A chip level design of a multi-mode compressive sensing image sensor

Abstract

This paper presents the full chip-level design of a multi-mode CMOS vision sensor, emphasizing the detailed implementation of its circuit architecture. The proposed chip incorporates our previously developed photodiode sensing array together with the on-chip design of control circuitry. By embedding these building blocks, the chip enables pixel-level compressive sensing and supports dual operation modes, allowing the transmission of image data in both compressed and non-compressed formats. In either mode, the sensor is capable of capturing both scene images and difference images between consecutive video frames, operating at a frame rate of 40 fps. A 64*64 vision chip is implemented using TSMC 0.18um standard CMOS technology. In the normal scene image mode, with compression (N-C) and  without compression (N-nC), the structure consumes 36.99uW and 37.09uW, respectively. Meanwhile, in the difference scene image mode, with compression (D-C) and  without compression (D-nC), it consumes 38.67uW and 38.75uW, respectively.