Vision Chip TECHNOLOGIES

A unique feature set you won't find elsewhere

Browse through the list below of a rich feature set unique to Centeye vision chips

Pixel Type

LOGARITHMIC PIXELS These vision chips use pixel circuits that respond logarithmically to light intensity. Such pixels have a large intensity dynamic range, and can respond to bright and dark regions at the same time. They also adapt almost instantaneously to changes in light levels. Say goodbye to slow exposure control or being blanked out when moving between bright and dark areas!

LOGARITHMIC / LINEAR PIXELS These vision chips use pixel circuits that can be configured run-time for both logarithmic mode or linear mode. Use logarithmic mode for high intensity dynamic range environments. Use linear mode for controlled lighting or when you want to use exposure control to boost contrast sensitivity.

DAYLIGHT TO DARKNESS These vision chips incorporate high fidelity logarithmic mode pixels providing excellent contrast sensitivity and suitable for use in all conditions from daylight to darkness (with a modest amount of LED illumination).

Focal Plane Architecture

SQUARE PIXEL ARRAY These vision chips use a square pixel tiling like conventional image sensors.

HEXAGONAL PIXEL ARRAY These vision chips use a hexagonal pixel tiling. Although not conventional, such arrays are more like those found in biological vision systems and, more important, mathematically superior to square pixel arrays. These vision chips support readout of pixels in a manner compatible with the HECS hexagonal pixel addressing system.

VARIABLE ACUITY WITH RECTANGULAR BINNING These vision chips include variable acuity that allows individual pixels within the focal plane to be binned into repeating rectangles of size M x N, where M and N are independently selectable from 1, 2, 4, or 8. It is possible to change M and N any time. This feature is powerful when combined with the random access pixel feature.

Focal Plane Readout

RANDOM ACCESS PIXEL These vision chips allow the user to arbitrarily select any available pixel for readout. This feature provides great control over the acquisition of pixels from the focal plane. You can read out the entire array row-wise, read out a small window, or even read out just one pixel again and again, whatever your application requires.

ANCHORED WINDOW These vision chips use an augmented form of random access pixel addressing that allow the vision chip to be programmed with a fixed-width window of pixels to read. First, set the upper left (row,col) of the window of pixels to read, which we call the “anchor point”. Then set the window width. A single reset pulse causes the vision chip to read out the pixel at the anchor point. Then send increment pulses to advance to the next pixels in the window, one (programmed width) row at a time.

BINARIZATION These vision chips incorporate a “binarization” function in which during readout a row of pixels can be binarized, either by thresholding intensity or by first convolving the row of pixels with a short kernel and thresholding that result. This feature compresses the image into one bit per pixel to allow fast readout for select applications.

Vision Chip Interface

EASY TO USE These vision chips incorporate an interface that is easy to understand, easy to use, and can be used by practically any microcontroller, including a classic 8-bit Arduino.

NUMBER OF ANALOG OUTPUTS Most Centeye vision chips are able to output more than one analog value at a time to support faster acquisition of pixels. Currently we have configurations for A1, A2, A4, and A8. Note that not all analog outputs need to be used- unused ones can be shut off to save power.

NUMBER OF DIGITAL INPUTS Many Centeye vision chips use an input interface of a number of digital input lines that are pulsed according to a predetermined (and intuitive) sequence. The most common configuration is D6 with 6 digital inputs used.

MULTIPLY-CONNECTED SELECTABLE CHIPS Most Centeye vision chips can be operated in a “chip select” manner in which more than one vision chip is connected to a common set of digital signals, with individual vision chips selectable by “chip select” lines. This arrangement allows many vision chips to be operated by a single processor over a limited number of signal lines.

OPTIONAL 4-WIRE DIFFERENTIAL INTERFACE A new proprietary interface enabling a vision chip to be operated using just four wires, including a differential analog pair for noise tolerance.