Shining light on the DVS pixel: A tutorial and discussion about biasing and optimization

The operation of the Dynamic Vision Sensor (DVS) event camera is controlled by the user through adjusting different bias parameters. These biases affect the response of the camera by controlling - among other parameters - the bandwidth, sensitivity, and maximum firing rate of the pixels. Besides determining the response of the camera to input signals, biases significantly impact its noise performance. Bias optimization is a multivariate process depending on the task and the scene, to which the user’s knowledge about pixel design and non-idealities can be of great importance.In this paper, we go step-by-step along the signal pathway of the DVS pixel, shining light on its low-level operation and non-idealities, comparing pixel level measurements with array level measurements, and discussing how biasing and illumination affect the pixel’s behavior. With the results and discussion presented, we aim to help DVS users achieve more hardware-aware camera utilization and modelling.