Real-Time Inter-Frame Histogram Builder for SPAD Image Sensors

CMOS image sensors based on single-photon avalanche-diodes (SPAD) are suitable for 2D and 3D vision. Limited by uncorrelated noise and/or low illumination conditions, image capturing becomes nearly impossible in a single-shot exposure time. Moreover, the depth accuracy is affected by jitter. Therefo...

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Detalhes bibliográficos
Autores: Vornicu, Ion, Carmona Galán, Ricardo, Rodríguez Vázquez, Ángel Benito
Formato: artículo
Estado:Versión aceptada para publicación
Fecha de publicación:2018
País:España
Recursos:Universidad de Sevilla (US)
Repositorio:idUS. Depósito de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevilla
OAI Identifier:oai:idus.us.es:11441/88601
Acesso em linha:https://hdl.handle.net/11441/88601
https://doi.org/10.1109/JSEN.2017.2784484
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palavra-chave:2D/3D SPAD image sensor
2D/3D real-time inter-frame histogram builder
In-pixel TDC
Direct ToF
Descrição
Resumo:CMOS image sensors based on single-photon avalanche-diodes (SPAD) are suitable for 2D and 3D vision. Limited by uncorrelated noise and/or low illumination conditions, image capturing becomes nearly impossible in a single-shot exposure time. Moreover, the depth accuracy is affected by jitter. Therefore, many frames need to be taken to reconstruct the final accurate image. The proposed reconstruction algorithm is based on pixel-wise histogram building. Specifically, a histogram is built on the fly for each pixel of the array from the ongoing acquired frames. This paper presents the design and implementation on FPGA of a real-time pixel-wise inter-frame histogram builder at 1 kfps. The design has been proven with a 64 × 64-pixels SPAD camera. Its remarkable robustness has been demonstrated in harsh conditions, such as 42 kHz of dark count rate (DCR) and high background illumination up to 20 times larger than the DCR. The system has a graphic user interface for 2D/3D imager configuration, image streaming, and pixel-wise histogram streaming.