Abstract:
"Indirect Time of Flight 3D imaging is an emerging technology used in 3D cameras. The technology is based on measuring the time of flight of modulated light. It allows to generate fine grain depth images with several hundreds of thousand image points. I-TOF has become a standard solution for face recognition and authentication. Recently I-TOF is also used in various new applications, such as computational photography, gesture recognition and robotics. This talk will introduce the basic operation principle of an I-TOF 3D imager IC. The integrated building blocks will be discussed and the analog operation of an I-TOF pixel will be addressed in detail. System level topics of the camera module will also be covered to provide a complete overview of the technology."
This presentation was recorded as part of the lecture "Selected Topics of Advanced Analog Chip Design" from the Institute of Electronics at TU Graz.
Special thanks to Dr. Timuçin Karaca, for the insightful presentation.
Monday, December 02, 2024
Video of the Day: tutorial on iToF imagers
Friday, November 29, 2024
Exosens (prev. Photonis) acquires Noxant
News link: https://optics.org/news/15/11/29
Exosens eyes further expansion with Noxant deal
20 Nov 2024
French imaging and analytical technology group aiming to add MWIR camera specialist to growing portfolio.
Exosens, the France-based technology group previously known as Photonis, is set to further grow its burgeoning camera portfolio with the acquisition of Noxant.
Located in the Paris suburbs, Noxant specializes in high-performance cooled imagers operating at mid-infrared wavelengths.
The agreement between the two firms allows Exosens to enter into exclusive negotiations to pursue the acquisition, and if consummated it would complement existing camera expertise in the form of Xenics, Telops, and another pending acquisition, Night Vision Laser Spain (NVLS).
Gas imaging
Noxant sells its range of cameras for applications including surveillance, scientific research, industrial testing, and gas detection - the latter said to represent a “strong synergistic addition” to Exosens’ existing camera offering.
Exosens CEO Jérôme Cerisier said: “Through this acquisition, we would broaden Exosens' technological spectrum by offering cutting-edge cooled infrared solutions to meet the growing demands of our OEM customers.
“Noxant's expertise in cooled infrared technology aligns perfectly with our mission to deliver high-performance, reliable imaging solutions for critical applications.
“Furthermore, the synergies between Noxant and Telops would strengthen our research and development capabilities and accelerate our innovation in infrared technologies.”
At the moment Noxant serves OEMs primarily, whereas Telops tends to target end users, meaning opportunities for cross-selling under the Exosens umbrella organization.
Its products include the “NoxCore” range of camera cores, “NoxCam” cameras, and the “GasCore” series of high-performance optical gas imaging cameras. Offering a spectral range of 3-5 µm in the MWIR or 7-10 µm in the long-wave infrared (LWIR), these are able to image a large number of process and pollutant gases including methane, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide.
Commenting on the likely business combination, Noxant chairman Laurent Dague suggested that joining forces with Exosens would represent a “perfect match”, and a deal that would enable Noxant to continue delivering advanced cooled infrared technology while benefiting from Exosens' much larger scale and customer reach.
Growing business
While Noxant’s 22 employees generated annual revenues of approximately €12 million in the 12 months ending June 2024, Exosens’ most recent financial results showed sales of €274 million for the nine months up to September 30 this year.
That figure represented a 33 per cent jump on the same period in 2023, largely due to much higher sales of the firm’s microwave amplification products, which contributed €200 million to the total.
Meanwhile Exosens’ detection and imaging businesses contributed close to €77 million, up from €47 million for the same nine-monthly period last year - partly through the addition of Telops and Photonis Germany (formerly ProxiVision).
Not all of those sales relate to optical technology, with the company also selling neutron and gamma-ray detectors used in the nuclear industry.
Last month Exosens announced that it had signed a definitive agreement to acquire NVLS, which produces man-portable night vision and thermal devices from its base in Madrid.
That deal should see NVLS further develop its business in Spain, Latin America and Asia, while also broadening Exosens’ know-how in optical and mechanical technologies.
Wednesday, November 27, 2024
Gpixel announces GSPRINT5514 global shutter CIS
GSPRINT5514 a new High Sensitivity 14MP BSI Global Shutter CIS targeting high speed machine vision and >4k video.
CHANGCHUN, CHINA, November 19, 2024 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Gpixel announces GSPRINT5514BSI, the fifth sensor in the popular GSPRINT series of high-speed global shutter CMOS image sensors. The sensor is pin compatible with GSPRINT4510 and GSPRINT4521 for easy design into existing camera platforms.
GSPRINT5514BSI features 4608 x 3072 pixels, each 5.5 µm square – a 4/3 aspect ratio 4k sensor compatible with APS-C optics. With 10-bit output GSPRINT5514BSI achieves 670 frames per second. In 12-bit mode the sensor outputs 350 fps.
Using backside illumination technology, the sensor achieves 86% quantum efficiency at 510 nm and 17% at 200 nm for UV applications. The sensor offers dual gain HDR readout, maximizing 15 ke- full well capacity with a minimum < 2.0 e- noise to achieve an outstanding 78.3 dB of dynamic range. Analog 1x2 binning increases the full well capacity to 30 ke-.
Up to 8 vertically oriented regions of interest can be defined to operate the sensor at increased frame rates. The image data is output via 84 sub-LVDS channels at 1.2 Gbps. For applications in which the maximum frame rate is not required, multiplexing modes are available to reduce the number out output channels by any multiple of two.
The sensor features on-chip sequencer, SPI control, PLL, and both analog and digital temperature sensors.
“The GSPRINT family of image sensors have enabled new use cases in high-speed machine vision and offer unprecedented value to the 4k video market,” says Wim Wuyts, Gpixel’s Chief Commercial Officer. “We will continue to expand this product line to meet the needs of customers across the growing diversity of applications demanding high speed, excellent image quality, and a high dynamic range. From a technology perspective we are proud to extend our GSPRINT series with the second BSI Global Shutter product, opening a wavelength extension into DUV.”
The GSPRINT5514BSI is available in monochrome or color variants with either sealed or removable cover glass and is assembled in a 454-pin µPGA package.
Samples and evaluation systems are available now.
