Image sensor incorporating saturation time measurement to increase dynamic range
May 13, 2019. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.Patent ReferencesSignal processor for an array of CID radiation detector elements Photo-electric conversion device with accumulation time control Photo-electric conversion device with accumulation time control and leakage current compensation Solid state image pickup apparatus Stable indicator circuit for photoelectric switch using an integrated circuit with reduced interconnections Image pickup apparatus for controlling accumulation time in photoelectric elements Accumulation time control apparatus Photometry device and method Imaging apparatus for switching the accumulative electric charge of an image pickup device Device for receiving light used in CCD image sensor or the like InventorsApplicationNo. 311529 filed on 05/13/1999US Classes:257/292, Photodiodes accessed by FETs250/214A, Amplifier type250/214LA, Light amplifier type257/291, Imaging array257/532, Including capacitor component257/E27.132Pixel-elements with integrated switching, control, storage, or amplification elements (EPO)ExaminersPrimary: Ngo, Hung V.Attorney, Agent or FirmInternational ClassesH01L 031/062H01L 029/00 AbstractA semiconductor based image sensor having a timer that is associated with each photosite in the image sensor; and measuring the integration period of that photosite using the timer. Additionally, an imager sensor that does not require an A/D converter but instead uses a comparator circuit to determine when a predetermined threshold has been reached, thus reading as discrete amounts of stored charge which converts directly into a digital representation. | |
