Color image sensor for short-time exposure

US6518558B1 · kind B1 · utility

Inventors

• Markus Bohm · Birkenfeld, DE
• Peter Rieve · Windeck, DE
• Tarek Lule · Saint-Égrève, FR

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 28, 2000
• Grant date: Feb 11, 2003
• Expiry date: Sep 28, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H10F39/80373
• WIPO field: Audio-visual technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

The invention relates to an optical sensor consisting of an arrangement of pixel units, each comprising an optoelectronic converter for converting the incident radiation into a photoelectric current that depends on intensity and wavelength, an integrator median for deriving a measured value corresponding to the photoelectric current detected, and a controllable storage device for storing the measured value, and a readout control device for readout of the stored measured values based on one pixel unit, where the image striking the sensor can be assembled from the measured values based on pixel units. The object of creating an optical sensor permitting operation within a short exposure time is achieved by the fact that each pixel unit has integrator median (7, 8; 11, 12; 15, 16) and at least two parallel storage device (21, 22, 23), such that at least two measured values, each assigned to different spectral ranges of the incident radiation, can be detected and stored during the measurement period and then can be read out together to form the relevant color information for the pixel element.