Passive Vision

Ubicept’s passive vision solutions unleash the power of single-photon sensors to enable superior visual perception in the most challenging conditions.

The impossible triangle

Modern visual perception systems struggle to optimize three key factors: low light, fast motion, and high dynamic range. Low light performance benefits from longer exposures, but longer exposures hinder the ability to freeze motion. Freezing motion, in turn, conflicts with the sequential exposure techniques often used to extend dynamic range. It’s a complex balancing act—but it doesn’t have to be!
Here at Ubicept, our advanced passive vision solutions combine advanced hardware and software to overcome this “impossible triangle,” allowing visual perception systems to achieve maximum performance.

Transforming vision across industries

Whatever the application, Ubicept’s passive vision solutions empower next-generation cameras to deliver unmatched imaging precision, even in complex environments where conventional systems fall short.

Experience it yourself

Ubicept’s passive vision solutions exploit the unique ability of single-photon sensors to record the arrivals of individual photons with extreme time precision and zero read noise. However, despite this remarkable technology, they can’t produce the clear images needed for effective perception. To illustrate this, we’ve designed an interactive demo below.

Give it a try!

The animation you see to the rightabove is the simulated raw output of a single-photon sensor capturing fast objects in low light. You should be able to make out the content if you watch it for a few cycles, but if you’re finding it difficult, it may help to back away from your screen.
Next, close your eyes, pause the animation by pressing and holding it, and then open your eyes. You’ll notice that it’s practically impossible to read the text or identify the icon because there isn’t enough visual information in any individual frame.

What’s happening here?

You might think that your eyes are just averaging these “photons” like a typical image sensor would do during an exposure. But, if you look to the leftabove to see the result of doing that, it’s clear that something more complex is happening in our minds.
It’s the intelligent fusion of photons over time—something our visual systems do naturally—that allows us to read the text and see the emoji. That’s what Ubicept offers to downstream computer vision systems.

Ubicept Photon Fusion

Ubicept’s Photon Fusion (UPF) algorithms replicate what your eyes and brain just did, only with far greater speed and precision. This enables clear perception, even when capturing fast-moving subjects in low light.
In addition, UPF works with our Flexible Light Acquisition and Representation Engine (FLARE) to harness the nanosecond precision of SPAD sensors, accelerating sequential techniques for high dynamic range imaging to the point that the exposures are practically simultaneous.
Together, these components will enable tomorrow’s perception systems to overcome the “impossible triangle” for unprecedented levels of performance.
UPF-A
Absolute Photon Fusion
Uses raw data for maximum quality with high bandwidth and processing needs. Minimal integration required, but only suited for single-frame outputs.
Integration Simplicity
★★★★★
Bandwidth Efficiency
★★★★
Processing Efficiency
★★★★
Output Quality
★★★★★
UPF-B
Binned Photon Fusion
Uses temporal binning for high quality with medium bandwidth and processing needs. Moderate integration for real-time output at limited resolutions.
Integration Simplicity
★★★★★
Bandwidth Efficiency
★★★★★
Processing Efficiency
★★★★★
Output Quality
★★★★
UPF-C
Coded Photon Fusion
Uses advanced encoding for high quality with low bandwidth and processing needs. Significant integration for real-time output at high resolutions.
Integration Simplicity
★★★★
Bandwidth Efficiency
★★★★★
Processing Efficiency
★★★★★
Output Quality
★★★★

Ready to take the next step?

If you’re part of a computer vision or camera design team and want to learn more about how Ubicept can supercharge your imaging systems, check out the options below:
Try it yourself
See the difference by preordering a development kit for early access to prototypes, software, data, and more!
Preorder
See our approach
Understand how we collaborate with innovative teams to bring cutting-edge computer vision solutions to life.
Learn More
Get in touch
Have more questions or want to discuss how Ubicept can meet your specific needs? We’re here to help!
Contact Us