Configurable Optical Sensor Pixel Array for Power Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Optical sensors face challenges in efficiently managing power consumption across different applications, as operating a higher number of pixels for high-resolution tasks like 3D imaging increases power usage, while lower resolution applications like proximity detection require less, leading to inefficient energy use.
Innovation Solution
An optical sensor with a configurable/reconfigurable pixel array, featuring detectors with absorption, readout, and control regions, and driver circuitry that enables or disables subsets of detectors based on operating modes such as proximity-sensing, motion-detection, depth-detection, reduced-resolution, enhanced-resolution, or power-saving modes, allowing dynamic control of pixel operation to match application requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a higher number of pixels are operated for high-resolution tasks, then measurement precision is improved, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of pixel arrays by enabling or disabling specific regions based on the operating mode. The pixel array can be reconfigured in real-time to activate only the necessary number of pixels for the current task, transitioning from a static all-or-nothing operation to a dynamic selective operation that adapts to resolution requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The pixel array is divided into multiple independently controllable regions or groups. This segmentation allows the system to activate only specific regions when high resolution is needed, while keeping other regions inactive to save power. Each region can be controlled separately through region control signals, enabling fine-grained power management.
2Measurement precision
If a higher number of pixels are operated for high-resolution tasks, then measurement precision is improved, but productivity decreases due to inefficient energy use
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the active pixel count based on the required resolution for each task. By switching between different operating modes that correspond to different levels of pixel activation, the system optimizes energy efficiency for each specific application, improving overall productivity through adaptive resource allocation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the pixel array by modifying which pixels are active and which are inactive. This parameter change allows the system to match the pixel activation level to the resolution requirements of different applications, achieving better energy efficiency without sacrificing the necessary measurement precision for each task.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the pixel array is reconfigured for different operating modes, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pixel array is segmented into multiple independently controllable regions, each that can be enabled or disabled through separate control signals. This segmentation strategy allows for flexible configuration of different operating modes while using relatively simple control circuitry that only needs to manage region-level activation rather than individual pixel control.
Solution Approach 2:
The same pixel array hardware is designed to serve multiple functions and operating modes through software or control signal configuration. By making the hardware universal and mode-agnostic, the patent achieves high adaptability without requiring separate dedicated circuitry for each mode, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
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
This approach enables the optical sensor to dynamically adjust power consumption based on the application, optimizing energy use by enabling or disabling detectors as needed, thereby achieving a balance between resolution and power efficiency across various operating modes.
Implementation Method 1
The one or more absorption regions is configured to receive an optical signal and generate charge carriers in response to receiving the optical signal
Data Source
AI summary
An optical sensor includes a plurality of detectors arranged in an array. Each detector of the plurality of detectors includes one or more absorption regions configured to receive an optical signal and generate charge carriers in response to receiving the optical signal; one or more readout regions configured to collect a portion of the charge carriers for output; and one or more control regions coupled to one or more control signals, the one or more control regions configured to control, in response to the one or more control signals, a flow of charge carriers from the one or more absorption regions to the one or more readout regions. The optical sensor includes driver circuitry configured to provide the control signals to enable or disable a subset of the plurality of detectors based on an operating mode of multiple operating modes.