An object is to reduce a circuit scale in a solid-state imaging element that detects an address event.

The solid-state imaging element is provided with a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, a signal supply unit, and a detection unit. In this solid-state imaging element, each of the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements photoelectrically converts incident light to generate a first electric signal. Furthermore, in the solid-state imaging element, the detection unit detects whether or not a change amount of the first electric signal of each of the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements exceeds a predetermined threshold and outputs a detection signal indicating a result of the detection result.

There is provided a solid-state image pickup element including: a photodiode configured to convert incident light into a photocurrent; an amplification transistor configured to amplify a voltage between a gate having a potential depending on the photocurrent and a source having a predetermined reference potential and output the amplified voltage from a drain; and a potential supply section configured to supply an anode of the photodiode and a back-gate of the amplification transistor with a predetermined potential lower than the reference potential.

Embodiments of the present disclosure include an event-based image sensor and an event filtering method for use with an event-based image sensor. The event-based image sensor comprises a plurality of pixel circuits forming a pixel array, each pixel circuit comprising a photoreceptor circuit configured to generate a photoreceptor signal derived from a photocurrent generated by a light impinging on a light-sensitive element of the photoreceptor circuit, and a detector configured to detect a change in the photoreceptor signal and to generate an event in response to the detected change in the photoreceptor signa. The event-based image sensor further includes a processing chain and an event filter that is configured to receive the generated event and to accept the received event based on a plurality of conditions. The plurality of conditions include a condition that the received event is part of a previously unaccepted event trail, the event trail comprising a plurality of successive events having a same polarity and separated by time intervals each shorter than a time threshold.

Embodiments of the present disclosure include an event-based image sensor and an event filtering method for use with an event-based image sensor. The event-based image sensor comprises a plurality of pixel circuits forming a pixel array, each pixel circuit comprising a photoreceptor circuit configured to generate a photoreceptor signal derived from a photocurrent generated by a light impinging on a light-sensitive element of the photoreceptor circuit, and a detector configured to detect a change in the photoreceptor signal and to generate an event in response to the detected change in the photoreceptor signa. The event-based image sensor further includes a processing chain and an event filter that is configured to receive the generated event and to accept the received event based on a plurality of conditions. The plurality of conditions include a condition that the received event is part of a previously unaccepted event trail, the event trail comprising a plurality of successive events having a same polarity and separated by time intervals each shorter than a time threshold.

An object is to reduce a circuit scale in a solid-state imaging element that detects an address event. The solid-state imaging element is provided with a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, a signal supply unit, and a detection unit. In this solid-state imaging element, each of the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements photoelectrically converts incident light to generate a first electric signal. Furthermore, in the solid-state imaging element, the detection unit detects whether or not a change amount of the first electric signal of each of the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements exceeds a predetermined threshold and outputs a detection signal indicating a result of the detection result.

A sensor system includes a light source that applies, to an imaging target, light whose light amount gradually increases or gradually degreases, an event-driven type sensor that generates an event signal by detecting a fluctuation of reflection light from the imaging target after the application of the light whose light amount gradually increases or gradually degreases is started, and a gradation calculation unit that calculates a gradation of the imaging target on the basis of an elapsed period of time from the start of the application of the light whose light amount gradually increases or gradually decreases to the generation of the event signal.

A solid-state imaging element includes a pixel and an image processing unit. The pixel has a common transistor, a charge accumulation unit, and a power supply. The common transistor has a first terminal and a second terminal. The common transistor maintains a voltage of the first terminal at a predetermined voltage with a voltage applied from the power supply and outputs a voltage corresponding to a change in a voltage of the charge accumulation unit from the second terminal, based on a condition that an element voltage is a ground voltage. The common transistor outputs a voltage corresponding to a change in a voltage of the charge accumulation unit from the first terminal, based on the element voltage is higher than the ground voltage. The image processing unit generates a luminance image according to a change in the voltage output from the second terminal of the common transistor.

Embodiments of the present disclosure include an event-based image sensor and an event filtering method for use with an event-based image sensor. The event-based image sensor comprises a plurality of pixel circuits forming a pixel array, each pixel circuit comprising a photoreceptor circuit configured to generate a photoreceptor signal derived from a photocurrent generated by a light impinging on a light-sensitive element of the photoreceptor circuit, and a detector configured to detect a change in the photoreceptor signal and to generate an event in response to the detected change in the photoreceptor signal. The event-based image sensor further includes a processing chain and an event filter that is configured to receive the generated event and to accept the received event based on a plurality of conditions. The plurality of conditions include a condition that the received event is part of a previously unaccepted event trail, the event trail comprising a plurality of successive events having a same polarity and separated by time intervals each shorter than a time threshold.

Embodiments of the present disclosure include an event-based image sensor and an event filtering method for use with an event-based image sensor. The event-based image sensor comprises a plurality of pixel circuits forming a pixel array, each pixel circuit comprising a photoreceptor circuit configured to generate a photoreceptor signal derived from a photocurrent generated by a light impinging on a light-sensitive element of the photoreceptor circuit, and a detector configured to detect a change in the photoreceptor signal and to generate an event in response to the detected change in the photoreceptor signal. The event-based image sensor further includes a processing chain and an event filter that is configured to receive the generated event and to accept the received event based on a plurality of conditions. The plurality of conditions include a condition that the received event is part of a previously unaccepted event trail, the event trail comprising a plurality of successive events having a same polarity and separated by time intervals each shorter than a time threshold.

The present invention relates to an observation system (10) of an environment, the observation system (10) comprising: a sensor (12) forming a synchronous stream of framed data, a first processing chain (14) including: a first reception unit (30) receiving the formed synchronous stream, and a first processing unit (32) comprising a first conversion block (34) converting the synchronous stream into event data, and a first calculation block (36) calculating first data from the event data a second processing chain (16) including a second processing unit (46) receiving a synchronous stream of framed data from the array (18) and the first data and obtaining second data relating to the environment as a function of the synchronous stream and the first data.