visible light spectrum compared to each broadband visible light sensitive pixel.