Solid-state image pickup device with integration and amplification
US6734907B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 1, 1999 |
| Grant date | May 11, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 1, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N25/78
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A solid-state, two-dimensional image sensing device having a matrix of pixels each of which employs a photosensor that generates a photocurrent and a MOS circuit which outputs a signal proportional to the logarithm of the integral over time of the photocurrent. The sensor includes an integration control switching device so that all pixels in the array have equal integration time. The sensor integrates the signal for each pixel for a period of time and stores the integrated signal in a pixel signal storage location. To read out the stored signal each pixel includes an amplifier to increase the signal during read out. The sensor further accumulates signal in either a MOS transistor pn-junction or a secondary pixel storage location during a time that the integrated pixel signal is being read out so that image information can be collected continuously even while the integrated pixel signal for each pixel is being read.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.