Novel photodetector integrates event sensing and memory for optical processing

Optical information processing is a critical technology for applications ranging from machine vision to high-speed optical communication. However, current photodetection systems face significant limitations in processing complex, dynamic optical signals efficiently. Traditional multi-pixel photodetector arrays generate excessive data during dynamic events, leading to high energy consumption and processing inefficiencies. Meanwhile, event-based neuromorphic sensors, which detect changes in light intensity rather than capturing static frames, are limited by their reliance on sequential data input and external processing.