To date, most commercial SPAD-based image sensors have been limited to counting and timing photons. We set ourselves apart by integrating advanced electronics beneath the SPADs that will enable innovation across multiple sectors and applications.
Comparable to the way FPGAs and GPUs revolutionised parallel computing by conducting high-speed, localized processing, our core innovation lies in the complex on-chip computation.
Historically, image sensors have sent data off the sensor for processing, leading to latency, increased power consumption, and added complexity to the system. We integrate computational layers directly within the SPAD array, pushing computation as close as possible to the source of information – the photons.
Our digital processing layers leverage tens of millions of transistors to enable rapid computations directly at the photon detection point. This significantly reduces latency and power requirements, and allows for real-time image processing at sensor level. In addition, our unique pixel optimisation feature will enable more information to be generated from each pixel.
Extending far beyond photon counting and timing , our vision is to unlock the full potential of SPAD sensors as computational platforms
By embedding digital processing capabilities within our sensors, we are creating systems that not only capture noiseless images but also extract additional information from light signals, whether it’s detecting biological signals, improving distance measurement, or enabling new possibilities in medical diagnostics and drug discovery.