Algorithm-Circuit Cross-Layer Control For Digital Pixel Image Sensors

3D integrated digital pixel image sensors with pixel parallel processing capabilities provide opportunities for high resolution and frame rate camera platform. However, energy efficiency of digital pixel read-out circuits becomes a key performance parameter for such applications. This work presents a novel digital pixel design that utilizes cross-layer feedback to enhance energy-efficiency of digital pixel sensors. The algorithm-circuit co-simulation of 65nm CMOS 336x256 image sensor for an object detection task shows 53% active energy saving in digital pixels with minimal degradation in task accuracy.