Electron bombarded active pixel sensor camera incorporating gain control
US6307586A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 20, 1999 |
| Grant date | Oct 23, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 20, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01J2231/50068
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A camera includes a photocathode operable in a night mode wherein electrons are generated in response to incident light, an active pixel sensor including an array of pixels for sensing electrons in the night mode, a power supply for energizing the photocathode in the night mode in response to a control signal, and a power supply control circuit for providing the control signal to the power supply in response to a sensed incident light level. The control signal may be a gating signal having a duty cycle that increases as the sensed incident light level decreases. The camera may be operable in a day mode wherein a fraction of the incident light is transmitted through the photocathode and is sensed by the active pixel sensor. The camera may further include an electron shielded light detector. A light detector signal generated by the electron shielded light detector may be used to control switching between the day mode and the night mode.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.