System and methods for dynamic range extension using variable length integration time sampling
US7067791B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 17, 2005 |
| Grant date | Jun 27, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 17, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2201/1241
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A photo-detector generated signal is measured as a sample set comprising a long signal and a short signal. The short signal is scaled to the value of the long signal if the long signal exceeds a dynamic range associated with the photo detector. In one embodiment, the short signal is obtained during a short time interval that is at the approximate middle of a long time interval such that the short and long intervals share a common median time value. Given such symmetry, an approximately linear signal yields a proportionality parameter between the long and short signals thereby allowing the short signal to be scaled. The proportionality parameter facilitates determination of an integration independent component of the photo detector signal that should be removed from the measured long and short signals before scaling. A plurality of sample sets can also be processed such that each sample set overlaps with its neighboring sample set, thereby increasing the effective number of sample sets.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.