Visual sensor with resolution enhancement by mechanical vibrations

Abstract

The resolution limit of visual sensors due to finite pixel spacing can be overcome by applying continuous low-amplitude vibrations to the image-or taking advantage of existing vibrations in the environment, for instance in a mobile robotics application. Thereby, spatial intensity gradients turn into temporal intensity fluctuations which can be detected and processed by every pixel independently from the others. This approach enhances resolution and virtually eliminates fixed-pattern noise. An integrated circuit is described which implements this visual sensing principle. It incorporates an array of 32 by 38 pixels with local temporal signal processing, and a novel non-arbitrated address-event communication scheme providing timing guarantees external signals for easy interfacing with off-the-shelf digital components.