Abstract

This paper introduces a novel sensor technology, Single Photon Active Event Sensors (SPAES), designed for the detection of sparse optical signals. SPAES is a new multi-modal sensor category that combines Single Photon Avalanche Diodes (SPADs) and event-based sensing to offer high detection bandwidth, single-photon sensitivity, and low power consumption. The sensor architecture incorporates in-pixel spatiotemporal filters that can distinguish active light from ambient light, enabling robust operation even in bright conditions. The output is a stream of x, y, and optionally t (time) events, providing accurate localization and timing of detected photons. This technology has the potential to revolutionize various applications, including 3D sensing and eye tracking, due to its high sensitivity, low latency, low power consumption, and immunity to interference. We present results of a first sensor implementation with 300x150 resolution fabricated in an FSI 40nm CMOS technology and associated 3D sensing system.