Canon: Announces 1 million pixel SPAD: Single Photon Avalanche Diode

1-megapixel SPAD image sensor (prototype)

Canon: Announces 1 million pixel SPAD: Single Photon Avalanche Diode

Canon:

June 30, 2020

“SPAD” (Single Photon Avalanche Diode):

Announced that it has developed the world’s first image sensor capable of capturing 1 million pixels in a sensor with a signal multiplication pixel structure.

SPAD image sensor:

High-speed phenomena that occur within an extremely short time
Application as a two-dimensional camera for shooting special still images and videos
It is used for 3D cameras that acquire distance information to the subject as an image.
It is expected to be used for measuring the distance between vehicles even in autonomous driving.

It seems to attract attention as a high-performance “eye”.

Automated driving lab

https://jidounten-lab.com/u_canon-100-sensor-spad/amp

Canon develops world’s first 1-megapixel SPAD image sensor

TOKYO, June 24, 2020—

Canon Inc.

announced today that the company has developed the world’s first1 single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) image sensor with signal-amplifying pixels capable of capturing 1-megapixel images.

SPAD image sensors

are ideal for such applications as 2-dimensional cameras, which capture and develop still image and video in an extremely short span of time.

These sensors also hold potential for use in 3-dimensional cameras due to their ability to obtain information about the distance between them and a subject as image data.

A SPAD sensor

is a uniquely designed image sensor in which each pixel possesses an electronic element.

When a single light particle, called a photon, reaches a pixel it is multiplied—as if creating an “avalanche”—that results in a single large electrical pulse.

The ability to generate multiple electrons from a single photon provides such advantages as greater sensitivity during image capture and high precision distance measurement.

Canon Global

https://global.canon/en/news/2020/20200624.html