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US Patent 6741198 - High resolution, low power, wide dynamic range imager with embedded pixel processor and DRAM storage
US Patent Issued on May 25, 2004
Estimated Patent Expiration Date:
June 18, 2022Estimated 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.
Estimated Patent Expiration Date:
June 18, 2022Estimated 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.AbstractA high-resolution, low-power wide-dynamic-range CMOS imager includes an array of pixel imaging cells, each of which embeds with a pixel transducing circuit at the pixel level a digital arithmetic logic processing circuit and a memory circuit. This permits multi-bit analog-to-digital conversion of an electromagnetic sensor output at the pixel level. The processing and memory circuits are usable on a pixel-parallel basis in conjunction with any type of pixel transducing circuit design that produces a binary output. The pixel processing and memory circuits may be configured with pixel transducing circuits in 2-dimensional arrangements on a single substrate or in 3-dimensional arrangements of three layered substrates, and may be used in multiplexed or non-multiplexed fashion with one or several pixel transducing circuits.Other References
| InventorAssigneeApplicationNo. 10174248 filed on 06/18/2002US Classes:341/155, Analog to digital conversion348/308Including switching transistor and photocell at each pixel site (e.g., "MOS-type" image sensor)Field of Search341/155, Analog to digital conversion348/308Including switching transistor and photocell at each pixel site (e.g., "MOS-type" image sensor)ExaminersPrimary: Williams, Howard L.Attorney, Agent or FirmUS Patent References5248971, Method and apparatus for multiplexed oversampled analog to digital modulationIssued on: 09/28/1993 Inventor: Mandl5461425, CMOS image sensor with pixel level A/D conversion Issued on: 10/24/1995 Inventor: Fowler, et al.5665959, Solid-state image sensor with focal-plane digital photon-counting pixel array Issued on: 09/09/1997 Inventor: Fossum, et al.5699278, Focal plane processor Issued on: 12/16/1997 Inventor: Brajovic5801657, Serial analog-to-digital converter using successive comparisons Issued on: 09/01/1998 Inventor: Fowler, et al.5883830, CMOS imaging device with integrated flash memory image correction circuitry Issued on: 03/16/1999 Inventor: Hirt, et al.5920274, Image sensor employing non-uniform A/D conversion Issued on: 07/06/1999 Inventor: Gowda, et al.5962844, Active pixel image cell with embedded memory and pixel level signal processing capability Issued on: 10/05/1999 Inventor: Merrill, et al.6069377, Image sensor incorporating saturation time measurement to increase dynamic range Issued on: 05/30/2000 Inventor: Prentice, et al.6130713, CMOS active pixel cell with self reset for improved dynamic range Issued on: 10/10/2000 Inventor: Merrill6166367, Programmable analog arithmetic circuit for imaging sensor Issued on: 12/26/2000 Inventor: Cho6271785, CMOS imager with an A/D per pixel convertor Issued on: 08/07/2001 Inventor: Martin, et al.6330030, Digital image sensor with low device count per pixel analog-to-digital conversion Issued on: 12/11/2001 Inventor: O'Connor6334120, Semiconductor arithmetic circuit and data processing device Issued on: 12/25/2001 Inventor: Shibata, et al.6362482, High data rate smart sensor technology Issued on: 03/26/2002 Inventor: Stettner, et al.6369737, Method and apparatus for converting a low dynamic range analog signal to a large dynamic range floating-point digital representation Issued on: 04/09/2002 Inventor: Yang, et al.6377303, Strobe compatible digital image sensor with low device count per pixel analog-to-digital conversion Issued on: 04/23/2002 Inventor: O'Connor6552745CMOS active pixel with memory for imaging sensors Issued on: 04/22/2003 Inventor: Perner International ClassesH03M 112H04N 314 |
