Time integrating pixel sensor
US6667769B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 10, 2001 |
| Grant date | Dec 23, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 20, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N25/573
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A time-integrating pixel sensor having a photo-detector, a capacitor, a comparator and a pixel data buffer. In operation, the photo-current from the photo-detector charges the capacitor and produces a photo-voltage. The photo-voltage sensed by the capacitor and a reference voltage is compared with the comparator. If the photo-voltage exceeds the reference voltage, a global code value is latched into the pixel data buffer. The optical power falling on the photo-detector is determined from the latched code value. An array of sensors is incorporated into a semiconductor device together with circuitry to read and decode the pixel data buffers. The reference voltage may be varied in time to increase the dynamic range of the sensor.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.