Strobe compatible digital image sensor with low device count per pixel analog-to-digital conversion
November 26, 2017. 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 ReferencesFast-acting comparison circuit Solid state image sensor Photo-electric converter having offset voltage correcting function Digital interface circuit for high dynamic range analog sensors CMOS image sensor with pixel level A/D conversion Data slice circuit Image sensors and driving method thereof Solid state imager device and driving method thereof Solid-state image taking apparatus including photodiode and circuit for converting output signal of the photodiode into signal which varies with time at variation rate depending on intensity of light applied to the photodiode Solid-state image sensor with focal-plane digital photon-counting pixel array InventorApplicationNo. 979161 filed on 11/26/1997US Classes:348/308, Including switching transistor and photocell at each pixel site (e.g., "MOS-type" image sensor)341/155, Analog to digital conversion348/302X - Y architectureExaminersPrimary: Garber, Wendy R.Assistant: Tillery, Rashawn N. Attorney, Agent or FirmInternational ClassesH04N 003/14H04N 005/335 H03M 001/12 AbstractA method having the steps of accumulating charge in a photo sensor to arrive at a photo sensor voltage; incrementing a value in a counter; generating a reference voltage based on the value in the counter; determining whether the photo sensor voltage is greater than the reference voltage; and, if the photo sensor voltage is greater than the reference voltage, then loading a memory with the value in the counter. An apparatus having a photo sensor; a comparator coupled to the photo sensor; a switching element coupled to the photo sensor; an AND-gate coupled to the comparator; and, a memory coupled to the AND-gate.Field of SearchElectronic shutteringPixel amplifiers Including switching transistor and photocell at each pixel site (e.g., "MOS-type" image sensor) Amplifier type Special photocell or electron tube circuits Junction field effect transistor in integrated circuit Photoelectric Reference level crossover detecting Analog to digital conversion | |
